Travel news live: Christmas getaway delays as snow hits M62 and trains, ferries and flights cancelled
RAC estimates 22.7 million drivers will hit the roads as people get away for Christmas
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Thousands of travellers hoping to reach home for Christmas have had to organise last minute alternatives, as flights, ferries and trains continue to be cancelled.
Over 100 flights at Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, have been cancelled on Sunday, while dozens of ferry routes in Scotland and Ireland are no longer running due to the bad weather.
Snow overnight has caused disruption on the M62 with one lane closed, as the RAC advise drivers to be cautious as millions take to the motorways this wekend.
Eighty of the Heathrow cancellations are on British Airways, involving short-haul domestic and European flights. Three round-trips to Amsterdam and Glasgow have been grounded.
Rail passengers are also facing another chaotic Sunday as Northern cancels all trains on 11 routes.
It comes as weather warnings kick in for parts of the UK on Saturday as millions more people get away for Christmas.Yellow warnings for wind are in place from 7am on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday in the North West, the North East, Scotland and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland.
Temporary air traffic restrictions in place at Heathrow due to weather
A spokesperson for British Airways said that adverse weather and “restrictions” on the number of flights able to take off and land had led to “a small number of cancellations”.
They added: “We’re offering free flight changes for those customers booked on short-haul services who don’t wish to travel this weekend, and we will be offering rebooking and refund options as always to those whose journeys are disrupted as a result of the restrictions.”
NATs, which provides UK air traffic control, confirmed that “due to adverse weather, temporary air traffic restrictions are in place at Heathrow.
“Restrictions of this sort are only ever applied to maintain safety.”
Met Office warn of sleet, snow, hail and icy conditions
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Frank Saunders, said: “We have slightly tweaked our weather warnings as the peak winds have now shifted slightly north.
“The strongest winds are expected across the far north of Scotland on Saturday afternoon and evening, with the potential for gusts in excess of 80 mph in coastal districts including Orkney. Dangerous coastal conditions can be expected too, with large waves an additional hazard, especially in respect to causeways.
“This period of strong winds may lead to some transport disruption, including ferry delays or cancellations.
“Frequent blustery showers will also be a feature on Saturday and may merge into a longer spell of rain for a time in the far north and northwest.
“Those showers could turn to snow on the hills in the northwest of Scotland on Saturday evening, and then overnight and into Sunday. This chance of wintry showers extends to Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and northern England. Snow will be focused over hills, where several cm may fall, but some sleet, snow and hail may fall to quite low levels for a time, bringing possible icy conditions by Sunday morning.”
Snow seen as weather warnings for wind continue to remain in place
Snow has been seen in places across the UK, as the Met Office warns of a “cold, blustery start” to Sunday with weather warnings in place.
On social media, they said: “It’s a cold, blustery start to Sunday, and as the sequence shows we’re even seeing a little snow in places this morning, chiefly over hills towards the north and west.”
Dozens of Irish Sea ferries cancelled due to bad weather
All between Cairnryan in southwest Scotland and Northern Ireland have been cancelled until very late on Sunday evening due to bad weather.
This applies to both Stena Line to Belfast and P&O Ferries to Larne.
Stena Line’s 11.30pm sailing from Belfast to Cairnryan is classed as “In Doubt”. The ferry company is telling passengers: “If your sailing has been cancelled please do not arrive at the port for your original sailing, please amend your booking before travelling.”
The cancellations come when ferries across the Irish Sea are extremely heavily booked because of the closure of the main link between Great Britain and Ireland, Holyhead to Dublin. The port in northwest Wales sustained damage during Storm Darragh earlier this year and is out of action until 15 January at the earliest.
Normally eight superferries, capable of carrying over 2,000 passengers as well as hundreds of cars and trucks, would make the crossing every day. Some replacement sailings are connecting Fishguard in southwest Wales with Dublin, but they have also been cancelled on Sunday due to bad weather.
Snow overnight causes M62 lane to close
Part of the M62 is closed after snow overnight, YorkshireLive reports.
