Two storms in one weekend have brought rail chaos to Britain, and travellers in Scotland are bearing the brunt. Storm Austen, the first named storm of the year, disrupted south-east England and Wales on Friday, leaving people without power in Cornwall. Now Storm Boelo is on the way, and Network Rail has moved to close several Scottish lines before conditions turn dangerous.
The Met Office has issued amber warnings for wind across parts of northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They run from 9pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday, coinciding with Boelo's arrival. Forecasters expect gusts of up to 80mph in exposed coastal spots, with 60-70mph winds widespread elsewhere. There's a risk of flying debris danger to life, power cuts, structural damage, uprooted trees and cancelled trains and flights.
The rail closures are specific and worth knowing if you're heading north. From 9pm Saturday, services south and west of Kilwinning stop running, and from 10pm the Oban and Mallaig lines shut. On Sunday, there's no service between Kyle of Lochalsh and Achnashellach, and none between Wick and Helmsdale. Trains that do run across much of Scotland will go at reduced speeds, so expect delays even on open routes.
Craig Gorman, head of operational weather strategy at Network Rail Scotland, acknowledged the closures would significantly affect passengers' plans, but said safety had to come first when facing weather of this scale. His advice is simple: check your journey before you set off.
There's a broader backdrop too. Andy Burnham, speaking at a resilience summit held to learn lessons from the summer's record wildfires, warned that the UK could be facing "a winter of greater flooding", arguing that unusual events are becoming more common and households should keep supplies at home to cope.
For holidaymakers, the takeaway is practical. If you have a weekend trip planned to the Highlands, the west coast or Northern Ireland, assume disruption: verify services with National Rail and the Met Office before travelling, build in slack for delays, and consider postponing anything on the affected lines. Anyone with bookings in Oban, Mallaig, Kyle of Lochalsh or the far north-east should contact operators about rebooking. Coastal walks, ferry crossings and drives on exposed routes are best avoided during the warning window.
It's also a reminder of a growing pattern: named storms increasingly collide with peak travel weekends in autumn and winter, and pre-emptive closures are now standard practice. Flexible tickets, travel insurance that covers weather disruption and a habit of checking warnings before departure are becoming as essential as packing a raincoat.
