Network Rail reverses its decision to cancel Flying Scotsman trips

Network Rail have backtracked on plans to cancel the Flying Scotsman's trips and confirmed they will run as planned

Flying Scotsman at Riley & Son in Bury (PA)

Network Rail have backtracked on plans to cancel planned trips by the Flying Scotsman in Borders and Fife after outrage from a Scottish minister.

Derek Mackay, Scotland's Transport Minister, accused the company of “appalling incompetence”, after planned trips by the steam engine were cancelled at the last minute.

Hundreds of enthusiasts were disappointed to learn the famous locomotive was not running planned tours this weekend.

Network Rail revealed on Friday that the trips would not go ahead, despite organisers claiming the plans had been in the pipes for more than a year.

But the operator announced a swift u-turn in the face of the outcry, and announced the schedule will now run as planned, much to the delight of train-spotters.

The routes will take it to Tweedbank and across the Forth Bridge along the new Borders Railway, which was officially opened last year by the Queen.

Network Rail had previously claimed the train could not run as the track needed to be “individually assessed” by engineers.

An earlier statement said: "Unfortunately we have been unable to carry out the work in time and cannot allow the engine to run when we are unsure if the unique design of the Flying Scotsman is compatible with the current railway infrastructure across the Fife and Borders routes.”

But the company were forced to push ahead with proposals after receiving a dressing down from Mr Mackay.

He branded the situation “farcical” and called for an investigation.

When initially hearing of the cancellation, he said: "This announcement is hugely disappointing and represents appalling incompetence by Network Rail GB.”

The minister later tweeted: "Update: Spoken with Mark Carne, Chief Executive of Network Rail, about restoring as much of the Flying Scotsman route plan as possible."

Excursion operators Steam Dreams also voiced their criticism of Network Rail before the climb-down was announced.

Built in South Yorkshire in 1923, the Flying Scotsman pulled the first train to break 100mph in 1934.

The National Railway Museum of York bought the locomotive for £2.3 million in 2004.

It underwent a decade-long restoration costing £4.2 million, and while on its inaugural trip from London to York this February dozens of people trespassed on to the tracks.

Network Rail was forced to shell out £60,000 in compensation due to the delay the crowds caused to services.