Snow disrupts transport

Date: 18/1/2013

Heavy snow is disrupting transport in many parts of the UK with warnings for people to travel only if it is entirely necessary.

As well as Cardiff, Bristol and Southampton airports being shut, part of the M4 in Wales is closed and train companies have revised their timetables to deal with the situation.

The Met Office has issued a red warning for snow for parts of Wales, which signals that disruption is very likely with up to 30 centimetres of snow predicted to fall.

It applies to the south-eastern side of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains and has been forecast to stay in place until 9pm tonight (Friday 18th).

Most of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland are on an amber warning with central, western and southern England expected to get the most snow in this category.

Hazardous conditions have been reported on many roads in Wales and the M4 has been shut in both directions between junctions 36 and 37, near Bridgend.

At 10pm last night the decision was made to close the Rhigos, Bwlch and Maerdy mountain roads as they were too dangerous for vehicles to negotiate.

In London, plans were put in place for contingency Tube services throughout the morning rush hour as authorities believed that many would abandon their car journeys.

The Great Northern rail route out of Peterborough, Cambridge and King's Lynn, as well as south London, saw ghost trains run throughout the night by First Capital Connect in a bid to keep the tracks clear.

Both Greater Anglia Trains and Southern Railways are running less frequent services, concentrating on efforts to get those that do run to go on time.

East Coast Trains has lifted ticket restrictions on services to or from Kings Cross from 10am onwards.

A revised time table has been published by South West Trains as part of its contingency planning with changes to several services.

A number of Eurostar journeys have been cancelled between London and Brussels and some A-roads have been forced to close.

Driving conditions are expected to be very difficult with blizzards and strong winds making visibility poor, so motorists are urged not to use their vehicles if at all possible.

Posted by Mary Treen

Transport News and Transport Consulting News