Day of disruption to cross-border trains after fallen tree damages cables

Cross-border train services linking Edinburgh and Glasgow with Carlisle were severely disrupted on Thursday after a tree fell onto overhead cables in Dumfries and Galloway.

Damage to overhead wiring at Beattock, between Lockerbie and Carstairs on the West Coast Main Line, saw services between Motherwell and Carlisle cancelled or revised.

Rail operators warned travellers of disruption to services, with Avanti West Coast advising passengers not to travel north of Preston, and TransPennine Express advising passengers to delay journeys until Friday.

In a statement, National Rail said: “An object caught on the overhead electric wires between Lockerbie and Carstairs means that all lines are currently closed.

“As a result, trains between Carlisle and Glasgow Central / Edinburgh may be cancelled or revised.

“Major disruption is expected until the end of the day.”

Network Rail Scotland shared news of the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter) at 8.39am, which read: “A tree has fallen on the overhead wires at Beattock on the West Coast Main Line between Motherwell and Carlisle, damaging them.

“Engineers are arriving now to assess the damage. More info soon.”

Subsequent posts confirmed that chainsaws were being used to remove the fallen tree and that work was underway to repair the wiring.

The work was initially expected to be completed by 9.30pm on Thursday, but as at 7.55pm this had been delayed to 10.30pm.

In a statement, Avanti West Coast said: “Avanti West Coast are advising do not travel north of Preston. No further coaches are available from Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow Central.

“Customers who choose not to travel due to today’s disruption north of Preston can use their ticket dated for travel today, Thursday September 26 to travel tomorrow, Friday September 27, at no extra cost.

“Alternatively, customers can claim a full refund from their point of purchase or, if you travel today and your journey is delayed by 15 minutes or more, you can claim delay repay compensation through the operator that you travelled with.

“You may use your ticket on the following services at no extra cost: LNER between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh; TransPennine Express via any reasonable route; ScotRail between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh; CrossCountry between Birmingham New Street and Edinburgh.”

A statement from TransPennine Express said: “Customers with tickets dated today, Thursday September 26, are strongly advised to defer travel where possible until tomorrow, Friday September 27. You may do this at no extra cost.

“You may use your ticket on the following services at no extra cost:

“CrossCountry services from Glasgow and Edinburgh towards Leeds and change here for TransPennine Express services to Manchester stations.

“LNER services from Edinburgh towards York and change here for TransPennine Express services to Manchester stations.

“Northern services between Preston and Manchester Airport, Preston and Liverpool Lime Street and between Newcastle and Carlisle.

“ScotRail services between Glasgow and Edinburgh where onward connections can be made.

“Customers are advised that coaches have been requested to operate from Carlisle towards Glasgow and Edinburgh, however, road transport is currently extremely limited.”