UK weather latest: Trains and flights cancelled nationwide as British Airways cancels 40 shorthaul journeys

Horse power: riders in Hyde Park, London (Simon Calder)

Rail passengers across Britain are suffering delays, cancellations and interminable bus-replacement journeys as a result of the severe winter weather and related issues - such as train crews being unable to reach work.

While long-distance operators experienced few problems on Tuesday, the so-called Siberian weather is causing widespread disruption today.

ScotRail has cancelled or curtailed dozens of trains, and is telling passengers in the Strathclyde region: “We are advising customers not to travel.”

Virgin Trains is warning that services on the Carlisle-Glasgow line may be delayed or cancelled. The West Coast main line traverses Beattock Summit, over 1,000 feet above sea level.

Further south in the Lake District, trains between Windermere and Oxenholme have been cancelled “because of a shortage of train crew”. The operator, Northern, says: “Road transport will run between these stations, although this may be delayed by the severe weather conditions.”

Many trains on the Wirral Line in Merseyside are not running because of faults that Merseyrail says are “caused by the adverse weather conditions”.

Greater Anglia, which cancelled more than 100 trains on Tuesday and then announced it planned a full service on Wednesday, has now suspended branch lines in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, including links from the East Anglian main line to Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Felixtowe.

The rail link to the Isle of Sheppey in Kent has been cut, with buses in operation.

In London, travellers between Waterloo and Barnes are facing disruption because of a litany of problems: drivers and guards delayed getting to work, train faults, “various points failures” and trains despatched late from the depot.

Megabus has cancelled is Norwich to London service. The coach operator is telling passengers: "Given the severe weather forecast, please remember to be prepared for a longer journey; wrap up warm and bring food and drink, as well as a charged mobile phone."

British Airways has cancelled 40 short-haul services to and from Heathrow, saying: “We have agreed with Heathrow Airport, National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and other airlines to proactively reduce the flights schedules at the airport for several hours during the worst of the weather on Wednesday 28 February.”

Virgin Atlantic has grounded a round-trip from Heathrow to Washington DC. A spokesperson for the airline said: “This has been cancelled as a result of the inclement weather and we’re currently working to rebook customers affected.”

In addition, Lufthansa has cancelled four flights to and from Frankfurt, and its subsidiary Eurowings axed a Cologne-Heathrow round-trip. Swiss also cancelled a Zurich-Heathrow-Zurich rotation.