LONDON: Storm Franklin has sparked evacuations in parts of Britain and caused widespread rush-hour travel disruption,with train operators warning customers not to travel amid gale-force winds and flooding. A yellow wind warning that covers England, Wales and south-western Scotland is in place until 1 pm, while an amber warning for Northern Ireland expired at 7 am.
Winds were peaking during rush-hour, according to Greg Dewhurst, senior meteorologist at the Met Office, who added that they will begin noticeably easing around lunchtime.
Heavy showers lashing northern England and Northern Ireland are set to move south-eastwards, he said.
Storm Franklin’s highest gust of 87 mph was recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight on Sunday evening, followed by current gusts of 79 mph on a mountaintop in Wales.
“It’s still pretty strong out there and it will continue to be strong over the next few hours,” Dewhurst told the PA news agency.
National Rail told people not to travel as it said the first services on most routes were cancelled, while there is a reduced timetable for Monday, alternative travel is unavailable and further disruption is expected.
Major flooding across parts of Yorkshire has blocked multiple lines and shuttered South Yorkshire’s Rotherham Central railway station until Tuesday.
Train operator Northern posted a photograph on social media showing the rail line through Rotherham station flooded to the extent that the tracks are not visible.
There is severe disruption on many of its routes, including between Sheffield and Manchester, Scarborough and Hull, York and Sheffield,Bradford and Leeds, Chester and Manchester, and Carlisle and Newcastle.
Rail operator TransPennine Express told customers on Twitter: “Due to a river flooding the railway at Mexborough, trains are currently unable to operate between Doncaster, Meadowhall and Sheffield. All lines are blocked.
“This is preventing road transport in the area. Customers are advised only to travel if their journey is essential.”
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service reported saving a number of people from stranded cars on the A61 at Harewood Bridge, with more reports of roads left impassable due to flash flooding across the region.
There was also flooding in Matlock in Derbyshire after the River Derwent burst its banks.
Stretches of the M60 in Greater Manchester and the M6 in Lancashire were closed due to incidents during the storm, including a lorry that hit a bridge and caught fire.
South Western Railway said Network Rail had cleared more than 50trees from its network since Friday, but more heavy rain and strong winds on Sunday night caused “even more trees to block the lines and further damage to stations and infrastructure.”
It added: “With the wind direction expected to change it is very likely that more trees will come down during Storm Franklin, having been weakened over the last two days.” – dpa
