The
destructive


effects
of
Storm
Éowyn
mean
that
no
trains
are
expected
to
run
in
Scotland
before
midday
on
Saturday.

ScotRail
said
the
storm
had
caused
‘significant
damage
to
infrastructure
throughout
the
country’,
and
Network
Rail
engineers
will
work
through
the
night
to
remove
fallen
trees
and
other
debris
from
the
tracks.

But
overhead
lines
have
also
been
‘extensively’
damaged.
ScotRail
said:
‘The
safety
of
our
staff
and
our
customers
is
our
absolute
priority,
and
we
will
only
run
trains
when
it
is
safe
to
do
so.’ 

Meanwhile,
damage
to
overhead
lines
caused
by
the
high
winds
has
disrupted
several
tram
routes
in
Manchester.

Transport
for
Greater
Manchester
said
the
damage
at
Deansgate
Castlefield
meant
that
trams
on
the
Airport,
Didsbury,
Eccles,
Altrincham
and
Trafford
Park
lines
must
terminate
outside
the
city
centre.

Engineering
staff
are
at
the
scene
of
the
damage,
but
TfGM
warned
that
repairs
are
being
‘hampered
by
challenging
weather
conditions’.

TfGM’s
interim
Metrolink
director
Ian
Davies
said:
’We
are
doing
everything
we
can
to
resolve
this
situation
at
Deansgate
Castlefield
but
the
conditions
are
making
this
very
difficult
and
there
is
likely
to
be
disruption
for
the
rest
of
the
day.’