In the face of ominous weather warnings from the Met Office, two major rail companies, Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express, have strongly advised customers against traveling to and from Scotland today. Amber and yellow weather alerts for heavy rain loom large over the northern regions, contrasting sharply with the anticipation of rising temperatures up to 25C in southern and central England by Sunday afternoon.

Avanti West Coast has taken the precautionary measure of suspending all services north of Preston, causing significant delays across its network. TransPennine Express echoed the concerns, explicitly urging customers to refrain from traveling on any routes to Scotland due to the challenging weather conditions.

ScotRail, a major rail operator in Scotland, issued a warning of “significant disruption to services” and announced the suspension of some routes due to the expected adverse conditions.

The gravity of the situation is further emphasised by flood warnings issued by Scottish authorities ahead of what they describe as a “major rainfall event.” Forecasting between 150mm and 180mm of rain for parts of the Highlands, Network Rail anticipates extensive river and surface water flooding impacts.

Ruth Ellis, flood duty manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, expressed concern, stating, “A major rainfall event is expected, bringing significant prolonged heavy rain throughout Saturday over the Southern Highlands and western Central Belt, with more heavy rain in the north on Sunday.” She emphasised the potential for danger to life, widespread property flooding, road closures, and disruptions to infrastructure, urging residents to take necessary precautions.

As the weather situation unfolds, travellers and residents in affected areas are advised to stay updated on official announcements, exercise caution, and consider whether their journeys are truly necessary given the potential risks associated with the severe weather conditions.