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Gatwick Airport power problems leave thousands stranded | Gatwick Airport power problems leave thousands stranded |
(35 minutes later) | |
Several thousand passengers have been stranded at Gatwick Airport following stormy weather. | |
The airport has suffered "sporadic power problems" at its North Terminal, affecting its ability to check people in manually. | The airport has suffered "sporadic power problems" at its North Terminal, affecting its ability to check people in manually. |
Gatwick said all departures would now be leaving from the South Terminal apart from British Airways. Arrivals are still coming in to both terminals. | |
A spokeswoman said electricity sub-stations on the airfield had flooded. | |
She said: "The cause of this was flooding from the River Mole into substations on the airfield. | |
"They are now drying out, which is good news. We are trying to get people out as quickly as we can." | |
She said Gatwick had 133 departing flights leaving from the North Terminal on Tuesday, and of those, 86 had departed and 26 had been cancelled. | |
"There are not too many left to go now," she added. "But disruption is still expected for the next few hours." | |
She said by 16:00 GMT the average delay per flight was about 90 minutes, adding: "Pressure is easing, but there are still pretty significant delays." | |
'Pretty poor show' | 'Pretty poor show' |
Easyjet said it had cancelled 38 flights and a number of others have been delayed. No trains were running to or from the airport for most of the morning because of fallen trees on the line. | |
Southern said it was running a replacement bus service for London Victoria to Gatwick rail services. | |
Travel journalist Simon Calder said he estimated about 10,000 people in total would not get to their destination and would end up spending Christmas in various parts of Europe as a result of the disruption. | |
Passenger Rachel Rouse, who arrived at the airport hoping to fly to Tenerife for Christmas, said: "All the screens went down, which obviously wasn't their fault because of the electricity, but when the screens did go back up the only things that were on it was a message saying, 'Merry Christmas'." | |
Peter Lambert, another passenger who emailed the BBC, said: "As usual there is a complete lack of communication. | Peter Lambert, another passenger who emailed the BBC, said: "As usual there is a complete lack of communication. |
"The staff have to shout instructions, the PA only works for pre-recorded announcements of no use at all. They could do with investing in some loud hailers. | "The staff have to shout instructions, the PA only works for pre-recorded announcements of no use at all. They could do with investing in some loud hailers. |
"Easyjet are doing their best by moving people flight by flight to the South Terminal. All in all a pretty poor show from Gatwick Ltd." | "Easyjet are doing their best by moving people flight by flight to the South Terminal. All in all a pretty poor show from Gatwick Ltd." |
'Causing delays' | 'Causing delays' |
A number of flights were diverted from the airport to Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle on Monday evening. | A number of flights were diverted from the airport to Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle on Monday evening. |
A Gatwick spokesman said: "We are doing everything we can to get people away for Christmas and we understand passengers' frustrations. We have extra staff helping out in the terminals." | |
Limited services were in operation between Brighton and Haywards Heath, Eastbourne, Newhaven and Barnham and between Bognor and Barnham. Services between Redhill and Three Bridges were also running. | |
Southeastern trains said there were still limited services because of disruption caused by earlier fallen trees. | Southeastern trains said there were still limited services because of disruption caused by earlier fallen trees. |
A UK Power Networks spokeswoman said engineers were currently working to restore power supplies in the area. | A UK Power Networks spokeswoman said engineers were currently working to restore power supplies in the area. |
More than 7,000 Sussex homes were left without power after trees and debris damaged overhead power lines. | |
About 3,000 homes had been reconnected, according to the firm's latest figures. | |
The Environment Agency issued dozens of flood warnings for the South East. | |
Tom Barlow, who lives in Stedham, Midhurst, West Sussex, said he was wading "knee-deep in flood-water". | Tom Barlow, who lives in Stedham, Midhurst, West Sussex, said he was wading "knee-deep in flood-water". |
"It's the worst I've seen in 10 years. There's a weir that's completely flooded now. It's swept away the walkway bridge. | "It's the worst I've seen in 10 years. There's a weir that's completely flooded now. It's swept away the walkway bridge. |
"We're a little bit stranded... We have people coming over." | "We're a little bit stranded... We have people coming over." |