Forecasters warn of ice amid ongoing London travel disruption

Luke Jacobs Monday, January 21, 2013
1:45 PM

Commuters face further disruption on the commute home this evening as snow and ice continues to dog London’s travel network.

Hampstead Heath is a pretty sight in the snow. Picture: seanjameskelly/Twitter

Snowfall yesterday has caused school closures across the capital, while Heathrow Airport cancelled one in ten flights because of ongoing poor visibility. Stansted and Gatwick are operating as normal.

The Met Office’s “yellow warning” for London and the south east includes a reminder of the icy stretches expected on the road and rail network, especially where the snow has melted today.

There is also the risk of further localised snowfalls of between 1-3 cm in places this afternoon, more particularly in the southeast, which could affected rail routes in and out of London.

Southern is running an amended timetable on some routes today and tomorrow on services between London and Brighton, Horsham and Caterham.

Plumstead Common was coated in snow. Picture: PrincePlumstead/Twitter

Additionally, there are currently no trains between South Bermondsey and Streatham, and Milton Keynes Central and South Croydon.

There delays of up to 60 minutes across the network. Some Gatwick Express trains from London Victoria are also cancelled today.

The London Overground network has been badly affected by the adverse weather since this morning.

Trains between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction, Willesden Junction and Richmond, and Highbury & Islington and Crystal Palace have been cancelled but it is hoped they will be re-opened by this evening. Tickets are being accepted on reasonable London Underground routes.

The roads in Penge this morning were deserted as drivers avoided the ice

South West Trains is also running a revised timetable and will announce by 4pm today whether they will implement it again on Tuesday.

Journeys across the Southeastern network are being delayed by up to 90 minutes, not helped by the earlier closure of Cannon Street station because of a broken down train.

East Coast trains from London Kings Cross are also delayed by up to half-an hour. Also at this station, First Capital Connect trains are also facing 30 minutes delays on services to and from Cambridge

An hourly service is running between London Blackfriars and Sutton, departing London Blackfriars at 46 minutes past the hour, and Sutton at 38 minutes past the hour.

Speed restrictions have also affected the Eurostar to Paris and Brussels, and two services this afternoon - the 15:56 Brussels Midi to London St Pancras, and the 18:13 Paris Nord to London St Pancras have been cancelled as a result.