Lightning strike causes disruption on rail line

Image source, GWR

Image caption, A number of routes have been affected
  • Author, Sarah Turnnidge
  • Role, 大象传媒 News, Bristol

A lightning strike has caused disruption on a major railway line.

National Rail said a storm on Thursday morning had damaged electricity supply between Westbury in Wiltshire, and Castle Cary in Somerset.

The line has now reopened, but National Rail warned trains may still be cancelled, delayed or diverted until 09:00 BST.

A number of different Great Western Railway routes have been affected.

These include routes between Bristol Temple Meads and Weymouth, Cardiff Central/London Paddington and Frome, and also between London Paddington and Frome.

South Western Railway services between Salisbury and Yeovil Pen Mill have also been affected.

Further disruption has been caused by a landslip between Axminster and Honiton in Devon.

Trains between Crewkerne and Exeter St Davids are expected to be cancelled, delayed or revised until 12:00 BST.

The lightning strike comes as the Met Office placed a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms in the west of England, starting at 20:00 BST on Wednesday and ending at 08:00 BST on Thursday.

The Met Office said heavy rain would also lead to travel disruption and some flooding.

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