Train services between Aberdeen and Dundee ground to a halt on Thursday due to a gas leak.
Rail operators were forced to close several lines following reports of a gas leak near the railway at Carnoustie.
It comes after an excavator struck a mains gas pipe in the area on Tuesday while carrying out ground investigation works.
A 50-metre exclusion zone was in place around the area while engineers worked and two homes and Carnoustie Leisure Centre were evacuated.
UPDATE: The line has now reopened but it will take time to get services back on schedule. Please refer to the station info boards and the app for the latest service info. https://t.co/CCabhwINAX
— ScotRail (@ScotRail) February 2, 2023
ScotRail services bound for Aberdeen were terminated at Dundee while the line was closed for over 24 hours.
The East Coast railway line was closed between Dundee and Montrose but has now been reopened.
In a statement on Twitter, Network Rail Scotland said the fault was not on the railway line but within close proximity.
They wrote: “The East Coast line through Carnoustie remains closed due to a burst gas main. The affected pipework isn’t part of our infrastructure, however, the railway falls within a safety exclusion zone.”
Further disruption
Replacement buses were in operation between Aberdeen and Dundee while the line was closed to help mitigate disruption to commuters.
Rail tickets were also accepted on CityLink and Stagecoach services.
The leak was first reported on Wednesday evening, forcing rail operators to suspend ScotRail services from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
While the line reopened on Thursday evening, there was still some disruption to services.
However, services have resumed between Aberdeen and Dundee on Friday.
Meanwhile, services between Inverness and Wick, Thurso and Kyle of Lochalsh and journeys between Glasgow and Oban, Fort William and Mallaig have also faced delays today.
This is due to trains operating at a reduced speed because of severe weather conditions.
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