Rail services across northern Scotland will face major disruptions on Friday, 3 October 2025, with full line closures and speed restrictions in place as Storm Amy barrels into the region with winds expected to reach up to 95mph. Affected destinations include Inverness, Wick, Kyle of Lochalsh, Aberdeen, Perth, Mallaig, Fort William and Crianlarich, with rail operators pulling services ahead of the storm's peak intensity.
The move comes as the Met Office issues an Amber weather warning for parts of northern and western Scotland, warning of severe wind gusts between 60-70mph, and up to 95mph in exposed coastal areas. The warning is effective from Friday evening through Saturday morning, signalling heightened risk to infrastructure, especially the rail network.
Services on the following lines will be completely suspended from 6:00 PM on Friday:
All remaining routes will continue operating on a reduced timetable, with speed restrictions enforced. Trains across the broader network will be limited to a maximum of 50mph starting at 7:00 PM, to reduce the risk of derailment or damage from flying debris and fallen trees.
According to UK government and rail safety documentation, wind speeds exceeding 70mph pose significant risk to above-ground rail operations, especially in rural and highland areas where treefall and landslides are more common. The combination of strong gales and heavy rainfall increases the likelihood of track obstructions, landslips, and flooding, endangering both passengers and rail workers.
Network Rail Scotland will deploy both aerial and ground inspection teams once the storm subsides. A dedicated railway helicopter will assist in identifying debris, structural damage and flooded tracks to enable faster recovery. Real-time weather monitoring by embedded meteorological experts in the national control room will guide decision-making overnight and into the weekend.
Safety inspections of affected lines will commence immediately after the storm's passage. Engineers are expected to begin on-site assessments early Saturday, prioritising vulnerable highland routes and bridges. These safety evaluations will determine when services can safely resume, although full normal operations may not return until later in the weekend, depending on damage reports.
The UK Department for Transport advises that railway operators must suspend services when forecasted weather reaches thresholds considered "critical risk levels" under national weather contingency planning. In this case, multiple factors -- wind intensity, prolonged rain, and potential for landslips -- have prompted preemptive shutdowns to reduce harm and ensure a faster post-storm recovery.
Travellers booked on affected services are strongly urged to check real-time updates through:
Tickets for Friday's cancelled trains will be accepted on Thursday, Saturday or Sunday at no extra cost. Commuters and tourists visiting northern Scotland this weekend should be aware of significant delays and last-minute service adjustments. Extended journey times are expected even on unaffected lines due to nationwide speed limits.
This proactive suspension aligns with Scotland's national severe weather action protocol, overseen by the Scottish Government's Resilience Division and Transport Scotland, with coordination from Network Rail and franchise operators. The Met Office's Amber Alert is considered a mid-to-high level threat and forms the basis of the closure decision, following criteria set out in the UK National Rail Weather Resilience Plan.
Rail operators will continue to coordinate with emergency services and infrastructure teams to manage any incidents that may occur during the storm, and to ensure a smooth reactivation of services as soon as conditions permit.
The rail shutdown comes at a critical time for Scotland's autumn tourism season. Highland destinations like Fort William, Mallaig, and Wick are popular with nature travellers and adventure tourists in early October. The affected services connect several gateway points for scenic journeys and national parks.
Disruptions to these rural links could hamper inbound travel, accommodation bookings, and local tours, particularly over the weekend when footfall is typically high. VisitScotland, the national tourism organisation, has previously noted the importance of reliable rail links to sustaining regional tourism outside summer months.