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‘Regrettable and unfortunate’: Network Rail apologies over holiday travel chaos ‘Regrettable and unfortunate’: Network Rail apologises over holiday travel chaos
(about 12 hours later)
After a Christmas Day that saw much of the country bathed in brilliant sunshine, Britain has been warned to prepare for a bleak midwinter when, as Christina Rossetti observed, “frosty wind made moan/ Earth stood hard as iron/ Water like a stone”.After a Christmas Day that saw much of the country bathed in brilliant sunshine, Britain has been warned to prepare for a bleak midwinter when, as Christina Rossetti observed, “frosty wind made moan/ Earth stood hard as iron/ Water like a stone”.
The warning came as thousands of passengers suffered major disruptions to their journeys as all trains into and out of London’s King’s Cross were cancelled on Saturday due to overrunning engineering works. The shock move brought chaotic scenes to parts of the capital and disgruntled travellers took to social media to vent their anger at Network Rail, which found itself trending on Twitter for all the wrong reasons.The warning came as thousands of passengers suffered major disruptions to their journeys as all trains into and out of London’s King’s Cross were cancelled on Saturday due to overrunning engineering works. The shock move brought chaotic scenes to parts of the capital and disgruntled travellers took to social media to vent their anger at Network Rail, which found itself trending on Twitter for all the wrong reasons.
The company could find itself on the receiving end of a multimillion-pound fine after the Office of Rail Regulation said an investigation would be launched into the disruption. A spokesman for the regulator said: “The immediate priority is for Network Rail to ensure disrupted parts of the railways are back up and running again for passengers as soon as possible. Network Rail, working with the rest of the industry, must learn lessons and prevent problems like this happening again.”The company could find itself on the receiving end of a multimillion-pound fine after the Office of Rail Regulation said an investigation would be launched into the disruption. A spokesman for the regulator said: “The immediate priority is for Network Rail to ensure disrupted parts of the railways are back up and running again for passengers as soon as possible. Network Rail, working with the rest of the industry, must learn lessons and prevent problems like this happening again.”
The company said the work near King’s Cross was part of a £200m Christmas investment programme and described the move to cancel all services as “regrettable and unfortunate”.The company said the work near King’s Cross was part of a £200m Christmas investment programme and described the move to cancel all services as “regrettable and unfortunate”.
More travel misery is predicted when overnight temperatures drop to as low as -14C in parts of the country this week. Motorists are being warned to take extra care today, when the snow that has brought chaos to Yorkshire and the East Midlands gives way to icy conditions.More travel misery is predicted when overnight temperatures drop to as low as -14C in parts of the country this week. Motorists are being warned to take extra care today, when the snow that has brought chaos to Yorkshire and the East Midlands gives way to icy conditions.
On Saturday the Met Office issued a severe weather alert – predicting temperatures would fall sharply, with the risk of widespread ice forming on untreated surfaces. “The most widespread ice is expected where melting snow cover refreezes and where showers occur,” the Met Office said, adding that there was a 90% chance of severe cold, ice or snow in parts of England between today and New Year’s Eve.On Saturday the Met Office issued a severe weather alert – predicting temperatures would fall sharply, with the risk of widespread ice forming on untreated surfaces. “The most widespread ice is expected where melting snow cover refreezes and where showers occur,” the Met Office said, adding that there was a 90% chance of severe cold, ice or snow in parts of England between today and New Year’s Eve.
The amber – level three – alert is one below a national emergency and is the signal for social and healthcare services to target “high-risk” groups, such as the very young or old, or those with chronic diseases. Public Health England also urged people to look out for vulnerable friends and family and neighbours during the cold weather. The plunging temperatures saw Christmas Day night become the coldest night of the year so far, with minus 8.5C recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire.In the days to come a brisk northwesterly wind could make it feel more like -11C to -14C across the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia, the Met Office said. It predicted further snow on higher ground in places such as the Cheviot hills in the Scottish Borders, the Yorkshire Moors and the Pennines.The amber – level three – alert is one below a national emergency and is the signal for social and healthcare services to target “high-risk” groups, such as the very young or old, or those with chronic diseases. Public Health England also urged people to look out for vulnerable friends and family and neighbours during the cold weather. The plunging temperatures saw Christmas Day night become the coldest night of the year so far, with minus 8.5C recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire.In the days to come a brisk northwesterly wind could make it feel more like -11C to -14C across the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia, the Met Office said. It predicted further snow on higher ground in places such as the Cheviot hills in the Scottish Borders, the Yorkshire Moors and the Pennines.
