Storm Austen disrupts South Western Railway as tree blocks Basingstoke line

South Western Railway services faced severe disruption on Friday after Storm Austen brought down a tree on the line between Eastleigh and Basingstoke, according to the Basingstoke Gazette [2]. The blockage, near Shawford, closed the route until it reopened later in the day, though disruption on routes between Weymouth, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and London Waterloo was expected to continue until 5pm, the paper reported [2]. South Western Railway said passengers needing help with their journey should speak to station staff or use a station help point, and confirmed that tickets dated Friday 23 October would also be valid for travel on Saturday and Sunday because of the disruption, according to the Basingstoke Gazette [2]. The Met Office had yellow weather warnings in place from 23 to 25 October, the paper said [2]. The Mirror reported that CrossCountry, Great Western and South Western train services were among rail operators hit by severe disruption as Storm Austen swept across the country [1]. The Met Office issued several wind warnings for Wales and much of England on Friday, with a yellow warning covering south-west England, the south coast, parts of Wales and Herefordshire in force until 5pm, bringing gusts of up to 70mph, and a second, wider yellow warning across England and Wales — including London, the Midlands, the North West and parts of Yorkshire — running until 9pm, according to the Mirror [1]. The storm caused widespread disruption beyond the railways. More than 31,000 homes were left without power across the South West as of 3pm, the Mirror reported, citing National Grid, which said engineers had already restored supplies to more than 52,000 properties since the storm began and that crews remained out working to repair damage [1]. All Channel Islands airports were closed and flights were cancelled at Exeter and Southampton airports, according to the Mirror [1]. Part of Brighton's historic West Pier collapsed into the sea during the storm, the Mirror reported [1]. The Environment Agency issued flood warnings along parts of the Dorset and South Devon coasts and urged people in affected areas to move to higher ground and protect themselves and their families, according to the Mirror [1]. Gusts of 76mph were recorded battering the Isles of Scilly, the paper said [1]. School disruption was also reported, with 87 schools affected across Cornwall and all state schools in the Channel Islands closed for the day, according to the Mirror [1]. The paper also reported that an amber wind warning had been issued for 34 areas ahead of Storm Boelo, a second named storm due to arrive in the days following Austen, with further wind warnings set to come into force on Saturday in Northern Ireland, Scotland and the north of England [1]. The Basingstoke Gazette's report noted that South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex had separately announced a reduction to services between Yeovil Junction and Exeter, to one train every two hours, though this change was linked to a start date in August rather than to Friday's storm disruption [2]. Passengers were advised to check their journeys before travelling and to allow extra time where possible, the Gazette reported [2].