By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 2:08 AM on 1st December 2010
- All trains out of Victoria Station cancelled
- Rail customers warned of massive delays and suspensions
- Some lines opened over four hours late
- 16 flights cancelled at Gatwick
- Britain braces itself for cold evening with heavy snow forecast
White-out: Big Ben is at the centre of a snowstorm in London as the big November freeze continues
Commuters faced a nightmare journey home tonight as London's transport network ground to a halt in the face of snow and freezing conditions.
Passengers at Victoria Station were told all trains into and out of the terminal were cancelled while other services around the the capital were severely reduced.
Workers were earlier warned by Network Rail to begin their homeward journeys as soon as possible with colder weather and heavier snowfall expected through the night and tomorrow.
And with drivers struggling to use an icy road network, and Gatwick Airport cancelling 16 flights while others were affected by suspensions and delays, one of the coldest Novembers in decades has left Britons facing anxious journeys this evening and on Wednesday morning.
In angry scenes, passengers at Victoria remonstrated with station staff demanding more information.
One passenger, who asked not to be named, said: 'It was hellish. Every platform had a train on but they were going nowhere.
'When we were finally allowed on one it was completely filled and arguments were breaking out everywhere. I cannot believe this is happening again.'
Frustration: Destination boards show no services running at Victoria Station as passengers are left stranded
Cancelled: Commuters arriving at East Croydon Station had to be monitored by police officers to prevent dangerous overcrowding
Gridlock: Severe delays were experienced by motorists near Junction 10 of the M25 in Surrey
Just two weeks after Network Rail claimed it was prepared for the cold weather, rail customers were left furious today as the 'sheer weight' of snow created severe train delays.
Stranded: Commuters at Victoria were confronted with this information board this evening
A Network Rail spokesman said across the country 73 per cent of train services were operating to time which was better than expected.
He said: 'We are having major problems south of the Thames where the predominant power source for trains is an electrified third rail.
'The Southern line between East Croydon and Redhill is suspended due to a broken-down train and the South Eastern line between Grove Park and Orpington is also out causing massive problems at Victoria Station where both originate from.
'We will be working throughout the night to improve this situation and will have men out with broom sweeping the rails if necessary.
'Network Rail and the train operators are activating their full winter contingency plans with "ghost trains" running throughout the night to keep routes open, points heaters being checked and kept clear of snow and hundreds of workers braving sub-zero temperatures to man key strategic junctions to keep trains moving.'
Robin Gisby, director of operations and customer services, added: 'In these kinds of conditions our priority is to keep people safe, keep routes open and keep trains moving.
'We want to make sure we get people home tonight by running the maximum number of trains we can, prioritising capacity over punctuality.'
Forecaster for Meteogroup Matt Dobson said although snow does not appear to be settling in central London, the commuter belt has been hit hard.
'People who are travelling from central London into the commuter belt will experience problems because the snow there is settling,' he said.
'Some train services have already been cancelled and customers should make their way home as soon as possible.'
Two inches of snow fell in some parts of London and heavier showers are expected tonight.
A Met Office weather map warns of this afternoon's expected conditions
The north-east looks set for further poor weather judging by predictions for this evening
Long walk home: Forecasters have warned chilly conditions in the capital will get worse on Wednesday
Dusted with snow: West Hampstead station in London had a light covering on Tuesday but can expect more tonight
And the forecast of worsening weather will be of concern to passengers across the country, especially those set to use Southeastern services, the busiest commuter operator, this evening after customers on a train leaving London late last night were left stranded.
The worst hit rail users were passengers on Southeastern travelling from the Kent coast heading for Charing Cross, Victoria and Cannon Street stations.
Julia Haworth, 24, who works at the Soho Theatre, in central London said: 'They are always making excuses — it was much worse in February, but they don’t want to put people off using their trains.
'They’ve got all this new technology but what have they actually done?'
Whiteout: An aerial picture shows the Midlands covered in snow, with warnings of heavier showers on the way
Alone again: A woman stands out against a blanket of snow on London's Highbury Fields
Phil Hawkeswood, 49, house manager at the Palace Theatre, added: I can’t understand why the trains can’t run on time.'
