UK weather latest: Extreme cold brings train cancellations to southern and eastern England

Rail travel in large parts of southern and eastern England is being hit by predictions of extreme cold weather from Monday evening onwards, with widespread disruption expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The worst-affected area is north and east of London. On Greater Anglia, passengers in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex face extensive cancellations. Greater Anglia will end all services by around 10pm on Monday, and intends to run only a limited service from 6am to 10pm on subsequent days.

On Tuesday and Wednesday the lines from Norwich to Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Sheringham will be closed, along with links from Ipswich to Felixstowe and Lowestoft. A number of through trains from London Liverpool Street to destinations such as Harwich and Clacton will be cancelled.

Airline passengers using Stansted airport will also be affected, as the Stansted Express will be finishing earlier on Monday evening and starting later on Tuesday morning.

Some passengers have accused Greater Anglia of excessive caution. From Billericay, Neil Dick asked in a tweet: “Are you just overreacting like you did a couple of years ago and cancelling everything ‘just in case”.

The train operator responded: “If the weather is not as extreme as forecast, Greater Anglia and Network Rail will work hard to reinstate services and reopen lines as soon as possible.”

Neil Betton tweeted: “Dear @greateranglia I am in London at work today after spending £14k per annum on the privilege of travelling with you. I find that you have now closed my train line home from Norwich to Sheringham tomorrow.

“How do I get home? #suggestionsonapostcard.”

Greater Anglia responded: “We aren't running any services or bus replacements on the rural routes, you will need to organise alternative travel.”

The last services on Great Northern, which serves Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire from London King’s Cross. are expected to run at around 10pm. “Restrictions on tickets will be relaxed for the afternoon and evening so that you will be able to travel earlier,” said the train operator. On Tuesday services will be “heavily reduced”.

Elsewhere in southern England, South Western Railway says disruption “can be expected this afternoon and evening” and may continue to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on routes to and from London Waterloo. It is running special trains to treat tracks and prevent the build-up of ice on the third rail, which provides power to trains in the region.

Southeastern, serving south London, Kent and East Sussex, said: “We recommend if you’re travelling this evening, that if possible you travel earlier to avoid possible disruption to your journey.”

Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services from London south to Surrey and Sussex are predicted to be “delayed and/or cancelled” from Monday evening onwards. “We expect that the Uckfield, East Grinstead and Tonbridge areas will be the worst affected,” the operator said. On Tuesday morning, services on Southern will be reduced.

Affected train operators are allowing passengers with restricted tickets to travel on peak services, and Greater Anglia is permitting travellers to change date as well.