Dive teams to inspect flooded railway track as rain sweeps in

Underwater dive teams have been mobilised to inspect damage to a flooded railway track as heavy rain sweeps in across Scotland.

The line, between Forres and Elgin on the Aberdeen to Inverness route, was closed on Thursday night.

Network Rail said the water levels through a culvert under the railway was three metres higher than normal, with neighbouring fields also flooded.

Around 11 metres of embankment has washed away underneath the track, the signalling cables are submerged under water, and a nearby telegraph pole has collapsed.

On Friday morning, a spokesperson for Network Rail Scotland said: “Underwater dive teams will be on site today to carry out a full inspection of the structure to confirm the condition of the tracks below the flood water level.

“We aim to provide an estimated reopening date as soon as we can.”

We're conscious that more heavy rain is forecast over the next 24 hours, but our team are working on a plan to repair the railway and reopen it as soon as we can. As soon as we're able to give a robust estimate for reopening, we'll let you know. @ScotRail
— Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) December 10, 2020

The track’s closure comes amid a yellow weather warning for rain between 3am on Friday and 12pm on Saturday.

Heavy rain is expected to stretch across Perthshire and Dundee, as well as up to Aberdeenshire.

The Met Office has warned those heading out to expect delays to bus and train services, as well as spray and flooding on the roads.

STV Weather presenter Philip Petrie explained that the yellow warning has been put in place in the north east as parts of Moray and Aberdeenshire have already experienced a whole month’s worth of rain in December already.

He added: “Added to this is the risk of snow melt from the mountains adding to already high river levels in the area, so there is the risk of localised flooding.”