The cold snap has already brought treacherous conditions to roads, with motorists in Sheffield forced to abandon their cars after becoming snowed in on Friday night. Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Leeds Bradford International also temporarily closed as snow was cleared from runways. Thousands of homes across the country were left with no power as snow brought cables down. Loughborough, Pontypridd and Taunton were three of the worst affected towns. In Leek, Staffordshire, 11cm of snow fell. Nottinghamshire and Bingley, near Bradford, were hit by flurries of up to 7cm.The cold snap has already brought treacherous conditions to roads, with motorists in Sheffield forced to abandon their cars after becoming snowed in on Friday night. Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport and Leeds Bradford International also temporarily closed as snow was cleared from runways. Thousands of homes across the country were left with no power as snow brought cables down. Loughborough, Pontypridd and Taunton were three of the worst affected towns. In Leek, Staffordshire, 11cm of snow fell. Nottinghamshire and Bingley, near Bradford, were hit by flurries of up to 7cm.
Drivers also became marooned by heavy snow in Chesterfield and the Peak District. A coachload of people travelling from Sheffield to London had to take refuge after their bus became stuck in the snow. which also made conditions difficult for some of Boxing Day’s football matches. The stranded passengers spent the night at Our Lady and St Thomas Church in Sheffield.Drivers also became marooned by heavy snow in Chesterfield and the Peak District. A coachload of people travelling from Sheffield to London had to take refuge after their bus became stuck in the snow. which also made conditions difficult for some of Boxing Day’s football matches. The stranded passengers spent the night at Our Lady and St Thomas Church in Sheffield.
Parishioner Gemma Cort, 44, said local children were helping drivers by pushing cars up the steep A61 in Sheffield when they spotted the coach and a decision was taken to open the church.Parishioner Gemma Cort, 44, said local children were helping drivers by pushing cars up the steep A61 in Sheffield when they spotted the coach and a decision was taken to open the church.
“The coach couldn’t move for the rest of the evening so we made bits of food and the children took them a load of toast and we made lots of tea,” she said.“The coach couldn’t move for the rest of the evening so we made bits of food and the children took them a load of toast and we made lots of tea,” she said.
The bad weather struck as train passengers who had intended to use King’s Cross were forced to start or finish their journey at Finsbury Park, a few miles away in north London. However, the station was unable to cope with the surge in numbers coming through its doors. Irate passengers took to Twitter to express their anger as Finsbury Park was temporarily closed to ease congestion. Steve Bird tweeted: “I feel like getting into Finsbury Park station today warrants some form of life-time achievement award.” Gemma Tate complained: “#KingsCrossTrains could now have travelled halfway to Caribbean in time it’s taken on Leeds to Finsbury Park train … still not arrived.”The bad weather struck as train passengers who had intended to use King’s Cross were forced to start or finish their journey at Finsbury Park, a few miles away in north London. However, the station was unable to cope with the surge in numbers coming through its doors. Irate passengers took to Twitter to express their anger as Finsbury Park was temporarily closed to ease congestion. Steve Bird tweeted: “I feel like getting into Finsbury Park station today warrants some form of life-time achievement award.” Gemma Tate complained: “#KingsCrossTrains could now have travelled halfway to Caribbean in time it’s taken on Leeds to Finsbury Park train … still not arrived.”
Malcolm Connolly, 52, from Chelmsford, and his wife were planning to be in Leeds for a party on Saturday night, but were forced to give up due to the travel chaos. “There are people coming over from America for it and we’ve been planning it for three years,” he said. “I’m raging that tonight’s not going to happen. People just accept delays like this as the norm in this country. The tunnels at Finsbury Park were choc-a-bloc and when you finally get on the platform you find out the train has been cancelled. There should be some sort of penalty for allowing this to happen, but nobody cares less.”Malcolm Connolly, 52, from Chelmsford, and his wife were planning to be in Leeds for a party on Saturday night, but were forced to give up due to the travel chaos. “There are people coming over from America for it and we’ve been planning it for three years,” he said. “I’m raging that tonight’s not going to happen. People just accept delays like this as the norm in this country. The tunnels at Finsbury Park were choc-a-bloc and when you finally get on the platform you find out the train has been cancelled. There should be some sort of penalty for allowing this to happen, but nobody cares less.”
Marion Barratt, 66, was trying to get back to Hull. “I’ve been in disruptions before, but this was chaotic,” she said. “You couldn’t get near the platform and people were spilling out of the station onto the road. The station is much smaller and it was stupid to send people there.” Suzanne Wallis tweeted . “Disgraceful scenes today #finsburypark #KingsCrossTrains @northernrailorg. People getting crushed & no order whatsoever! Chaotic & dangerous.”Marion Barratt, 66, was trying to get back to Hull. “I’ve been in disruptions before, but this was chaotic,” she said. “You couldn’t get near the platform and people were spilling out of the station onto the road. The station is much smaller and it was stupid to send people there.” Suzanne Wallis tweeted . “Disgraceful scenes today #finsburypark #KingsCrossTrains @northernrailorg. People getting crushed & no order whatsoever! Chaotic & dangerous.”
With a reduced service from King’s Cross today promising further disruption, a Network Rail spokesman said: “What has happened is really regrettable and unfortunate, but it is a small part of a massive amount of engineering investment taking place over Christmas.”With a reduced service from King’s Cross today promising further disruption, a Network Rail spokesman said: “What has happened is really regrettable and unfortunate, but it is a small part of a massive amount of engineering investment taking place over Christmas.”