Train passengers urged to avoid East Coast main line as Storm Ciaran travel disruption continues
LNER says it's not expecting its services to begin returning to normal until tomorrow morning
Last updated 3rd Nov 2023
There are fresh warnings of disruption along the East Coast main line as train operators try and get services back to normal after Storm Ciaran.
LNER is advising passengers not to travel today if they can, as it still has a reduced timetable in place across its network.
The company's particularly urging people to avoid services between Newcastle and Edinburgh, as these are much less frequent than normal.
LNER statement
"We strongly advise you to avoid travelling today, Friday 3 November.
At present there limited train services running south of Peterborough due to extensive damage to the overhead wires.
Our teams are working with Network Rail to manage these incidents and to resume a train service as soon as possible.
Customer Advice:
We strongly advise you not to travel today, Friday 3 November.
We have an limited train service, trains that are running are heavily will be extremely busy.
We expect significant service alterations and cancellations today, Friday 3 November, due to our trains and crews being out of place.
If you have an LNER ticket dated for travel on Wednesday 1 November or Thursday 2 November, you will be able to use your LNER ticket on an alternative LNER service up to, and including, Friday 10 November. You do not need to rebook your train, but we recommend making a new seat reservation for LNER services here, at our Travel Centres or via the LNER App.
If you choose not to travel and your journey tickets dated Wednesday 1 November, Thursday 2 November or Friday 3 November are unused, you may obtain a full refund from your point of purchase. For tickets booked via the LNER website, please visit our refunds page for further information.
We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused, and we are working hard to get our train services running again.
Flooding and strong winds block roads and damage homes
The AA, which had a large number of callouts in southern England, said it had "rescued 84 customers stuck in flood so far today, with thousands more impacted by the weather".
Almost 90 flood warnings are in place with more than 235 flood alerts stretching up through the country, after the south coast and the Channel Islands were battered with heavy rain and gusts of up to 100mph on Thursday.
The extreme weather looks set to bring downpours and strong winds to Scotland and parts of northern England today.
Nearly 150,000 homes were left without power and by 4pm on Thursday, around 11,300 properties still had no electricity.
Some 135,700 had been reconnected, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) said.
A spokesperson said: "By working together in very challenging conditions, so far today network operators have reconnected 92% of customers affected by storm-related power cuts.
"While difficult conditions remain, with violent winds forecast until the end of the day, teams from across the country are working together to continue to reconnect customers where it is safe to do so."
A Met Office yellow weather warning is in place in eastern Scotland, with the threat of difficult driving conditions, flooding and delays or cancellations to train and bus services, and a small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater.
Floods minister Rebecca Pow said potential flooding risks remained across the UK with river levels still high, large waves at the coast and saturated ground.
All schools in Jersey remain closed, with islanders urged to stay at home on Friday. Flights between Jersey Airport and the UK are not due to resume until 2pm this afternoon at the earliest.
Most schools and public buildings in Guernsey and Alderney have reopened.
The Met Office described the Channel Islands as having endured "supercell thunderstorms", where locals faced frequent lightning, large hailstones and a possible hurricane.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: "Hopefully the worst of it is now easing at it moves away.
"Ciaran is moving into the North Sea. It's weakening. It is filling but it's still bringing quite a blustery wind to many places."
Longer spells of rain will continue across the north east of Scotland and parts of the Pennines later today, but it will be a quieter picture further south compared with Thursday, Mr McGivern said.
Over the weekend, the north west will see showers, as will the north east of Scotland.
A Met Office yellow warning has been issued for south-east England, including Portsmouth and Brighton, for Saturday afternoon and evening, with heavy rain and gusty winds expected to cause travel disruption and possible flooding.