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BAA boss refuses bonus over snow BAA boss refuses bonus over snow
(about 1 hour later)
Heathrow airport's boss is to forgo a bonus, as snow-hit air and rail firms begin clearing their passenger backlog.Heathrow airport's boss is to forgo a bonus, as snow-hit air and rail firms begin clearing their passenger backlog.
Colin Matthews said his focus was on getting people moving and rebuilding confidence in the airport, which was criticised for its response to snow.Colin Matthews said his focus was on getting people moving and rebuilding confidence in the airport, which was criticised for its response to snow.
Eurostar is operating almost normally but delays and cancellations have again hit East Coast rail services. Most UK airports also warn of some disruption. Eurostar is operating almost normally but most national rail routes report problems, including East Coast again. Most airports warn of some disruption.
Heavy snow is expected in parts of north-east England and Yorkshire. However, the Met Office has lifted all severe weather warnings across the UK.
Heathrow reopened its second runway on Tuesday evening and is now running two-thirds of services, but warned travellers not to expect services to return to normal straight away and to travel to the airport only if their departure was confirmed.Heathrow reopened its second runway on Tuesday evening and is now running two-thirds of services, but warned travellers not to expect services to return to normal straight away and to travel to the airport only if their departure was confirmed.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Delays and cancellations are reported on train services run by rail companies across the UK. National Rail Enquiries has more information
  • Among the routes affected are most operated by Arriva Trains Wales and Scotrail, Virgin Trains services between London and both Manchester and Birmingham, and all First Great Western routes
  • Signalling problems between Darlington and York mean there could be delays and cancellations on East Coast mainline services, with journey times increased by up to 90 minutes
  • In Wales, 102 schools yet to break up for Christmas closed after 10in (25cm) of snow fell from Tuesday lunchtime
  • Yorkshire Water has taken almost 7,000 calls from people reporting frozen pipes - nearly double the normal level
  • Temperatures plummeted to -20.1C in parts of northern Scotland overnight and forecasters say the cold weather will affect the UK in the coming days
Meanwhile, NHS Warwickshire is appealing for drivers of 4x4 vehicles to spare a few hours over the next week-and-a-half to drive nurses to patients in snow-hit areas.Meanwhile, NHS Warwickshire is appealing for drivers of 4x4 vehicles to spare a few hours over the next week-and-a-half to drive nurses to patients in snow-hit areas.
Director of communications Martin Turner said: "We've got a lot of patients in their homes and communities. Normally we would visit them week-by-week but a lot of regular cars can't get anywhere."Director of communications Martin Turner said: "We've got a lot of patients in their homes and communities. Normally we would visit them week-by-week but a lot of regular cars can't get anywhere."
Some councils are concerned over supplies of road grit. With just 12,000 tonnes left in reserve across Wales, councils want Welsh ministers to ask the UK government to release some of the quantity stockpiled for English authorities.
Nottinghamshire, Wiltshire and Somerset councils have also asked for extra supplies.
Heathrow was criticised over the length of time it took to clear tonnes of snow following a blizzard on Saturday that dumped 5in (13cm) in one hour.Heathrow was criticised over the length of time it took to clear tonnes of snow following a blizzard on Saturday that dumped 5in (13cm) in one hour.
Mr Matthews, chief executive of Heathrow operator BAA, said: "We've had unacceptable conditions for passengers in the last few days. I'm responsible and I've decided not to take my bonus for 2010."Mr Matthews, chief executive of Heathrow operator BAA, said: "We've had unacceptable conditions for passengers in the last few days. I'm responsible and I've decided not to take my bonus for 2010."
BAA would not say what Mr Matthews' reported six-figure bonus would have amounted to; last year, he received £994,000 in pay and bonuses, excluding shares.BAA would not say what Mr Matthews' reported six-figure bonus would have amounted to; last year, he received £994,000 in pay and bonuses, excluding shares.
