If you're planning to travel by rail this Friday, it's worth checking before you set off.
Rail passengers travelling across Cornwall and Devon are being warned to expect disruption as Storm Austen brings strong winds to the South West.
Great Western Railway (GWR) has confirmed that fewer trains will run on Friday (October 23) as an amber weather warning comes into force at 3am and remains in place until 10am.
The rail operator said services are expected to be busier than usual and journeys could take longer due to the adverse conditions.
Long-distance GWR services will operate only between London Paddington and Plymouth, while local trains will run a shuttle service between Plymouth and Penzance.
🌬️ Storm Austen - Friday 23 October ⚠️ Strong winds are expected to impact services across Devon and Cornwall on Friday, with an amber weather warning in place. 🚆 Fewer trains will run, services will be busier and journeys may take longer. Long-distance services will operate between London Paddington and Plymouth only, with local trains providing a shuttle between Plymouth and Penzance. ⚠️ Some early-morning services on Saturday 24 October may also be cancelled while teams assess any damage. Please check your journey before setting off. We’ll keep you updated as conditions change. 🔎 Check the latest travel information at https://t.co/G8kUCPI5bv If you no longer wish to travel, you can claim a full refund at https://t.co/osO1udAUdd
— GWR (@GWRHelp) October 22, 2026
In an update posted on X, GWR said: "Strong winds are expected to impact services across Devon and Cornwall on Friday, with an amber weather warning in place.
"Fewer trains will run, services will be busier and journeys may take longer."
Passengers are also being advised that some early-morning services on Saturday, October 24, could be cancelled while teams assess any damage caused by the storm.
GWR is encouraging customers to check their journey before travelling, as service changes may be made at short notice depending on weather conditions.
The operator said it would continue to provide updates as the situation develops, with the latest travel information available on its website.
Anyone planning to travel on Friday or Saturday is advised to check before setting off and allow extra time for their journey.
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