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Snow chaos: Cameron frustrated by delays at Heathrow Cold weather causes travel chaos
(40 minutes later)
The lengthy delays to air travel caused by snow at Heathrow Airport over the weekend have been frustrating, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.The lengthy delays to air travel caused by snow at Heathrow Airport over the weekend have been frustrating, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
He said the cabinet had discussed the widespread travel chaos "extensively" on Tuesday, as thousands of passengers remain stranded across the UK.He said the cabinet had discussed the widespread travel chaos "extensively" on Tuesday, as thousands of passengers remain stranded across the UK.
BAA said Heathrow's southern runway, shut since Saturday, has now reopened.BAA said Heathrow's southern runway, shut since Saturday, has now reopened.
Meanwhile, East Coast trains between London and Peterborough had to be evacuated after power line damage.Meanwhile, East Coast trains between London and Peterborough had to be evacuated after power line damage.
Forecasters have predicted there will be no let-up in the freezing conditions until Boxing Day.Forecasters have predicted there will be no let-up in the freezing conditions until Boxing Day.
BBC weather forecaster John Hammond said while the southernmost counties of England had seen a slight rise in temperatures, it would be very short lived, with no significant thaw this week. BBC weather forecaster Louise Lear said there would be a band of heavy snow from the West Midlands to East Anglia by Wednesday morning.
Snow depths of 5-10cm (2-4in) widely, and up to 25cm in places, are forecast.
The Met Office warned temperatures could fall as low as -20C (-4F) in parts of northern England, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday night.The Met Office warned temperatures could fall as low as -20C (-4F) in parts of northern England, southern Scotland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday night.
It also warned of heavy snow in parts of Wales and widespread icy roads across most of the UK.It also warned of heavy snow in parts of Wales and widespread icy roads across most of the UK.
'Difficult time''Difficult time'
Heathrow has been criticised for the length of time it took to clear tonnes of snow from runways and plane stands after a blizzard on Saturday dumped 5in (13cm) in one hour.Heathrow has been criticised for the length of time it took to clear tonnes of snow from runways and plane stands after a blizzard on Saturday dumped 5in (13cm) in one hour.
Mr Cameron said: "Even BAA's harshest critics have conceded that given the amount of snow that has fallen, extensive disruption is understandable.Mr Cameron said: "Even BAA's harshest critics have conceded that given the amount of snow that has fallen, extensive disruption is understandable.
"But if it's understandable that Heathrow had to close briefly, I'm frustrated on behalf of all those affected that it's taking so long for the situation to improve.""But if it's understandable that Heathrow had to close briefly, I'm frustrated on behalf of all those affected that it's taking so long for the situation to improve."
He added: "The people stuck here are having an incredibly difficult time, especially just a few days from Christmas, and everything must be done to either get them on holiday or get them home safely."He added: "The people stuck here are having an incredibly difficult time, especially just a few days from Christmas, and everything must be done to either get them on holiday or get them home safely."
