A KEY Scottish rail route between two of the country’s largest cities has been closed.
The Aberdeen to Dundee link was shut on Tuesday after reports of a “track defect” between Laurencekirk and Stonehaven.
Network Rail, which manages the railway network, warned of disruption while its engineers investigated.
ScotRail said that several of its services would be affected by the issue, warning of "major disruption".
Network Rail Scotland said in a statement: “We're dealing with a report of a track defect near Stonehaven.
“The Aberdeen-Dundee line has been closed while our engineers investigate the report. We'll share more details ASAP.”
We're dealing with a report of a track defect near Stonehaven. The Aberdeen-Dundee line has been closed while our engineers investigate the report. We'll share more details ASAP.@ScotRail @LNER @CrossCountryUK
— Network Rail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) November 14, 2023
And ScotRail wrote on social media: “Due to a report of a track defect near Stonehaven, the Aberdeen – Dundee line has been closed while investigations take place.”
ScotRail further said that trains from Edinburgh to Aberdeen would be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Dundee.
Trains from Glasgow Queen Street to Aberdeen are to be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Perth.
And trains from Inverurie to Montrose are to be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Aberdeen.
READ MORE: Railway worker blames Network Rail for 'slowing down' Scotland's trains
ScotRail’s website said the disruption is expected to last until around 15:00 on November 14.
The reported defect is near the site of the derailment on August 12, 2020 which claimed the lives of train driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62.
A criminal prosecution in October saw Network Rail fined £6.7 million after it admitted health and safety failings over the rail crash, which happened on a day of torrential rainfall.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel