Rail closure as flooding and landslides hit west

  • Published
Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 6, Debris on A82 near Lochend, Debris on the A82 near Lochend just south of Inverness during a period of heavy rain over western Scotland.

Flooding has disrupted train services and road travel as heavy rain hits the north of Scotland.

Network Rail Scotland said the line between Inverness and Perth was closed by flooding at Kingussie, and there have been cancellations on the Far North and West Highland lines.

The A82 has been shut north of Drumnadrochit due to mud and other debris being washed across the carriageway.

A Met Office yellow warning for rain, external for western Scotland was in place until 21:00, with up to 170mm (6in) of rain forecast in some places.

Image caption,

Challenging driving conditions on the A9 at Tomatin south of Inverness

Image source, Highland Council
Image caption,

A landslide has closed Skye's B8083

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued 10 alerts and 29 flood warnings, external.

The worst affected areas were expected to include Badenoch and Strathspey in the Highlands and Pitlochry to Ballinluig in Perth and Kinross.

Traffic Scotland said the A82 near Drumnadrochit had been closed in both directions due to debris on the carriageway.

On Skye, the B8083 road four miles (6km) west of Torrin has been closed by a landslide.

Image source, Network Rail Scotland
Image caption,

Flooding has disrupted rail services on the Highland Main, Far North and West Highland lines

Image source, SAIS Lochaber
Image caption,

Water rushes down the 120m Steall Falls in Glen Nevis on Monday in a picture taken by the Scottish Avalanche Information Service

The Met Office yellow weather warning started at 18:00 on Sunday.

Forecasters have warned of a lengthy period of rain across parts of western Scotland.

The Met Office said 40-75mm (1.5-3in) of rain may fall quite widely in the warning area, but there was potential for 120-170mm (5-6in) in the wettest areas - this perhaps most likely in parts of Argyll, Lochaber and Wester Ross.