The West Highland Line has been closed after a landslip has removed part of the earthworks underneath the iconic railway.
Engineers are currently on site at Crianlarich and Tyndrum to assess the damage by rainfall yesterday, and to establish what work needs to be done, and when the line can be re-opened.
There is currently no plan to re-open the line today but is “likely to impact services in the next few days” a statement said by the Caledonian Sleeper service provider.
The Network Rail spokesman continued: “Services on the West Highland Line are currently suspended as heavy rainfall has washed some of the track bed out from under the railway. We have engineers on-site assessing the damage and putting plans in place to repair the line.”
On social media Network Rail Scotland said: ” Due to part of the railway being ‘washed away’ by severe flooding in the area, the line between #Crianlarich & #Tyndrum is closed.
To give you a sense of the weather that led to the line being washed away at #Crianlarich, this was flooding further along the line near #Oban yesterday afternoon.
Conditions in the area have been challenging with heavy rain and flash floods over several days pic.twitter.com/NHjEuvyb9f
— NetworkRail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) August 5, 2019
“Our teams are on site assessing damage and will update in due course. Please contact your train operator for service updates. ”
Alternative transport
A statement on the Caledonian Sleeper website said: “Road transport will be provided to transfer guests from Fort William to Edinburgh Waverley with a departure time of 19:50. It will run direct to Edinburgh Waverley in time to connect with the Southbound Highlander at 01:40. (tickets will not be accepted on the 23:40 Edinburgh to Euston service).
“Road transport will also be provided from Crianlarich (22:10), Arrochar and Tarbet (22:45), Helensburgh Upper (23:25), Dumbarton Central (23:40) and Dalmuir (23:53).
“Guests booked to board at all other locations on this route are advised to make their own way to the above stated pick up points in order to connect.
“Users of Daytime Tickets will have separate road transport supplied between Fort William and Glasgow Queen Street with a departure time of 19:50. There will be no intermediate station pick-ups or drop-offs.”