Train operators have “strongly” urged their customers from the North East not to travel on services to and from Edinburgh before mid-afternoon, as Storm Pia is expected to cause significant disruption.

Issuing “do not travel” advice, TransPennine Express (TPE) and London North East Rail (LNER) asked customers to delay their journeys in and out of the Scottish capital until after 3pm, as parts of the UK brace for high winds.

A yellow weather warning for wind came into effect at midnight and will last until 9pm, with forecasted gusts of 70mph to 80mph in northern Scotland – 65mph to 70mph on high ground – and 45mph to 55mph elsewhere in the country.

The warning also covers Belfast, Newcastle upon Tyne and Manchester.

TPE said there will be speed restrictions in place from the early hours for trains running to and from Edinburgh and that it will not run services between the city and north-west England until Thursday afternoon.

Kathryn O’Brien, customer experience and operations director for TPE, said: “Our number one priority is to keep our customers and colleagues safe, and we will be doing all we can to keep people moving in difficult conditions.

“We are urging anyone travelling across the affected routes to plan ahead, allow extra time, check their journey up until the last minute, and follow the guidance provided.”

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Elsewhere on the trains, Network Rail said many services will only run once safety inspections have taken place, leading to some cancellations.

Impact to LNER services on Thursday, December 21:

  • Services between Edinburgh and Newcastle are subject to speed restrictions extending journey times between the two locations by up to 30 minutes. 
  • An hourly service is scheduled between Newcastle and Edinburgh, in both directions, until late afternoon. A full service will resume once weather conditions improve.  
  • LNER will not run a service to/from Inverness and these trains will start/terminate at Edinburgh.  
  • Aberdeen services are subject to delays of up to 30 minutes however they are scheduled to run in both directions.  
  • Some services will start/terminate at Newcastle.  

Stephen Dixon, a Met Office spokesman, said: “It is quite a wide wind warning area. Gusts are forecast quite widely to be 45mph to 55mph, possibly 65mph to 70mph to the east of high ground in Scotland.

“The strongest winds are likely to be found in the north and north-east of Scotland, including the Northern Isles, with 70mph to 80mph in the morning.”

The Met Office also forecasts showers, with more rain expected on Friday.