Ice causes further travel chaos

Snow turned to sheet ice overnight

Commuters have faced travel disruption after temperatures as low as -7C (19F) in London's suburbs froze roads and disrupted rail services and flights.

This turned existing snow to sheet ice on many roads. Five rail companies have been operating amended timetables with services delayed or cancelled.

Temperatures of -6C (21F) were forecast for overnight in London on Thursday.

Most train companies operating services out of London expected to be running revised services on Friday.

On Thursday, commuters faced cancellations and delays on First Great Western, National Express East Anglia, South Eastern, South West Trains and Virgin trains.

Thameslink trains advised customers not to travel as commuters faced two-hour delays.

Significant delays

Eurostar trains faced significant delays throughout the day and were due to finish earlier than timetabled.

Eurostar services were suspended at 0830 GMT when a train travelling from Brussels to London's Kings Cross station was stuck for an hour inside a tunnel.

The delay was due to "traction problems", a Eurotunnel spokesman said.

There were no major delays on the Tube, but severe delays on the London Overground.

Transport for London (TfL) urged all passengers to check before they travel.

'Absolute chaos'

Heathrow Airport was open but there have been delays and cancellations throughout the day.

Darragh Cullen, a business development manager, told how his flight to Los Angeles was made to wait seven hours on the runway at Heathrow before being cancelled.

Heathrow Airport passengers were among those delayed by bad weather

It then took him two-and-a half hours to reclaim his baggage in Heathrow's Terminal Five.

He said: "Terminal Five was absolute chaos - there were hundreds of people looking for their bags with piles of luggage everywhere."

A Heathrow spokeswoman said: "There may still be disruption so we are advising passengers to check with their airlines before setting off."

On the roads, drivers faced hazardous conditions, especially to the east and south of the capital.

More snow is expected in London later with about 5cm (2in) forecast across central London and the suburbs. The cold spell is expected to last until mid-January.

'Outrageous'

Harrow Council in north London said its supply of salt would last less than four days if used at full gritting rate.

The council has been spreading its grit at a lighter rate than usual to make its stocks last.

Deputy council leader Susan Hall said: "We have been prudent in our use of salt and kept 129km (80 miles) of main roads in Harrow clear since the cold snap began."

This is not a dress rehearsal, it is the real thing

London Mayor Boris Johnson

She added: "We had ordered 1,000 tonnes of extra salt for this month at the end of 2009 but the supplier has so far not come up with it.

"We'll do what we can but, if salt suppliers don't honour their obligations, it doesn't leave us much room for manoeuvre. It's pretty outrageous really."

Decisions about which councils are given salt ahead of others are usually made by heads of the UK's rock salt mines.

On Wednesday the government handed the responsibility to Salt Cell - a group including the Department for Transport, Highways Agency and Communities and Local Government Department.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, who was also at the meeting, said: "This is not a dress rehearsal, it is the real thing.

"Everything must be done to get the supply moving and avoid the situation of London running out of salt to keep the roads open."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the ice had not resulted in any major incidents.

He insisted the treacherous conditions would not affect police drivers' ability to pursue criminals, adding: "Our officers are trained to a very high standard - they assess conditions and react accordingly."

John Pooley, of the London Ambulance Service, said: "After the snow, ice is the major issue and I'd urge people to take extra care when they're out and about."

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