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Severe weather in London | Severe weather in London |
(37 minutes later) | |
Heathrow Airport has said only half of Sunday's scheduled flights were likely to leave but services should return to normal on Monday. | Heathrow Airport has said only half of Sunday's scheduled flights were likely to leave but services should return to normal on Monday. |
Up to 10cm (4in) of snow fell on Saturday night and forecasters predict only a "partial thaw" later. | Up to 10cm (4in) of snow fell on Saturday night and forecasters predict only a "partial thaw" later. |
Several Tube lines have been disrupted or suspended, but Transport for London (TfL) said the city was "open for business". | Several Tube lines have been disrupted or suspended, but Transport for London (TfL) said the city was "open for business". |
London Ambulance Service said it had had 26% more calls than usual. | London Ambulance Service said it had had 26% more calls than usual. |
'Better snow plan' | 'Better snow plan' |
A spokeswoman for Heathrow Airport said: "Airlines expect to operate about 50% of the 1,300 flights originally scheduled." | A spokeswoman for Heathrow Airport said: "Airlines expect to operate about 50% of the 1,300 flights originally scheduled." |
Meg Turner, from Muswell Hill, said her husband's plane for Singapore sat on the tarmac for five hours on Saturday night, before the flight was cancelled and he returned home. | Meg Turner, from Muswell Hill, said her husband's plane for Singapore sat on the tarmac for five hours on Saturday night, before the flight was cancelled and he returned home. |
The airport spokeswoman added: "Our snow plan has worked far better than in previous years and the airport is getting back to normal." | The airport spokeswoman added: "Our snow plan has worked far better than in previous years and the airport is getting back to normal." |
She said that based on current forecasts there were no plans to cancel flights on Monday. | She said that based on current forecasts there were no plans to cancel flights on Monday. |
Those heading to Gatwick, Luton and Stansted have been advised to check with their airlines before travelling to the airports. | Those heading to Gatwick, Luton and Stansted have been advised to check with their airlines before travelling to the airports. |
TfL said 2,000 tonnes of grit had been spread to keep traffic running smoothly and buses were running normally. | TfL said 2,000 tonnes of grit had been spread to keep traffic running smoothly and buses were running normally. |
Meanwhile, London Ambulance Service said midnight and 12:00 GMT, the control room had received over 2,500 emergency calls, 26% more than usual. | Meanwhile, London Ambulance Service said midnight and 12:00 GMT, the control room had received over 2,500 emergency calls, 26% more than usual. |
Walk on tracks | Walk on tracks |
It urged people to take extra precautions in the severe weather. | It urged people to take extra precautions in the severe weather. |
Earlier, Tube passengers spoke of their experience on Saturday evening when four trains broke down on the Underground. | Earlier, Tube passengers spoke of their experience on Saturday evening when four trains broke down on the Underground. |
Naomi Bridges, 17, from Essex, said she had to walk along the track to South Woodford station after her Central line train broke down. | Naomi Bridges, 17, from Essex, said she had to walk along the track to South Woodford station after her Central line train broke down. |
"We had to get off and walk along the track in the open air and the freezing snow until we reached the station 15 minutes later," she said. | "We had to get off and walk along the track in the open air and the freezing snow until we reached the station 15 minutes later," she said. |
She said no members of staff walked with the passengers and and it was "quite scary". | She said no members of staff walked with the passengers and and it was "quite scary". |
TfL said four trains had to be "detrained" because of difficulties and staff did escort passengers to stations. | TfL said four trains had to be "detrained" because of difficulties and staff did escort passengers to stations. |
He said: "We apologise to passengers who were affected by this." | He said: "We apologise to passengers who were affected by this." |
Jeremy Sallon from Cheshire said Tube passengers were asked to wait outside Holborn station on the Central line, to prevent overcrowding, before being told the service would not resume. | Jeremy Sallon from Cheshire said Tube passengers were asked to wait outside Holborn station on the Central line, to prevent overcrowding, before being told the service would not resume. |
Leon Daniels, managing director of surface transport for TfL, said engineers had been working hard to get the service running as soon as possible. | Leon Daniels, managing director of surface transport for TfL, said engineers had been working hard to get the service running as soon as possible. |
Ahead of the snow, TfL said the city was ready with London Underground and London Rail engineers prepared to be mobilised with point heaters in key sections of the network. | Ahead of the snow, TfL said the city was ready with London Underground and London Rail engineers prepared to be mobilised with point heaters in key sections of the network. |
It said measures had been taken including bringing in extra stocks of components and making efforts to stop wheels slipping on the Central line. | It said measures had been taken including bringing in extra stocks of components and making efforts to stop wheels slipping on the Central line. |
The Mayor of London, TfL and London Councils - which represents London's 32 boroughs - all said co-ordination had been improved. | The Mayor of London, TfL and London Councils - which represents London's 32 boroughs - all said co-ordination had been improved. |