Flooding causes travel chaos as Scotland battered by heavy rain

Roads have been closed and several train services have been cancelled or delayed due to the torrential downpours.

Flooding causes travel chaos as Scotland battered by heavy rain Police Scotland

Motorists and rail passengers are facing major disruption due to flooding across the west of Scotland.

Several train services have been cancelled or delayed due to the torrential downpours on Thursday.

ScotRail say the main routes affected are: Edinburgh to Glasgow Central via Shotts, Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High and Glasgow Queen Street to Alloa/Aberdeen/Inverness.

Network Rail said workers are responding to a possible landslip between Carstairs and Carlisle on the West Coast Main Line.

A spokesperson for Official TransPennine Express said: “Due to forecasted severe weather, we’re advising not to travel on the West Coast Mainline unless essential.”

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for southern Scotland and South Lanarkshire which has been extended until 6pm on Thursday and also now covers Strathclyde, Central Scotland, Tayside, Fife and the Lothians.

In an update on Twitter, ScotRail also warned people not to use Summerston rail station as a shortcut to avoid flooding in the area.

They wrote: “We’re aware of a number of people (including children) using the railway as shortcut to avoid flooding in the Summerston area. This is extremely dangerous as well as illegal.

“The police are on site and are working with our staff to monitor the area in person and via CCTV.”

Police say the A709 at Shillahill Bridge near Lockerbie is shut down due to flooding.

The road is closed between Arla and Priestdykes. A spokesperson added: “Do not attempt to drive through as two vehicles have been stuck already.”

The River Nith burst its banks and flooded routes in the Whitesands area of Dumfries. Police are urging drivers to avoid the area.

Traffic Scotland also encouraged drivers to take care while weather warnings remain in place across parts of the country.

Scotland’s transport minister Graeme Dey said: “The conditions could potentially bring disruption to the trunk road and rail networks, so it’s important people plan their journeys before they set off.

“Motorists should make sure their routes are available, follow travel advice from Police Scotland and drive to the conditions. The Traffic Scotland Twitter page is regularly updated and the mobile website – my.trafficscotland.org – lets people access the latest information.

“If you are planning to travel by rail, please check with your operator ahead of your journey. This is particularly important for cross-border travellers following the earlier disruption to services.”

Flooding on Great Western Road on Wednesday evening.Twitter

Social media images showed abandoned cars and queues of traffic on Glasgow’s Great Western Road on Wednesday night.

The heavy downpours also led to the cancellation of the opening night of the GlasGlow event at the Botanic Gardens.

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