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Network Rail has announced railway closures, beginning on Saturday night, as two storms are expected to bring disruption across the country this weekend.
The Met Office has issued several amber warnings for wind across parts of northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland this weekend as Storm Boelo approaches.
The forecaster said gusts of up to 80mph could hit exposed coastal areas while winds of 60-70mph would be widespread elsewhere, warning of danger to life from flying debris.
There is also a “good chance” of power cuts, damage to building, trees uprooted and rail and flight cancellations.
The amber warnings come into force at 9pm on Saturday, when Storm Boelo is expected to hit the UK, running until 9pm on Sunday.
It comes amid widespread disruption in south-east England and Wales from Storm Austen on Friday, the first named storm of the year.
From 9pm on Saturday, services south and west of Kilwinning will cease, and from 10pm on the Oban and Mallaig lines.
On Sunday, the line between Kyle of Lochalsh and Achnashellach will not operate, nor will the service between Wick and Helmsdale.
Trains that are running will operate at reduced speeds across much of Scotland.
Network Rail urged travellers to check their journeys before setting off.
Craig Gorman, head of operational weather strategy at Network Rail Scotland, acknowledged the measure would have a “significant impact” on passengers, but said it would closely monitor the adverse weather and act accordingly.
He said: “We know closing lines and slowing trains will have a significant impact on people’s plans this weekend, and these aren’t decisions we take lightly.
“But when we’re facing weather of this scale, we have to put safety first and make sensible calls before conditions deteriorate.
“A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes to understand how the weather could affect different parts of the railway.
“We’ll keep a close eye on conditions as Storm Boelo moves across Scotland and adapt our response where we need to, while doing everything we can to keep people moving.”
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham has warned that the United Kingdom could face “a winter of greater flooding”.
The Prime Minister was asked if the Government was playing catch-up with civil preparedness as he attended a summit organised to learn from the summer’s record wildfires.
Mr Burnham told reporters: “No, we are having the conversation with people about being better prepared because we’re living in a world where unexpected events seem to be becoming more and more common.
“Obviously weather events – and we’re in a situation today where the UK is facing storms, and obviously we feel for the people without power in Cornwall right now – it is just having those supplies in the house to get you through those those moments.
“So we are having that conversation about resilience. That’s why we’re holding this summit today, it’s why we’re putting the guidance out to the public. We potentially are facing a winter of greater flooding, so it’s about recognising all of those risks and taking action.”
