Landslide blocks main Highland rail line near Carrbridge

The main Highland railway line has been blocked by a landslide just south of the Slochd Summit.

The incident is believed to have occurred around 8.15am but no time has yet been confirmed.

No train was in the immediate vicinity at the time and there are no reports of injury.

The Highland Chieftain service from Edinburgh to Inverness due to call in at Aviemore at 8.29am was caught up behind the landslide.

The service has since returned to the Highland capital and passengers are expected to be taken by bus to either Perth or Edinburgh.

It is thought that a signal indicating to the driver to proceed with caution meant that the East Coast train was not travelling at high speed on the section of track.

One passenger who was on the train said: "Someone described it to me that it looked like the track had been blown up."

It had been raining heavily in the area overnight, and there had been significant amounts of rainfall in the preceeding days.

A source said: "We have been informed that there is no imminent possibility of the track being repaired."

It is understood that the northbound sleeper service had passed by just prior to the landslide and arrived safely in the Highland capital.

The daily Highland Chieftain service left Inverness at 7.55am and connects the Highlands with the North-East of England and London.

The train encountered the landslide on the tracks just after the Slochd summit.

It is the second highest point on the Inverness - Perth railway line at 1,315 feet above sea level.

An East Coast spokesperson said: "Coaches will be provided for passengers travelling south to Edinburgh.

"Alternatively our passengers can use the First Scotrail service which travels to Aberdeen and then join the East Coast service from there, for destinations further south if they wish to do so."

Following the incident First Scotrail are warning passengers they may face delays.

Alternative transport is being arranged at Inverness and Carrbridge.

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