A spokesman for Network Rail had earlier admitted some lines were more than four hours late opening. However, he said the sections of line which had been equipped with heating elements had 'worked well — and we would describe it as a success'.
Rail chiefs were on standby to rip-up the timetable in a desperate move to keep the trains running.
Picture postcard: Trains were able to use Tring station on Tuesday but further travel could be testing
It's brass monkeys out there: Olive baboons shield from the snow at Knowsley Safari Park in Liverpool
Winter weather: The poor weather is of less concern to the young, as children take advantage of the snow in Buxton's Pavilion Gardens
Completing the journey on foot: The heavy snow is no impediment to a jogger on London's Hampstead Heath on Tuesday afternoon
The Association of Train Operating Companies said that, as of 1pm today, 70 per cent of trains were arriving at their destination on time.
An Atoc spokesman said companies were 'working tirelessly' to deal with the conditions.
TRAVEL CHAOS ACROSS THE UK
Man killed in three-vehicle collision in Yorkshire
Delays for cross-Pennine trains
Cancellations at Luton Airport
Vehicles stranded on Lincolnshire roads
Roads closed in Derbyshire and Yorkshire
Drivers warned to take care
Scores of people on the Victoria to Ashford International service run by Southeastern had to cram into one carriage after the train became trapped when a conductor rail iced over.
The train was stuck for two hours near Borough Green and Wrotham station in Kent overnight. It came to a halt at about 11.45pm and passengers were not taken off until 1.50am.
A teenage girl suffered a diabetic attack and fellow passengers gave her sweets and fizzy drinks to keep up her sugar levels.
Stewart Stanley had caught the 11.07pm yesterday and expected the usual 55-minute journey until the lights began to flicker on and off.
Mr Stanley, a 29-year-old photo-grapher, said: 'There was a dusting of snow on the ground but nothing major so I was really surprised the train was that badly affected.
'Just before midnight, the driver came out of his cab and said the contacts were frozen. He went down right to the end fourth carriage and brought everyone up to the front.'
The father-of-one, who pays about £300 for his monthly ticket, said that the driver took a long time to reappear and only told passengers that he had lodged an emergency call.
He said: 'The conditions inside the carriage were quite difficult, especially for a group of teenagers, one of who was diabetic and was getting panicky.
'But everyone pulled together and some people gave the girl, who was about 18, some Cola bottles and Fanta to keep her going.
'At around 12.30am the power and heating went off and we were sitting in the darkness for nearly an hour and a half. No one could go to the toilet because they were in the other carriage which was controlled by the electronic door.
We were still stuck until 1.50am when we felt a shunt and were pulled back to the station.'
Cut adrift: A digger clears snow after the worst snow since 1974 fell on Alnwick in Northumberland
Stormy weather: Drivers power through the snow as Kent is hit by heavy showers
Abandoned: A car almost blends into the background at Glenagles in Perthshire
Mr Stanley added: 'One guy in his twenties had a massive argument on the phone with his girlfriend, who thought that he was lying about being stuck on a train — the other passengers offered to speak to her.'
When the passengers thought their ordeal was over, there was no coach on standby at Borough Green and Wrotham.
It finally arrived 10 minutes later but did not have enough seats, leaving about ten passengers stranded in the snow at the station.
A Southeastern spokesman said: 'Last night one of our trains became trapped as a result of ice on the conductor rail in the Borough Green area.
'Buses were ordered to meet the passengers but due to the problematic weather conditions on the roads these were delayed in arriving.
'We worked as quickly as possible with Network Rail to make sure that passengers were able to get home. We’re sorry for the delay.'
Feeding time: Highland cows make their way through the heavy snow at Craigannet Farm near Carronbridge Central Scotland
The cold snap is expected to last until at least the end of the week, with overnight temperatures in parts of Scotland likely to plunge to minus 20c before Saturday.
The coldest overnight temperature in the UK was minus 16c, recorded in Altnaharra in northern Scotland.
The UK’s lowest recorded temperature in November was minus 23.3C at Braemar, in the Highlands, on November 14, 1919.
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