GWR imposes speed restrictions on Devon and Cornwall routes ahead of Storm Austen
The speed restrictions will apply from the start of service until 1pm, with fewer trains running and some services cancelled, as Storm Austen brings strong winds to the South West.
Lower speed limits will be introduced on railway routes in Devon and Cornwall on Friday (October 23), with fewer trains running and some services cancelled, as Storm Austen brings strong winds to the South West, Great Western Railway (GWR) has said in a statement.
GWR and Network Rail said speed restrictions would apply from the start of service until 1pm. They said the changes followed the Met Office’s amber weather warning for strong winds and gusts, which GWR said could exceed 80mph in coastal areas.
Strong winds increase the risk of trees and other debris falling onto the railway, GWR said. It said the speed restrictions mean it will be running fewer trains than normal. Trains that do run are expected to be busier, and some journeys could take longer than usual.
GWR said long-distance services would run between London Paddington and Plymouth only, with local services providing a shuttle between Penzance and Plymouth.
CrossCountry has cancelled services between Penzance and Plymouth on both Thursday and Friday.
GWR said Thursday night’s Sleeper service from London Paddington would terminate at Plymouth. It said other services in the region were likely to change, and that some early-morning services would be cancelled to allow it to assess the impact of any damage in full daylight.
Full details of the amended timetable will be published at GWR.com/check from Thursday, the company said. GWR and Network Rail will continue to update customers throughout Friday as conditions change.
Daryn McCombe, GWR and Network Rail Western Performance Director, said: “We’re grateful for everyone’s patience as our teams work hard to keep people moving safely. We’ll be doing everything we can to keep tracks clear, with chainsaw teams and specialist colleagues deployed to remove any debris as quickly as we can.
“While we will operate as many trains as possible, these measures are about making sure we can keep services running as safely as possible during the storm. We’d ask anyone planning to travel in the South West on Friday, especially in the morning, to check the latest travel advice before setting out.”
GWR said that if a train is cancelled, passengers will be able to travel on two trains immediately before or after their scheduled service. Customers who no longer wish to travel can claim a full refund at GWR.com/help-and-support/refunds.
The Met Office’s amber warning for wind is in force from 3am to 10am on Friday. It said flying debris is likely and could lead to injuries or danger to life, with gusts of 60-70mph likely widely for a time and some gusts of around 80mph possible for exposed headlands.