Border Network Rail

Rail passengers in west Cumbria are being advised to plan ahead over the next six weekends as work to upgrade the Cumbrian coast line takes place.

Network Rail is investing £3 million to replace 5,000 yards of track to provide faster and more reliable journeys for passengers.

Buses will replace trains between Silecroft and Bootle every Sunday from 6 January until 10 February 2019.

The line has been closed between Armathwaite and Carlisle since a 500,000 tonne landslip occurred when flooding and bad weather hit Cumbria in winter 2015/16.

Since then Network has worked to repair the landslip and stabilise the railway along this section of the Settle-Carlisle railway line.

Passenger trains are running on the whole of the Carlisle-Settle Line again for the first time in more than a year.

A stretch of the route in Cumbria had been shut since February 2016 following flood damage.

Network Rail engineers have been repairing the iconic line after a 500,000 tonne landslip near Armathwaite.

Excitement is building in Southern Scotland ahead of the Flying Scotsman's visit today.

The journey, which had been in the pipeline for two years, was cancelled on Friday night after Network Rail announced it had not had time to check the Scotsman's route. However yesterday afternoon the tour was reconfirmed.

Network Rail has advised train passengers to check before they travel as the Border region braces for the arrival of Storm Gertrude.

Forecasters are predicting winds to strengthen and rain to move in this evening, with up to 70mph winds. The severe weather is predicted to continue throughout the weekend and into early next week.

Cautionary speed restrictions of 50mph will be in place on Friday morning on the West Coast main line between Tebay and Oxenholme. Restrictions will also be in place between Settle and Carlisle.