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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 overnight. 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 bosses said all departing flights would now be leaving from the South Terminal. Gatwick said all departures would now be leaving from the South Terminal apart from British Airways. Arrivals are still coming in to both terminals.
Southern said it was running a replacement bus service for London Victoria-to-Gatwick rail services. A spokeswoman said electricity sub-stations on the airfield had flooded.
More than 7,000 Sussex homes are still without power because trees and debris damaged overhead power lines. 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 from or to the airport for most of the morning because of fallen trees on the line. 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.
Gatwick said passengers were experiencing average delays of about an hour. Southern said it was running a replacement bus service for London Victoria to Gatwick rail services.
But passenger Rachel Rouse, who arrived at the airport hoping to fly to Tenerife for Christmas, said: "[We've had] almost no information since we set foot in the airport at seven this morning. 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.
"All the screens have gone down, which obviously isn'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'." 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.
In a statement on its website, the airport said arrivals at the North Terminal were unaffected. 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."
It said: "We are looking into the cause of the power outage. It's definitely weather-related. We are doing everything we can to get people away for Christmas and we understand passengers' frustrations. 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.
"We have extra staff helping out in the terminals."
Train company Southern is running a replacement bus service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport. There are no Gatwick Express services expected before 15.15 GMT.
Limited services have also begun between Brighton and Haywards Heath, Eastbourne, Newhaven and Barnham and between Bognor and Barnham. Services between Redhill and Three Bridges are 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.
About 3,000 homes have been reconnected, according to the firm's latest figures. More than 7,000 Sussex homes were left without power after trees and debris damaged overhead power lines.
The Environment Agency has issued dozens of flood warnings for the South East. 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."