Rail passengers in north-east Scotland are facing disruption and cancellations after part of the line was flooded. Services to and from Aberdeen have been cancelled due to a reported landslip between Stonehaven and Laurencekirk at around 5.30pm today.
Heavy rain has been battering the area today, reports our sister site Aberdeen Live. And it is set to continue with a Met Office yellow weather warning is in effect along Scotland's East coast until 6pm on Friday, and an amber alert for much of the region until 3pm.
Network Rail Scotland said on Twitter: "We’ve had a report of flooding on the line between Laurencekirk & Stonehaven. Our track team are on their way, but we’ve closed the line until we’ve inspected the area."
It added: "We’ll share more info soon. Thanks for your patience if your journey is affected this evening."
ScotRail has since laid on replacement buses that will call at all railway stations. It has also struck a deal with bus operator CityLink to accept train tickets on board between Dundee and Aberdeen.
Services towards Inverurie and Inverness from Aberdeen are currently unaffected – but long-distance train firm LNER has cancelled its evening departure bound for Leeds from the Granite City.
ScotRail said on Twitter: "Due to flooding between Laurencekirk and Stonehaven the line has been closed pending investigation. Ticket acceptance [is] in place between Dundee and Aberdeen with CityLink."
Due to the severe weather, a speed restriction of 40mph has also been imposed until 12pm on Friday between Laurencekirk and Porthlethen, as trains are forced to slow down as a result of the heavy rain. Scotrail later confirmed that the line re-opened at around 7.30pm.
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