Whatever the weather, we’re here to help keep you informed, on the move and most importantly, safe during your winter train travels.
During the cold months, severe weather conditions can impact our trains, their tracks and our stations.
We’ll always do everything we can to get you to your destination safely. And if we can’t get you there by train, we’ll organise alternative transport to get you where you need to be. In our stations our teams work hard to make sure underfoot conditions are kept as safe and possible. However, we do ask that you leave extra time and take extra care when travelling so that you don’t need to rush.
- Take extra time and care when moving around stations and platforms.
- If you arrive at a station that is slippery or hasn’t been gritted, if it is safe to do so, please use a station Help Point to report it.
- Take extra care and hold the handrail on stairs and escalators.
- If you’re travelling with a pram, luggage, large shopping bags or have mobility issues, please use the lift.
Over recent years, we’ve done our best to become more resilient and keep as many services running as possible during bad weather. Here are a few of the things we do to to avoid disruption:
- Our advance weather warnings trigger response teams across the country
- Most ScotRail colleagues have smartphones so they can pass on travel advice on the go
- We’ve improved heating and insulation on trains to keep you warmer on chilly winter days
- Dedicated teams are on standby to clear and de-ice station carparks and walkways
- We work through the night to monitor weather and make sure it’s safe to run trains in the morning
- If weather forecasts mean we need to run less trains, we’ll do our best to let you know by 4pm the day before so you can change your plans if need be
- Download the ScotRail App – this enables you to track your train and see live updates.
- Follow us on X (previously Twitter) @ScotRail – the social media team keep on top of service disruption.
- Check information screens on station platforms and in ticket offices.
- Listen out for announcements over the tannoy system.
- Use a station Help Point to speak to someone in our customer service team. Simply press the button to connect.
- Chat to our customer service staff or team members in stations.
- View live updates on our website.
Here is more information about we keep you moving during disruption.
Money back if your train is delayed
If you’re travelling with us and your journey is delayed by 30 minutes or more, we’ll give you compensation – that’s our Delay Repay guarantee. If you happen to miss a connection because of a delayed ScotRail train you can claim for that too. Just remember to make the claim within 28 days.
No waiting around with the ScotRail app & mTickets
In this weather, you’ll want to keep the waiting around to a minimum. Download the ScotRail app and buy your mTicket from the comfort of your own home. Your mTicket is available to download and activate straight away, ready for travel. No more fumbling with gloves to get a paper ticket out! Simply scan your phone at the ticket gate or show it to a member of staff when requested.
- When winds are forecast to hit 70mph and above, trains will be subject to speed restrictions to keep you safe.
- If wind speeds reach 90mph, services in affected areas must be suspended. It’s not safe to run trains in such conditions.
- When the weather settles, rail lines must be checked to make sure there’s no debris on the tracks, such as tree branches or even trampolines or garden sheds!
- When there’s a risk of waves crashing over sea walls, trains cannot run due to the risk of water affecting electrical systems and washing debris onto the line. Overhead lines may also be damaged by sea water.
- Three tonnes of snow can gather under a train in a single day. This snow often forms a large block of ice.
- Defrosting can take several hours – even when we’re using our pioneering polytunnels to speed things up.