The snow has caused disruption between Huddersfield and Saddleworth, with one lane closed between junction 24 at Ainley Top and junction 22 at Rishworth Moor.
Inrix states: “One lane closed due to snow on M62 Eastbound from J22 A672 (Rishworth Moor) to J24 A629 (Ainley Top). Lanes one and Two Open.”
One motorist tweeted: “Sketchy drive to Manchester Airport this morning. Strong winds, snow, hail, rain, motorway’s like an ice rink. Careful if you’re out and about.”
Stansted Express fails again
Forty-eight hours after the last failure of the Stansted Express, airline passengers using the Essex airport face fresh problems – with all trains cancelled until 11am.
National Rail says: “A points failure at Stansted Airport means that all lines are blocked. Trains running to / from this station may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes, revised or diverted. Disruption is expected until 11:00.
“Trains are unable to run to / from Stansted Airport because of a points failure. Points allow trains to move from track to another, similar to changing lanes in a car or using a slip road.
“Stansted Express trains will run as far as Bishops Stortford. Trains from Norwich and Cambridge will be diverted to Bishops Stortford.
“Limited accessible replacement buses will be running between Bishops Stortford and Stansted Airport.”
21.3 million drivers to travel on Sunday
Warnings have been given to drivers of a “perfect storm” created by bad weather and congestion on the roads.
The AA predicted 21.3 million drivers will hit the road on Sunday while 22.7 million had been expected on Saturday, slightly fewer than the 23.7 million on Friday which was expected to be the busiest day on the roads since the group’s records began in 2010.
A spokesperson said “if the congestion wasn’t enough of a headache, the inclement weather could create the perfect storm”.
“We advise those heading out to allow extra time to travel and increase the distance between themselves and other road users.”
Western Scotland: most ferries cancelled
Caledonian MacBrayne has cancelled most of its sailings in the Western Isles for the day due to strong winds.
Some services in the Clyde are running, but ferries to and from Rothesay and Bute are uncertain. The ferry firm says: “Due to strong winds the 08:05 sailing from Rothesay and the 09:05 sailing from Wemyss Bay are cancelled.
“MV Bute will sail at 09:05 from Rothesay and attempt to berth at Wemyss Bay. If berthing is unsuccessful the vessel will return to Rothesay.
“Due to adverse weather forecast, this service is at heightened risk of disruption or cancellation at short notice.”
Chaos as hundreds of trains are cancelled by Northern in northwest England
Rail passengers in northwest England face another chaotic Sunday as Northern cancels all trains on 11 routes.
The state-run rail firm has axed hundreds of services. It is telling travellers: “Recently, we have seen higher levels of cancellations in the northwest and for that we are sorry.
“The underlying reason is train crew availability, in particular on Sundays which is contractually outside of the working week.
“We encourage everyone to plan ahead and check journeys before travelling for the latest information and train times.”
Rail replacement buses are running on routes including Preston to Blackpool South and Wigan North Western; Oxenholme to Windermere; Stockport to Chester, Crewe and Stoke on Trent; Blackburn to Clitheroe; Lancaster to Morecambe and Heysham; Manchester Airport to Wilmslow; Southport to Manchester Victoria.
Northern also says many other routes have large gaps in services, including Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield (up to three hours between trains) and Buxton (up to four hours).
Heathrow cancellations: the routes affected:
More than 100 flights to and from the UK’s busiest airport have been cancelled today. Predicted high winds mean the rate of arrivals – normally as many as one every 80 seconds – is extended, reducing the number of planes that can be handled. At least 15,000 travellers have had their travel plans torn up.
Eighty of the Heathrow cancellations are on British Airways, involving short-haul domestic and European flights. Three round-trips to Amsterdam and Glasgow have been grounded.
Other airlines affected: Aer Lingus: Dublin Eurowings: Cologne Iberia: Madrid KLM: Amsterdam Lufthansa: Frankfurt (two round-trips) SAS: Oslo Swiss: Zurich TAP: Lisbon Turkish Airlines: Istanbul Virgin Atlantic: Miami
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments