Gales Force Trains Off The Rails

Scotland's rail network has been suspended due to severe winds battering the country

Network Rail said that debris on the lines and damage to equipment meant it was not safe to operate any services. 

Trains are being halted at their nearest stations and passengers are being advised to disembark. 

Spokesman Nick King said: ``The weather conditions are such that we are having to bring the network to a standstill at the moment. ``There's too much debris and too much damage to equipment to continue. ``We cannot continue to run trains with the levels of wind we are seeing.'' 

A spokeswoman for Scottish Hydro said 900 of its staff are working to restore power to houses affected by cuts, the majority of which are in the Highlands. 

The area north of Inverness, including Muir of Ord and Dingwall, has been badly affected, and staff are assessing and fixing damage caused by the high winds, she said. 

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it was responding to numerous calls relating to fallen trees and road blockages. 

Severe flood warnings are in place for Skye and Lochaber, Caithness and Sutherland, Tayside, Central Scotland, Fife and Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Coastguards said spring tides and a storm surge of up to half a metre were causing problems in the Outer Hebrides. 

Winds have reached 59mph in Edinburgh and 63mph in Glasgow this morning. 

Network Rail said Glasgow Central station was being evacuated due to debris smashing glass in the roof. 

No one has been hurt and arriving passengers are being escorted from the station.