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Network Rail said it expected repairs on the East Coast line to be completed overnight, with a few trains on Tuesday evening and a regular service from 0600, after power line damage between London and Peterborough forced the line to close
  • Some passengers waiting at Heathrow are being bussed to Manchester Airport for flights, with the first one out expected to be a Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong
  • More than 100 passengers were stuck for six hours on a Southeastern train between Kemsing and Otford in Kent when rail lines froze
  • Gatwick Airport reopened at 0600 GMT after closing overnight, but passengers were told to expect further disruption
  • Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Birmingham, Luton, London City, Bristol, Newcastle, Exeter, Bournemouth, Cardiff and Southampton airports say all flights will be subject to delays and cancellations
  • Some 392 schools remain closed in Northern Ireland
  • Motoring rescue service the AA said it dealt with 2,000 breakdowns an hour during Tuesday's rush hour, double its normal rush-hour rate, and expected 19,000 by the end of the day
  • First Capital Connect, First Hull Trains, Grand Central, TransPennine Express, Stansted Express, Heathrow Express, Virgin Trains, South West Trains, Chiltern Railways, Merseyrail, and Arriva Trains Wales are all subject to delays and cancellations
  • A report by the head of the RAC Foundation concluded the government may find it "challenging" to meet road salt requirements for the rest of the winter, although enough was stockpiled to cope with the cold spell at the start of the month
  • The Foreign Office warned of disruption to rail and air travel in France, with delays in parts of Germany, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland
  • The European Union heavily criticised European airports for their response to the recent weather, with transport commissioner Siimn Kallas telling them to "get serious" about planning
  • Air travellers have also been stranded abroad by the Heathrow disruptions, including 43 Cambridge choristers, aged 10 to 13, stuck in Virginia in the US until after Christmas
  • Network Rail said it expected repairs on the East Coast line to be completed overnight, with a few trains on Tuesday evening and a regular service from 0600, after power line damage between London and Peterborough forced the line to close
  • Some passengers waiting at Heathrow are being bussed to Manchester Airport for flights, with the first one out expected to be a Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong
  • More than 100 passengers were stuck for six hours on a Southeastern train between Kemsing and Otford in Kent when rail lines froze
  • Gatwick Airport reopened at 0600 GMT after closing overnight, but passengers were told to expect further disruption
  • Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Birmingham, Luton, London City, Bristol, Newcastle, Exeter, Bournemouth, Cardiff and Southampton airports say all flights will be subject to delays and cancellations
  • Some 392 schools remain closed in Northern Ireland
  • Motoring rescue service the AA said it dealt with 2,000 breakdowns an hour during Tuesday's rush hour, double its normal rush-hour rate, and expected 19,000 by the end of the day
  • First Capital Connect, First Hull Trains, Grand Central, TransPennine Express, Stansted Express, Heathrow Express, Virgin Trains, South West Trains, Chiltern Railways, Merseyrail, and Arriva Trains Wales are all subject to delays and cancellations
  • A report by the head of the RAC Foundation concluded the government may find it "challenging" to meet road salt requirements for the rest of the winter, although enough was stockpiled to cope with the cold spell at the start of the month
  • The Foreign Office warned of disruption to rail and air travel in France, with delays in parts of Germany, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland
  • The European Union heavily criticised European airports for their response to the recent weather, with transport commissioner Siimn Kallas telling them to "get serious" about planning
  • Air travellers have also been stranded abroad by the Heathrow disruptions, including 43 Cambridge choristers, aged 10 to 13, stuck in Virginia in the US until after Christmas
  • Eurostar said it planned to run a "near normal" service on Wednesday
    •
Heathrow Airport is operating a reduced flight schedule until at least 0600 GMT on Thursday, although the Department for Transport has relaxed night-flight restrictions at the airport.Heathrow Airport is operating a reduced flight schedule until at least 0600 GMT on Thursday, although the Department for Transport has relaxed night-flight restrictions at the airport.
Normally all flights stop between 2330 and 0600, but for the next three nights arrivals and departures can continue until 0100, with arrivals only after 0100 until 0600.Normally all flights stop between 2330 and 0600, but for the next three nights arrivals and departures can continue until 0100, with arrivals only after 0100 until 0600.
The government has revealed that an offer of Army assistance was turned down by the airport.The government has revealed that an offer of Army assistance was turned down by the airport.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "We've said if they need additional manpower - a bit of muscle to clear snow - we can provide them with troops and lorries to do that.Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "We've said if they need additional manpower - a bit of muscle to clear snow - we can provide them with troops and lorries to do that.
"They're telling me at the moment they have all the muscle they need. They've cleared most of the stands here and they're actually now in the process of clearing the south runway to get that opened.""They're telling me at the moment they have all the muscle they need. They've cleared most of the stands here and they're actually now in the process of clearing the south runway to get that opened."
Airport operator BAA advised people not to travel to Heathrow unless their airline had confirmed the booking. Malcolm Robertson, of airport operator BAA, told the BBC that the Army "wouldn't make things happen any faster".
BAA advised people not to travel to Heathrow unless their airline had confirmed the booking.
It also warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations, possibly up to Christmas Day.It also warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations, possibly up to Christmas Day.
Victoria Gardiner had been due to fly with Singapore Airlines to Australia with her husband and their 17-month-old toddler on Sunday. She described Terminal 3 at Heathrow as "a bit like a refugee camp".Victoria Gardiner had been due to fly with Singapore Airlines to Australia with her husband and their 17-month-old toddler on Sunday. She described Terminal 3 at Heathrow as "a bit like a refugee camp".
"My husband was in a queue for six hours yesterday, just trying to get information. And he was told to go back to our hotel which we'd actually booked ourselves the night before. It's absolute chaos.""My husband was in a queue for six hours yesterday, just trying to get information. And he was told to go back to our hotel which we'd actually booked ourselves the night before. It's absolute chaos."
Rail damageRail damage
Linda Groom, who was scheduled to leave London for Australia on Saturday after two months working in the UK, said: "My husband and two grown-up daughters are waiting for me, and hoping that I will arrive on Christmas morning."Linda Groom, who was scheduled to leave London for Australia on Saturday after two months working in the UK, said: "My husband and two grown-up daughters are waiting for me, and hoping that I will arrive on Christmas morning."
After Saturday's flight was cancelled, she went to a hotel and tried again the following morning.After Saturday's flight was cancelled, she went to a hotel and tried again the following morning.
Her taxi hit traffic jams near Heathrow and she got out to trudge a kilometre through the snow with her backpack, only to be told again that her flight could not leave. She eventually found an alternative flight on Thursday.Her taxi hit traffic jams near Heathrow and she got out to trudge a kilometre through the snow with her backpack, only to be told again that her flight could not leave. She eventually found an alternative flight on Thursday.
She said: "I was miserable about two days ago but I guess it's relative. There are some people who have been stuck at the airport for three days.She said: "I was miserable about two days ago but I guess it's relative. There are some people who have been stuck at the airport for three days.
"At least I am warm and comfortable while I wait, but my hopes of sharing Christmas with my family and having cold turkey and strawberries on the beach are fading.""At least I am warm and comfortable while I wait, but my hopes of sharing Christmas with my family and having cold turkey and strawberries on the beach are fading."
On the rail network, 400 passengers were forced to abandon four trains between London and Peterborough after damage to overhead power lines near Huntingdon.On the rail network, 400 passengers were forced to abandon four trains between London and Peterborough after damage to overhead power lines near Huntingdon.
East Coast suspended all services out of London King's Cross for the day, and advised all passengers who had arrived at King's Cross "to go home and restart their journeys tomorrow". East Coast suspended all of its services out of London King's Cross for the day, and advised all passengers who had arrived at King's Cross "to go home and restart their journeys tomorrow".
Network Rail customer services director Robin Gisby said: "I must apologise to passengers using services on the East Coast today. I have scores of engineers on site fixing the overhead power lines." First Capital Connect is running a severely reduced service on the King's Cross to Peterborough route during Tuesday evening but warned passengers trains would be very busy.
A large queue formed at King's Cross after it was announced a diesel train, which would be unaffected by the power failure, would head to Scotland via Yorkshire and north-east England. Earlier, a large queue formed at King's Cross after it was announced a diesel train, which would be unaffected by the power failure, would head to Scotland via Yorkshire and north-east England.
L/Cpl Neil Odger, who came back from Afghanistan at the end of November, hoped to return on the train to Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.L/Cpl Neil Odger, who came back from Afghanistan at the end of November, hoped to return on the train to Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.
He said: "It's this train or bust. I can't do another expensive night in London."He said: "It's this train or bust. I can't do another expensive night in London."
A spokesman for East Coast said Network Rail would begin working on the downed power lines at 2300 GMT on Tuesday.
It is hoped a normal service can resume at 0600 GMT on Wednesday but the disruption has caused major backlogs that could take days to clear.
Four diesel trains were scheduled to leave King's Cross for destinations in the north throughout the evening.
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