ENGINEERS are to work ‘around-the-clock’ to keep Scotland’s railway running as freezing conditions continue to grip the country.
Temperatures reached -11 over the weekend on the far north line and a yellow Met Office warning has been issued for today (December 4).
Engineers have been applying de-icer to switches and crossings, as well as inspecting mechanical signalling to help keep systems free of snow and ice.
Special heaters will be used to help keep the rails from freezing at key junctions and engineers will be checking tunnels for icicles, which can damage passing trains or affect overhead power lines.
Liam Sumpter, route director for Network Rail Scotland, said, “Winter is a particularly challenging time for the railway – snow and ice can prevent track and signalling systems from working correctly and cause delays. Our engineers will be working flat out to keep our customers moving over the coming days and keeping our passengers and colleagues safe during the extreme weather is our number one priority.
“Passengers can keep up-to-date with the latest travel information on our social media feeds, or by checking individual train operator’s websites.”
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, added, “Everyone at ScotRail is working hard to make sure our services continue to run as normal during this adverse weather. We urge customers to check their journey on our website or app before they travel to keep up to date with any changes.”
