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Storm causes Scottish rail service cancellation Hurricane winds cause disruption to power and travel
(35 minutes later)
All ScotRail services in Scotland have been suspended as hurricane-force winds battered the country. Hurricane force winds have caused travel disruption and left tens of thousands of homes without power in Scotland.
About 70,000 homes have been left without power in the Highlands and Islands as the Atlantic jet stream caused gusts of more 100mph (160km/h). The storm caused the suspension of all ScotRail trains, although some limited services have now started running.
About 70,000 homes have been left without power as the Atlantic jet stream caused gusts of more 100mph (160km/h).
The Forth Road Bridge reopened to cars at 07:25 after being closed earlier.
A Met Office amber warning is in place in the Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney and parts of Aberdeenshire, central and south east Scotland.A Met Office amber warning is in place in the Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney and parts of Aberdeenshire, central and south east Scotland.
The Forth Road Bridge reopened to cars at 07:25. All ScotRail services were suspended while Network Rail, which is responsible for the rail infrastructure, inspected lines for damage caused by winds and high tides.
Rail operator ScotRail said all of its services had been suspended until further notice due to safety concerns. The vast majority of services remain suspended, but ScotRail said some local services, including between Edinburgh and North Berwick, the inner and outer Fife Circle and hourly services between Edinburgh and Newcraighall and between Glasgow Central and Kilmarnock, were now running.
Network Rail, which is responsible for the rail infrastructure, is inspecting lines for damage caused by winds and high tides. Full updates are available on the ScotRail website.
All routes will remain suspended until the lines are checked for passengers to travel.
A ScotRail spokesman said the extreme weather had deteriorated further overnight, and added: "For safety reasons it will be necessary for Network Rail to inspect rail lines across the network for damage this morning before allowing passengers to travel on routes."
ScotRail tickets can be used on First Glasgow buses and the Glasgow subway.
It was hoped most East Coast, Virgin and TransPennine Express services between Scotland and England would be able to run as normal, but passengers were warned there may be short notice alterations and cancellations. Some CrossCountry rail services have been affected.It was hoped most East Coast, Virgin and TransPennine Express services between Scotland and England would be able to run as normal, but passengers were warned there may be short notice alterations and cancellations. Some CrossCountry rail services have been affected.
Anyone planning to travel to or from a station in Scotland should check their journey in advance.Anyone planning to travel to or from a station in Scotland should check their journey in advance.
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) said 69,000 homes remain without power after widespread overnight disruption to the electricity network in areas of northern and western Scotland.
SSE had mobilised 1,000 technical and support staff ahead of the storm, with engineers working in "extremely challenging and potentially dangerous conditions" to reconnect electricity to a further 18,000 customers overnight.
Rural areas have been the worst hit, with almost 13,000 homes still without power around Dingwall and a further 13,000 in Inverness-shire, 12,000 in the Western Isles and 8,000 on Skye.
Other areas affected included parts of Aberdeenshire and rural areas around Wick, Oban and Fort William, as well as Buchan, Dunblane, Dunoon, Elgin and Huntly.
The Forth Road Bridge reopened to cars only at 07:25 after earlier being closed when a van overturned on the northbound carriageway as the wind reached 91mph.The Forth Road Bridge reopened to cars only at 07:25 after earlier being closed when a van overturned on the northbound carriageway as the wind reached 91mph.
The Dornoch Bridge and the Skye Bridge are closed to high sided vehicles, while a fallen tree has closed the northbound carriageway of the Kessock Bridge.
BBC News correspondent Colin Blane said police and fire services were dealing with many incidents of fallen trees.BBC News correspondent Colin Blane said police and fire services were dealing with many incidents of fallen trees.
Flood warningsFlood warnings
The Met Office amber "be prepared" warning forecasts high winds and heavy rain for the next few days and icy conditions on Sunday.The Met Office amber "be prepared" warning forecasts high winds and heavy rain for the next few days and icy conditions on Sunday.
