Metal thefts lead to rail delays in north east

PASSENGERS on the Aberdeen to Inverness line are facing another day of disruption misery after the third raid by metal thieves on vital signalling cable on the track in four days.

Network Rail staff work to repair the Aberdeen to Inverness line. Picture: HeMedia

In the latest incident on the stretch of line between Huntly and Inverurie 100 yards of cable has been vandalised and will need to be replaced.

On Sunday thieves stole more than a mile of signalling cable from the track at Gartly and, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, engineers discovered that thieves had brought down almost half a mile of cable on another stretch of line, only a mile away, at Kennethmont.

A Network Rail spokesman said today: “Further cable damage will mean more disruption this morning while we repair about 100 metres of cable. We’re working closely with the British Transport Police and will assist their investigation in any way we can.”

The disruption is set to last until at least the early afternoon. ScotRail are again operating shuttle buses between the stations at Huntly and Inverurie and a direct bus service between Aberdeen and Inverness.