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Scotland flash floods and Gatwick rail problems disrupt Christmas travel Met Office warns of further threats to Christmas travel
(about 3 hours later)
The Christmas getaway plans of thousands of travellers have been thrown into uncertainty by a significant rail signalling problem. Flood warnings have been put in place across the north and west of Britain as Scotland suffered a day of travel chaos and a significant rail signalling problem stopped trains running through Gatwick railway station in West Sussex.
The problem meant that no trains were able to run through Gatwick rail station in West Sussex Monday morning. Later, it was announced that the signalling problem had been fixed, with all lines through the station reopened. But passengers were warned to expect delays of up to 70 minutes while services recovered. Services were not expected to return to normal until around 4pm. The Met Office issued alerts for parts of northern England and Scotland, with up to 80mm of rain expected in Yorkshire, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and parts of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire over the next 24 hours, although temperatures are expected to remain mild.
The problem has affected trains run by Southern, Gatwick Express, First Great Western and Thameslink. Alerts were issued for the coast at North Morecambe Bay, Rivers Brasthay, Rothay and Winster, and Rivers Esk and Irthing. In north-east England, warnings have also been issued around the Humber estuary.
Flash flooding has caused significant problems and disruption to transport in parts of Scotland on Monday. Dozens of people have been rescued from a supermarket and one passenger injured after a train hit water on the line. Firefighters attended 11 flood-related incidents in Ayrshire as crews worked to rescue people and clear water from homes after heavy overnight rain. Flash flooding caused significant problems and disruption to transport in parts of Scotland.
In Kilmarnock, 42 customers and staff were ferried to safety after becoming stranded by floodwater at an Asda supermarket shortly after 6.10am. Part of Queen’s Drive retail park had become flooded after the river Irvine burst its banks. Water rescue crews from Polmadie and Ayr used two rigid inflatable boats to carry those stranded from the store. More than 30 people were rescued after a train became stranded in about five feet (1.5 metres) of water. A passenger was treated for a minor head injury suffered when the train came to a halt when it hit floodwater near Mauchline, Ayrshire, at about 12.20am.
An Asda spokeswoman said the store had been closed and sandbags put in place to try and prevent water getting inside. Scotrail said the 22.12 from Glasgow Central to Carlisle came to a halt “after striking a large volume of water” between Kilmarnock and Auchinleck. Firefighters used ladders to create a bridge from a carriage, which allowed those on board to be led to safety.
Elsewhere, a passenger was treated for a minor head injury after a train came to a halt when it hit floodwater near Mauchline, Ayrshire, at about 12.20am. Firefighters attended 11 flood-related incidents in Ayrshire as crews worked to rescue people and clear water from homes after heavy overnight rain.
A spokeswoman for ScotRail said: “Last night’s 22:12 Glasgow Central to Carlisle service came to a halt after striking a large volume of water between Kilmarnock and Auchinleck. The Scottish fire and rescue service attended and all passengers were evacuated safely and as soon as possible. One passenger was treated on site for a minor head injury. In Kilmarnock, 42 customers and staff were ferried to safety after becoming stranded by floodwater at an Asda supermarket shortly after 6.10am. Part of Queen’s Drive retail park had become flooded after the river Irvine burst its banks. Water rescue crews from Polmadie and Ayr used two rigid inflatable boats to carry those stranded from the store. An Asda spokeswoman said the store had been closed and sandbags put in place to try and prevent water getting inside.
“We are currently working with Network Rail to move the train and reopen the line as soon as possible.”
Fire and rescue crews led more than 30 people to safety after the train became stranded in approximately five feet (1.5 metres) of water.
The flooding has led to severe disruption to train services between Glasgow Central and Newcastle upon Tyne via Carlisle. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) currently has 10 alerts and 27 warnings in place across Scotland.The flooding has led to severe disruption to train services between Glasgow Central and Newcastle upon Tyne via Carlisle. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) currently has 10 alerts and 27 warnings in place across Scotland.
Police in Cumbria have warned motorists to adjust their speed owing to deteriorating road conditions following heavy rain. A number of roads in the county have reportedly flooded, particularly in the central Lakes, including the B5305 at Sour Nook, the A592 between Newby Bridge and Bowness, and the A591 between Rydal Water and Ambleside. Police in Cumbria warned motorists to adjust their speed owing to deteriorating road conditions following heavy rain. A number of roads in the county have reportedly flooded, particularly in the central Lakes, including the B5305 at Sour Nook, the A592 between Newby Bridge and Bowness, and the A591 between Rydal Water and Ambleside.
Those heading for cross-Channel ferries have also been held up because of a broken down train between Sandling and Folkestone West in Kent. Trains have been unable to run from Ashford International to Dover Priory, with replacement buses being laid on. Those heading for cross-Channel ferries were held up because of a broken down train between Sandling and Folkestone West in Kent. Trains have been unable to run from Ashford International to Dover Priory, with replacement buses being laid on.
Staff shortages also meant there were no Southern trains between Clapham Junction in south London and Milton Keynes Central in Buckinghamshire.Staff shortages also meant there were no Southern trains between Clapham Junction in south London and Milton Keynes Central in Buckinghamshire.
In Yorkshire, overhead wire problems caused by two falling trees at Guiseley meant trains were unable to run between there and Ilkley, with buses being laid on.In Yorkshire, overhead wire problems caused by two falling trees at Guiseley meant trains were unable to run between there and Ilkley, with buses being laid on.
The signalling problem affecting Gatwick was fixed, with all lines through the station reopened but passengers were warned to expect delays of up to 70 minutes while services recovered.
The problem affected trains run by Southern, Gatwick Express, First Great Western and Thameslink.
This is the second Christmas running that those leaving from Gatwick airport for the festive break have run into difficulties. On Christmas Eve 2013 a flood at the airport caused a power cut which led to flight cancellations and severe delays.This is the second Christmas running that those leaving from Gatwick airport for the festive break have run into difficulties. On Christmas Eve 2013 a flood at the airport caused a power cut which led to flight cancellations and severe delays.