Over 2,500 homes still without power after storm

After the powerful Storm Éowyn swept through Scotland, many households are still grappling with power outages. Energy companies are diligently working to restore electricity to those affected. In Edinburgh, the aftermath of the storm is evident with overturned roadwork barriers and traffic cones lining the streets. Scottish Power Energy Networks reported that approximately 1,900 customers are still without power, and their engineers are actively engaged in efforts to reconnect these homes. Meanwhile, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is focused on restoring power to 900 customers who lost their electricity supply due to the storm's destruction. Network Rail has also been busy, responding to over 800 incidents across Scotland during the storm, and they have managed to get 75% of the rail network back up and running. However, some ScotRail services are still disrupted, including routes from Paisley to Gourock and Kilwinning to Largs. A spokesperson for ScotRail mentioned that rail replacement services are available on affected routes, but travelers should expect longer journey times. They also advised that bus schedules depend on traffic conditions. The storm brought fierce winds, with gusts reaching up to 100mph, which caused significant damage to the rail infrastructure. Network Rail teams worked tirelessly over the weekend to repair the damage and clear debris from the tracks. SP Energy announced that they have restored power to over 99% of their customers, but 1,900 remain without electricity. The majority of these customers are located in Dumfries and Galloway, with smaller groups in other areas. SSEN continued its efforts on Tuesday morning to restore power to the remaining 900 homes, providing direct updates to customers. Both energy providers are also offering hot food and drinks to those without power, with information about locations shared on social media. Tragically, a 19-year-old man in East Ayrshire was injured when a tree fell on his car during the storm. The tree was uprooted by the strong winds and struck his vehicle. Several buildings sustained damage, including the Helensburgh Leisure Centre, which experienced extensive roof damage. The stadium at Celtic Park also suffered damage, leading to the postponement of a Scottish Premiership match against Dundee. Donibristle Primary School in Dalgety Bay announced it would remain closed on Tuesday and Wednesday due to roof damage, with students being offered home learning as an alternative. In Glasgow, a historic 400-year-old tree, linked to Mary Queen of Scots, was severely damaged. The Darnley Sycamore, believed to be the site where Mary Stuart cared for Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, lost several branches during the storm. In Edinburgh, the Royal Botanic Garden lost its tallest tree due to the high winds. Home Affairs Secretary Angela Constance addressed a meeting of the Scottish Government's Resilience Room (SGORR) on Monday evening, stating that over 280,000 homes in Scotland have had their power restored. She expressed gratitude to everyone working tirelessly to restore services. Constance noted that while trunk roads and ferries are largely operating normally, the railway system is still recovering, with Network Rail reporting over 500 incidents. She cautioned that some train lines may continue to experience disruptions until later in the week, urging passengers to be patient and to check ScotRail and Network Rail information before traveling. Additionally, she mentioned that a small number of schools would remain closed on Tuesday, with local authorities reaching out to parents and students as necessary.