Storm Éowyn has descended upon the UK, bringing with it hurricane-force winds and causing widespread havoc. With red and amber weather warnings in place across Scotland and Northern Ireland, authorities are urging residents to stay indoors as the storm threatens to uproot trees, damage buildings, and cause significant disruptions to travel and power lines.
Are you aware of the impact that stormy weather has on the railway? With the strongest winds in a decade, Network Rail and ScotRail made the decision to close lines and suspend services for most of today (Friday). Storms can bring high winds, cause flooding or landslips and cause significant disruption to the rail infrastructure.
Flooding – high water levels can bring delays to the train services, as some are cancelled to the blockage in the lines. Flooding can also wash away the ballast under the track, making the lines unsafe until they have been re-laid.
High winds – strong winds can blow trees onto the track, damaging trains, overhead lines or blocking the lines.
Landslips – landslips are caused by the high levels of water that washes away the embankments, leaving risks and dangers of train derailments.
We would like to extend a big thank you to all railway staff and workers who are dedicating their time to keeping us safe across our networks this weekend. Not to forget all staff who will be working around the clock to repair any damage that may occur on the railway this weekend, to get the rail network back on track.
We are here to help throughout all weather conditions. The KITE Projects team will provide you with the safe handrail and access solutions you need to be able to essential repairs and manage your assets. Our work ensures that Network Rail can carry out necessary repairs and maintenance swiftly and safely, minimizing disruption to services and ensuring the resilience of the UK’s railway infrastructure.
Our concept of Sustainable Engineering considers for future resilience by resolving challenges through a collaborative approach. Give us a call at 01926 886290 to discover more about how we can keep your network moving.
Stay safe this weekend everyone!⛈️