Travel · Rail, Channel & ferries · 21 October 2026
Storm Austen to disrupt rail services in Devon and Cornwall
Network Rail has announced that rail services in Devon and Cornwall will be amended due to strong winds from Storm Austen. Lower speed limits will apply from the start of service until 1300 on Friday. Long-distance trains will terminate at Plymouth.
Network Rail has confirmed that rail services in Devon and Cornwall are being amended and speed limits introduced in response to strong winds from Storm Austen. The changes are designed to ensure safety while teams assess conditions and clear the tracks.
Long-distance services will run only between London Paddington and Plymouth, with local shuttles operating between Penzance and Plymouth. The Sleeper service from London Paddington will terminate at Plymouth on Thursday night. Daryn McCombe, GWR and Network Rail Western performance director, stated: "We'll be doing everything we can to keep tracks clear, with chainsaw teams and specialist colleagues deployed to remove any debris as quickly as we can."
Lower speed limits will be in effect on routes in Devon and Cornwall from the start of service until 1300 on Friday. Some early-morning services will be cancelled to allow daylight assessment of any damage. CrossCountry has cancelled services between Penzance and Plymouth for Thursday and Friday.
Passengers whose trains are cancelled can travel on the two services immediately before or after their scheduled departure. Those who no longer wish to travel can claim a full refund via the GWR website. Maximum wind speeds of 80mph are expected in coastal areas.
Chainsaw teams and specialist colleagues are deployed to remove debris from tracks. The announcement does not specify the exact number of cancellations beyond those already listed or the precise duration of the speed limits beyond the stated end time.
Written by StreetOwl from Network Rail’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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