Scotland will be cut off from the UK rail network on Monday, 4 August 2025. Both the East Coast and West Coast main lines will close due to an exceptional summer weather event, Storm Floris. Passenger and freight services north of the Central Belt – the most populous part of the country – will be severely curtailed or withdrawn altogether.
Network Rail will shut key lines from midday. They cite safety concerns over winds forecast to reach up to 90mph (144km/h) in exposed areas. The closures mean no rail freight from operators including Colas Rail, DB Cargo, Direct Rail Services, Freightliner, and GB Railfreight will be able to enter or leave Scotland.
Main lines severed by severe weather
The Met Office, the UK’s official weather forecasting service, has issued amber warnings (very high alert) for wind and rain across much of Scotland and northern England. Forecasts show sustained winds above 70mph (112km/h) in many areas, with heavy rain adding to the risk of flooding and landslips.
For safety, trains will be restricted to 50mph (80km/h) from 0900 on Monday, before the complete closure of several routes from 1200. Both the East Coast and West Coast main lines will be shut, halting all services between Scotland and England. The two arterial routes between Scotland and England are frequently compromised by severe weather, mainly due to the exposed nature of the routes.
Wide-ranging closures and impact on freight
Many domestic lines in Scotland will also be closed or restricted. Lines to be closed include Edinburgh–Fife/Perth/Dundee, Perth–Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness, Dunblane–Perth, Inverness–Aberdeen/Wick/Thurso/Kyle of Lochalsh, and the West Highland Line from Helensburgh Upper to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig. Remaining open routes will operate on reduced timetables. According to the official National Rail Enquiries, all operators will be affected, with widespread cancellations and altered services.
The closures will bring Scottish freight traffic to a standstill. No intermodal, bulk, or specialist services will run between Scotland and England. This includes aggregate flows, industrial trains, intermodal services to deep-sea ports, and specialist nuclear and infrastructure trains. Freight operators affected include Colas Rail, DB Cargo, Direct Rail Services, Freightliner and GB Railfreight. Yard operations in Scotland may also be disrupted by high winds and debris hazards.
Safety first, say rail leaders
Ross Moran, Network Rail Scotland route director, said: “With the severity of Storm Floris becoming clear, our priority is the safety of our [clients] and colleagues. That is why we’ve taken the decision to close some parts of Scotland’s Railway early on Monday as the worst of the conditions hit the country. Our engineers will also need to thoroughly inspect the network for any damage before we reopen the lines and restart train services on Tuesday morning.”
“The Met Office amber weather warnings for very high winds across the country will impact rail services on Monday,” said Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director. “We recognise the impact that the withdrawal and alteration of train services will have on customers, but our first priority is always to ensure the safety of staff and passengers.” Network Rail’s helicopter will support inspections after the storm passes. Services on affected routes are expected to start later on Tuesday, subject to safety checks.