Rail passengers are being advised to check before they travel after heavy snow in London, the South East and East Anglia.
Travel disruption is expected today (Monday 12 December) while Network Rail teams do their best to clear the railway from snow and ice so train operators can safely run a service during the very cold weather.
Hundreds of staff armed with specialist kit will defrost frozen points and signals, and trains with snow ploughs will be used to clear tracks where needed.
However with widespread snowfall overnight passengers will see cancelled and delayed services on some routes.
Passengers are being urged to check www.nationalrail.co.uk to see if their train is running before they set off from the warmth of home.
The railway is no different from other modes of transport in being affected by winter weather, including snow and ice.
Cold weather can impact on rail services in a number of ways, including:
- causing points and mechanical signals to freeze
- snow and ice blocking points, limiting the ability for trains to use certain routes
- ice forming on overhead power lines, affecting power supplies
- falling snow and sleet can reduce drivers’ visibility of lineside signs and signals, meaning trains have to travel more slowly.
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