Our teams across Britain worked around the clock this weekend during and after Storm Éowyn.
The storm brought the strongest winds to Britain in a decade, meaning we had to take serious measures to ensure the safety of you and our infrastructure.
Here are five things that happened …
Hundreds of incidents
We dealt with hundreds of incidents, ranging from extensive damage to overhead lines and power supplies to tracks and railway stations.
In Scotland alone we recorded more then 400 incidents. Here, teams had to clear more than 120 trees from the tracks.
On the West Coast Main Line, which runs north from London Euston and up to Manchester and Scotland, we recorded more than 60 incidents, including of flying debris, collapsed walls and even a roof on the railway.
We used a combination of locomotives, helicopter inspections and foot patrol to help. The helicopters carried out specialist aerial survey checking the damage. On the ground, specially trained staff carried out the repairs. We even had extra chainsaw teams removing the trees blocking the tracks.
Closing lines
The rail industry made the difficult decision to close several of our lines across the railway once the forecast for Storm Éowyn became clearer. The weather body Met Office had issued a rare red weather warning – meaning a potential danger to life – in some parts of the country.
We closed all lines in Scotland and some parts of the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line.
Winds of up to 100mph were predicted to hit these areas in particular, making it too dangerous for trains. Trees, debris and even trampolines are all known to blow onto tracks during storms like these.
We urged you to check your journeys throughout and warned more lines could close. For example, we had to stop services between Wolverhampton and Stafford, and between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley on Friday afternoon because of damage to the overhead lines that power electric trains.
Our engineers worked as quickly as possible to repair the wires and restart services the next day.
Reopening lines and restarting services
Teams worked fast to reopen as much of the railway as soon as possible. But the storm did cause some extensive and complex damage, which will take longer to repair.
For example, a fallen tree knocked down an overhead line mast in Kilwinning in North Ayrshire. Specialist equipment, including a crane, is needed to complete repairs so it’s not a quick fix. We’ve had to close the railway between Kilwinning and Largs and Ardrossan for the time being.
But we’re keeping you updated every step of the way.
Trampolines and sheds
We urged people living near the railway to secure any trampolines and garden furniture – strong winds can often blow them onto the tracks.
Like this trampoline in the village of Aughton in West Lancashire, which blew onto the railway before we found it hanging from a rail bridge.
Just imagine it flying towards a train.
Sheds are less common culprits but they can also disrupt your journeys. Take a look at this one, which landed Wizard of Oz-style near Forgandenny between Perth and Stirling.
The team on board our patrol locomotive found it while inspecting the line and dismantled and cleared it from the railway before moving forward again.
Please remember to tie down any trampolines and garden furniture before strong winds if you live near the railway.
Business as usual
There were parts of our railway – particularly in southern England – where it was still safe to carry out planned upgrades.
Our teams continued vital works on the East Coast Main Line between London King’s Cross and Peterborough. Engineers upgraded track, drainage and overhead lines.
We also installed under-track cables in preparation for digital in-cab signalling tech. It’s part of our multi-billion-pound East Coast Digital Programme that’ll bring you faster, greener and more reliable trains.
