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Wednesday, 31 July, 2002, 04:29 GMT 05:29 UK
Homes evacuated after flooding
JCB going through water at Livingston
The scene on a road at Livingston
Thunderstorms have led to severe flooding in parts of Scotland.

Over 200 people were moved to safety from their homes in the east end of Glasgow on Tuesday night.

Road and rail traffic were also disrupted by torrential downpours and landslides.

Passengers were stranded for a time on trains between Glasgow and Edinburgh and a series of roads were closed.

River at Livingston
River levels are rising

The torrential rain caused landslides on the line between the two cities and the route south via Carstairs to Newcastle.

The west coast main line and the main Edinburgh to Glasgow route was also closed by flooding and landslides.

ScotRail said passengers stranded on routes were bussed to their destinations.

In Dumbarton and Glasgow, several people were rescued from their cars as water levels continue to rise.

In the Trossachs, 200 hotel guests and staff were evacuated at the Tyghmore Holiday Accommodation in Brig o' Turk.

Station shut

Fire engines had to pump water away from the village of Uphall in West Lothian, where several feet of water was threatening more than 30 homes.

Queen Street high level station in Glasgow was also shut because of flooding in the main tunnel.

ScotRail suspended all services between Edinburgh and Glasgow and Aberdeen and Inverness.

Passengers for destinations beyond Edinburgh and Glasgow were strongly advised not to travel as no replacement road transport could be provided due to the poor weather conditions.

Queen Street station
Queen Street has been closed

GNER services to and from Glasgow were starting and terminating at Edinburgh.

A Railtrack spokesperson said: "We have mobilised all our structural and track engineers to assist in getting the network back to normal as quickly as possible.

The engineers worked throughout the night to open as many lines as possible by Wednesday morning.

On the roads, the M9 was closed at junction four (Lathallan) eastbound where all four lanes were extensively flooded.

Weather warning

Also in central Scotland, the A84 at Balquhidder, A84 at Loch Lubnaig, Loch Achray, A873 at Port of Menteith and the B818 Fintry to Killearn were all badly affected.

Police asked drivers not to take to the roads unless absolutely necessary.

Chief Supt Joe Holden of Central Scotland Police said: "The weather conditions tonight have been, quite frankly, horrendous, and our first priority was, of course, public safety."

The M8 through Livingston and Bathgate was badly affected and there was very bad flooding on the A8 at Coatbridge near the Showcase cinema.

Flooded road
Drivers are being urged to take care

The A82 was badly affected between Erskine and Dumbarton and the M8/M9 junction west of Edinburgh is just passable.

Many parts of Glasgow including Sighthill and Springburn were badly affected.

In Glasgow, several families in the Shettleston area had to be rescued from their homes by boat.

Police divers were searching Riddrie cemetery to the east of the city after reports of a man having fallen into a flooded area.

The Met Office issued a warning that heavy thundery showers would continue through Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders, Strathclyde, the Lothians and Central regions.

All the main airports are open.

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
BBC Scotland's Fiona Walker reports
"A ScotRail spokesman said it was the worst conditions he had experienced in 35 years"
See also:

30 Jul 02 | England
28 Jan 02 | Scotland
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