Check before you travel as strong winds impact rail services in Devon and Cornwall on Friday 23 October 2026.
Great Western Railway (GWR) and Network Rail (NR) are amending services after the Met Office issued an amber weather warning – its second highest – for strong winds and gusts, which could exceed 80mph in coastal areas.
Strong winds increase the risk of trees and other debris falling on to the railway. To keep trains running safely, we will introduce lower speed limits on routes in Devon and Cornwall between the start of service and 13:00.
Speed restrictions mean we will be operating fewer trains than normal. Those trains that do run are expected to be busier and some journeys could take longer than usual.
Long distance services towards Devon and Cornwall will run between Reading and Plymouth only, with connections onto local services.
Thursday night’s Sleeper service from London Paddington will terminate at Plymouth.
Other services in the region are likely to change as we seek to minimise the impact of the storm and some early-morning services will be cancelled to allow us to assess the impact of any damage in full daylight.
Full details of the amended timetable will be published at GWR.com/check. GWR and NR will continue to update customers throughout Friday as conditions change.
What customers should do
Check before you travel
Journey plans may change at short notice. Please check the latest journey information before you travel.
Allow extra time
Trains that do run are expected to be busier than normal and may take longer than usual.
Refunds and compensation
Should your train be cancelled or delayed you may be entitled to a refund or Delay Repay Compensation, subject to terms and conditions.