Person dies on major Scottish transport route as train cancellations cause commuter chaos

A person has died in an incident which threw a major Scottish transport route into chaos this morning.

The individual died on the train tracks between Largs and Glasgow, causing trains to be cancelled.

Commuters were affected as all trains to and from the Ayrshire seaside town were cancelled.

Police vehicles, an ambulance and fire engines were spotted racing to the scene near the seaside village of Fairlie, North Ayrshire.

But the person was pronounced dead at the scene.

ScotRail posted on X: "The emergency services are dealing with an incident in the Largs area which means the line is currently blocked.

"Glasgow Central to Largs Services be cancelled, delayed, or will terminate and restart from Kilwinning."

An update said: "We have Ticket Acceptance in place with McGills buses between Largs and Glasgow.

Services: 901 Largs - Gourock - Greenock – Glasgow, 904 Largs – Paisley. 906 Largs - Greenock – Glasgow."

Another update said: "Train services between Glasgow Central and Largs are returning to normal but some services may still be cancelled, delayed or revised."

An initial post on X on the National Rail account said: "All lines are closed between West Kilbride and Largs.

"Trains will not run to / from Largs and will be revised to start / terminate at Kilwinning or Ardrossan South Beach. Disruption is expected until 11:00."

An update advised: "The emergency services have now completed their work between West Kilbride and Largs allowing all lines to reopen. As service recovers trains running to / from Largs may still be cancelled, delayed or revised.

Disruption is expected until 11:00."

A British Transport Police spokesperson said: "Officers were called to the line near Fairlie railway station at 7.45am today (7 January) following reports of a casualty on the tracks. 

"Paramedics also attended, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The incident is not being treated as suspicious, and a report will be prepared for the Procurator Fiscal."

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: "“We received a call today at 07:48 hours to attend an incident in West Kilbride and dispatched one ambulance to the scene.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We supported emergency service partners at an incident on the railway line between Largs and West Kilbride.

“Operations Control mobilised two appliances and other specialist resources to the area after the alarm was raised at 7.52am on Wednesday, 7 January.”

Phil Campbell, ScotRail Customer Operations Director, said: “ScotRail services were disrupted this morning while the emergency services attend an incident in the Largs area.

“Anyone who experienced delays of 30 minutes or more is entitled to compensation through our Delay Repay Guarantee.”