National Rail operators are warning of delays and cancellations to trains in England and Wales as a result of Storm Ciarán, which tracked across southern England overnight and is now affecting towns in north west France.

Network Rail has despatched emergency teams to repair damage in many places.

GWR has warned that there will be no trains between St Austell and Penzance today, nor on any of the Cornish branch lines. The Looe Valley line is flooded, and there are also no trains to Gunnislake, Newquay, Falmouth Docks or St Ives. Replacement bus services may not run, and GWR is advising its passengers not to try to travel west of Plymouth. In Devon, the main line is closed between Taunton and Exeter St David’s, affecting GWR and CrossCountry services, while the line is also closed between Reading and Gatwick Airport.

Fallen trees and landslips are blocking railways in Kent and Sussex, while a trampoline was blown on to the line at Hastings. Govia Thameslink Railway has advised its passengers south of London that if they plan to travel today, they ‘should strongly consider’ whether their journeys are necessary, and should work from home if they can.

South Western Railway routes have also been affected by the storm, with disruptions reported between Fareham and Swanwick, Horsley and Effingham Junction, Ash and Wanborough, Salisbury and Southampton Central, Guildford and Havant, and between Bournemouth and Brockenhurst.

LNER is ‘strongly advising’ its passengers to avoid travelling today or tomorrow. Some LNER trains will be running, but ‘major disruption’ is likely, including severe delays, short notice cancellations and overcrowding. 

Greater Anglia services are disrupted between Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

Transport for Wales is warning that there are no trains on the Heart of Wales line, nor on the Conwy Valley branch, while a fallen tree is blocking the line between Quakers Yard and Abercynon. Some services on other routes in Wales may also be cancelled. Speed restrictions are affecting Northern trains between Newcastle and Carlisle.

Network Rail route director Marcus Jones said: ‘We’ve brought in additional teams and contractors. If you live near the railway, please do remember that garden objects can end up on the tracks at any time if they’re not secured, but particularly when we see the strong winds that are predicted for the remainder of the week.’