Weather travel update as transport networks struggle with snow
More journeys affected amid a bombardment of snow and cold weather.
Several road closures are in force, while trains and flights have been hit by delays and cancellations.
Here are some of the latest reported issues.
Roads
Drivers were urged by transport authorities to consider whether they needed to embark on journeys after a number of people became stranded.
Police Scotland warned people not to travel unless they were an emergency worker.
Warnings remain in force in many areas as snow continues to fall. #REDALERT continues till 10am today with #AMBER running through until 6pm.Advice for both weather warnings is to avoid travelling on the roads. #BeastFromTheEast /2
-- Police Scotland (@policescotland) March 1, 2018
By 5pm on Thursday, the RAC had attended 8,000 breakdowns across the UK - which was 70% more than expected in early March.
The worst hit region was the West Midlands, where the number of call outs was double the normal rate for this time of year.
An RAC spokesman said: "As well as towing members out of snowdrifts, our patrols have also seen a lot of other problems that tend to only come up in the extreme cold - such as frozen washer bottles and frozen diesel fuel lines, plus blown fuses and wiper motors after windscreen wipers have stuck to windscreens."
Lincolnshire Police warned that the A52 was "impassable" between Boston and Skegness due to drifting snow, and warned that drivers faced becoming stranded.
"We are not in a position to recover you," the force tweeted.
The fire and rescue service added that even a snowplough was unable to get through to clear the route.
The A52 between Boston and Skegness is impassable due to drifting snow. Do not travel on this route otherwise you are likely to become stranded and we are not in a position to recover you. Thank you and only drive if absolutely necessary.
-- Lincolnshire Police (@lincspolice) March 1, 2018
Several other roads in Lincolnshire have also been shut, including the A17 and the A15 between the M180 and Lincoln.
Cheshire Police said there were around eight miles of tailbacks on the M62 as officers with 4x4s, Highways England patrols, contractors and snowploughs attempted to clear snow between junctions 21 and 22 eastbound.
If you're travelling today a reminder to drive with extra care, @metoffice have issued several warnings for snow this week, For the latest info visit https://t.co/zS1Zan6TfW ... #BeastFromTheEastpic.twitter.com/1keiaYkr8G
-- Highways England (@HighwaysEngland) March 1, 2018
The A66 in Cumbria was closed in both directions between Scotch Corner and Brough due to "severe snowfall", while the A56 in Lancashire was likely to be closed for "several hours" due to a lorry crash between the M65 and A680.
Northumbria Police said the A68 was closed between Corbridge and Ridsdale.
A68 from Corbridge to Ridsdale is now closed due to weather
-- Northumbria Police (@northumbriapol) March 1, 2018
In Derbyshire, the Woodhead Pass was shut in both directions between Tintwistle and Flouch.
Trains
Nearly all train operators across the UK suffered cancellations and disruption on Thursday.
All cross-border trains between England and Scotland were suspended.
The West Coast Main Line was closed between Carlisle and Scotland, with no trains or replacement buses.
With 4 to 5 foot snow drifts and rising wind blowing snow back onto cleared areas and blocking up points, we need to draft in some heavier horse power to clear the West Coast Main Line.
We are doing everything we can to get the line open as quickly as possible pic.twitter.com/qSmHgLQx7f
-- NetworkRail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) March 1, 2018
Virgin Trains East Coast asked passengers "not to travel" on Thursday or Friday across the entire East Coast Main Line between London and Scotland.
#VTECUpdate Owing to a snow drift blocking the line between Newcastle and Berwick no trains will be running in and out of Scotland.
Southbound services from Edinburgh are planned to start from Newcastle and northbound services will terminate at Newcastle. https://t.co/PBaz2HSJmn
-- Virgin Trains EC (@Virgin_TrainsEC) March 1, 2018
ScotRail also advised passengers not to board trains and ended services early on Thursday.
Some images from across a cold and snowy network as rail staff worked in sub zero temperatures to protect the infrastructure pic.twitter.com/XqheMVSrT9
-- NetworkRail Scotland (@NetworkRailSCOT) March 1, 2018
London Paddington, the UK's seventh busiest station, was closed for several hours from 8am, meaning long distance services had to start and terminate at Reading.
Around 50 stations in Kent and East Sussex were closed on Thursday as operator Southeastern advised commuters to work from home if possible.
Northern said the severe weather left several routes blocked, with delays and cancellations across the whole network.
? Weather Warning: Northern routes are disrupted due to snow and ice. For information regarding your specific route please check here: https://t.co/LINDCDGFNa Please note that services may be delayed, amended and cancelled. ? pic.twitter.com/xPvlTwxDmX
-- Northern (@northernassist) March 1, 2018
Flights
Flight schedules are being decimated by the severely cold weather.
More than 4,000 flights have been cancelled across Europe since Tuesday.
The world's busiest two-runway airport, Heathrow, saw 329 departing or arriving flights cancelled on Thursday, representing a quarter of all scheduled services.
Airlines cut flights following discussions with airport bosses and air traffic control provider Nats.
A further 195 flights on Friday have already been cancelled in a bid to give passengers as much notice as possible.
We're sorry for the inconvenience caused by today's wintry weather and are working to restore the service to full operation as quickly as possible.
-- Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) March 1, 2018
Dublin Airport suffered 266 cancellations, with airlines such as Ryanair suspending flights.
Glasgow Airport was shut for the second day in a row, meaning 204 flights were cancelled on Thursday.
Other airlines with large numbers of cancellations include Edinburgh (244), London City (139), Gatwick (138) and Bristol (95).