Prime Minister David Cameron had said weather disruption was understandable but he was "frustrated" at how long it took to improve the situation, while former Labour Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said BAA appeared to have made "totally inadequate preparations".Prime Minister David Cameron had said weather disruption was understandable but he was "frustrated" at how long it took to improve the situation, while former Labour Transport Secretary Lord Adonis said BAA appeared to have made "totally inadequate preparations".
Mick Rix, the GMB union's national officer for the aviation industry who had called for Mr Matthews to give up his bonus, said: "For once, a British senior director has done the right thing."Mick Rix, the GMB union's national officer for the aviation industry who had called for Mr Matthews to give up his bonus, said: "For once, a British senior director has done the right thing."
Backlog 'increasing'Backlog 'increasing'
The Independent's travel editor Simon Calder said the situation at Heathrow would get worse on Wednesday despite more flights leaving.The Independent's travel editor Simon Calder said the situation at Heathrow would get worse on Wednesday despite more flights leaving.
He told BBC Breakfast: "Everybody thinks 'Oh well they've got both runways open, things will improve'. I'm afraid the backlog today is only going to increase - by another 60,000 people."He told BBC Breakfast: "Everybody thinks 'Oh well they've got both runways open, things will improve'. I'm afraid the backlog today is only going to increase - by another 60,000 people."
British Airways says it has cancelled 2,000 flights and diverted 40 fully-laden planes to other airports around the UK and Europe over the past six days, one of its busiest periods of the year.
It hopes to operate a full long-haul departure schedule from Heathrow on Thursday and Christmas Eve and is using larger planes than usual on short-haul routes to accommodate more passengers.
Cross-Channel operator Eurostar said it was planning to run 43 out of 52 services from London St Pancras on Wednesday.Cross-Channel operator Eurostar said it was planning to run 43 out of 52 services from London St Pancras on Wednesday.
It advised passengers to turn up only if they had a valid ticket, and only an hour before they travelled.It advised passengers to turn up only if they had a valid ticket, and only an hour before they travelled.
Some passengers have reported empty seats on Eurostar trains out of London, despite people being left on platforms.Some passengers have reported empty seats on Eurostar trains out of London, despite people being left on platforms.
BBC journalist Lucy Wilkins, who was travelling to Paris for Christmas, said she had managed to leave St Pancras on Wednesday morning with just a 20-minute delay.BBC journalist Lucy Wilkins, who was travelling to Paris for Christmas, said she had managed to leave St Pancras on Wednesday morning with just a 20-minute delay.
But she said there had been chaotic scenes and long queues, with some people waiting in line who had been due to travel two days ago.But she said there had been chaotic scenes and long queues, with some people waiting in line who had been due to travel two days ago.
Train operator East Coast had been forced to suspend services between London and Peterborough on Tuesday because of damage to overhead power lines near Huntingdon.Train operator East Coast had been forced to suspend services between London and Peterborough on Tuesday because of damage to overhead power lines near Huntingdon.
East Coast chairwoman Elaine Holt said there were "a lot of lessons to be learned" from the past few days.East Coast chairwoman Elaine Holt said there were "a lot of lessons to be learned" from the past few days.
She said: "Network Rail are going to look very closely at their infrastructure and what they can learn from this... what we could do better regarding customer information."She said: "Network Rail are going to look very closely at their infrastructure and what they can learn from this... what we could do better regarding customer information."
Rail watchdog Passenger Focus said the recent bout of cold weather should act as a wake-up call for the industry to provide better information.Rail watchdog Passenger Focus said the recent bout of cold weather should act as a wake-up call for the industry to provide better information.
Chief executive Anthony Smith said: "What we've seen recently is lots of cases where we've had websites saying different things, we've had phone lines saying different things and we've had staff saying different things as well.Chief executive Anthony Smith said: "What we've seen recently is lots of cases where we've had websites saying different things, we've had phone lines saying different things and we've had staff saying different things as well.
"That confuses passengers and makes them feel that the system isn't looking after them.""That confuses passengers and makes them feel that the system isn't looking after them."
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Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy

Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy
Temperature tab onlyTemperature tab only

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather
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