Goretti

STORM Goretti is continuing to cause chaos across the UK as further travel disruptions are confirmed.

A number of rail lines have suspended services as the first storm of the year batters Britain.

West Midlands Railway officially cancelled routes this morning, Friday, 9 January.

In an official statement, the rail network said it is “unable to provide services until the afternoon”.

“Due to the significant ongoing transport and infrastructure disruption caused by Storm Goretti, we advise passengers not to travel on West Midlands Railway services on the morning of Friday, January 9,” the operator said.

“Passengers wishing to travel on the afternoon on Friday 9th January should check their journeys before they travel as we work to resume services.”

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No rail replacement road services will be provided due to “uncertain road conditions”.

Network Rail are also experiencing disruption after a “very intense heavy snow” hit the West Midlands/Shropshire and Staffordshire areas on Thursday night.

Efforts are being made to clear rail routes, with some services expected to be affected until Sunday, 11 January.

Meanwhile, Avanti West Coast issued “do not travel” advice to anyone planning to use Midlands routes until 1pm on Friday.

“An amended timetable will operate across all routes from 0700 until 1500, when we currently expect services to return to normal,” the train service operator said.

“We strongly recommend travelling outside these times if possible.”

Storm Goretti has also caused disruptions to air travel, with East Midlands Airport and Birmingham Airport forced to cease operations after flurries of snow left runways unusable.

Some areas of the country could see as much as 15-25cm of snow fall and settle as the extreme weather continues for a second day, while Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were issued a rare red weather warning.

Gusts of 99mph were recorded at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly while 90mph winds hit Culdrose, Cornwall where gales brought down power lines and trees.

National Highways said the A30 in Cornwall is closed in both directions between the A394 at Longrock and the A3074 at St Erth.

The closure is reportedly “due to a large number of trees that have fallen and are blocking the road”; Devon and Cornwall Police are assisting at the scene.

Specialist crews are working to clear the trees from the carriageway.

The A628 Woodhead Pass connecting Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire also remains closed in both directions between the A616 for Flouch and the A57 for Hollingworth because of snow.

National Highways has urged drivers to check the weather forecast before travelling today, saying: “Consideration of the weather forecast should be taken before commencing journeys, with considerable delays possible.”