A yellow "be aware" warning, predicting gusts of between 60mph and 70mph, covers the rest of Scotland on Friday.A yellow "be aware" warning, predicting gusts of between 60mph and 70mph, covers the rest of Scotland on Friday.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 14 flood alerts and 10 flood warnings. There are no severe flood warnings.
The warnings are in Moray, Speyside, Tayside, Dumbarton and Renfrew
BBC Weather said gusts in the Highlands reached 113mph in Stornoway, 110mph at Loch Glascarnoch, and 97mph at Altnaharra. Speeds of 61mph have been recorded overnight at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.BBC Weather said gusts in the Highlands reached 113mph in Stornoway, 110mph at Loch Glascarnoch, and 97mph at Altnaharra. Speeds of 61mph have been recorded overnight at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.
The yellow warning is also in place for northern coastal areas of Northern Ireland and parts of northern England, including Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire.The yellow warning is also in place for northern coastal areas of Northern Ireland and parts of northern England, including Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland, Durham and North Yorkshire.
Cumbria Police said strong winds had blown over a lorry between junctions 38 and 39 on the northbound carriageway of the M6 motorway.Cumbria Police said strong winds had blown over a lorry between junctions 38 and 39 on the northbound carriageway of the M6 motorway.
The Met Office's chief forecaster said a depression had been developing over the Atlantic in association with a very strong jet stream. It is said to have been triggered by sub-zero temperatures in the US hitting warmer air.The Met Office's chief forecaster said a depression had been developing over the Atlantic in association with a very strong jet stream. It is said to have been triggered by sub-zero temperatures in the US hitting warmer air.
Flood warnings and alerts have been issued in Scotland and parts of England and Wales. Some ferry services in Scotland have been cancelled.
Power companies have already put extra staff on standby and the police have been warning commuters to check before they travel on Friday morning. All schools on Orkney and the Western Isles have been closed on Friday, more than 40 schools and nurseries in the Highland Council area also closed because of the weather.
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution said it has mobilised 1,000 people in preparation for the storms. Herriot Primary School in Renfrewshire has also been closed after the storm caused damage to its roof, and there have been a small number of closures in Moray and elsewhere.
Some ferry services in Scotland have already been cancelled. Full details of school closures can be found on council website.
All schools on Orkney and the Western Isles have been closed on Friday, with 20 schools and nurseries in the Highland Council area also closed because of the weather.
Herriot Primary School in Renfrewshire has also been closed after the storm caused damage to its roof.
The Dounreay nuclear complex on the far north Caithness coast will be closed to all but essential staff on Friday and Saturday, the site's operator has said.The Dounreay nuclear complex on the far north Caithness coast will be closed to all but essential staff on Friday and Saturday, the site's operator has said.
The winds are predicted to die down on Friday before returning again overnight and into Saturday morning.The winds are predicted to die down on Friday before returning again overnight and into Saturday morning.
Snow showers are also possible across Scotland on Saturday.Snow showers are also possible across Scotland on Saturday.
Check out the latest travel news for ScotlandCheck out the latest travel news for Scotland
For the latest on the roads visit the BBC's travel news page and keep up to date with incidents and roadworks on the motorways here.For the latest on the roads visit the BBC's travel news page and keep up to date with incidents and roadworks on the motorways here.
Around the country you can check for updates from:Around the country you can check for updates from:
Alternatively, for regular travel bulletins listen live to BBC Radio Scotland and follow @BBCTravelScot.Alternatively, for regular travel bulletins listen live to BBC Radio Scotland and follow @BBCTravelScot.
In times of severe disruption you can also follow the BBC Scotland severe weather Twitter list of key sources.In times of severe disruption you can also follow the BBC Scotland severe weather Twitter list of key sources.
Below are a number of other traffic information sources.Below are a number of other traffic information sources.
Have you been affected by the gales? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience.Have you been affected by the gales? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience.
Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist.Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist.
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