Rail passengers in South Yorkshire face short-term disruption as services to and from Rotherham Central are suspended due to the risk of flooding linked to Storm Claudia.

Network Rail confirmed that no Northern or Supertram services will stop at the station from 4pm today (Friday) until midday tomorrow. The decision follows forecasts that the River Don could overflow, threatening vital railway equipment.

As a precaution, engineers are disconnecting signalling and telecommunications systems around the station to prevent long-term damage should floodwater reach track level. The move mirrors measures taken during previous bouts of severe weather, in which proactive action helped prevent more extensive disruption.

Mark Hayles, Network Rail route operations manager, said:

“We’ve taken proactive steps during severe weather in the past to successfully protect critical equipment from water damage, avoiding significant passenger disruption and associated costs. We apologise to passengers affected by the route closure. However, forecasts indicate flooding in the Rotherham area, and this is the most effective way to safeguard the railway and restore services as quickly as possible once conditions improve.”

Passengers are urged to check journey planners before travelling and to allow extra time, with replacement transport options expected to be limited while the closure is in place.

Image: Network Rail