Schools in Havering open despite snowfall - but commuters face train chaos as engineering works overrun
A robin in Nicola Gallear's snowy Gidea Park garden (photo via e-mail) - Credit: Archant
The first snow of February hit Havering last night, wreaking havoc upon this morning’s rail timetable.
iWitness: Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch, taken from a model plane (photo: Peter Barrett) - Credit: citizenside.com
But schools across the borough have remained open, and there are no problems reported with roads.
A robin after the snow on Monday (photo: Kim Redding, via e-mail) - Credit: Archant
Overrunning engineering works and faulty overhead power lines on the Liverpool Street to Shenfield line saw Greater Anglia services through Romford delayed and cancelled.
Romford station was shut for half an hour from 7.20am as the lack of trains led to overcrowded platforms.
And the Romford to Upminster line was suspended as a result of the mainline delay, with local bus services accepting train tickets.
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One commuter told the Recorder: “I tried to get the 8.27 from Stratford to Romford, but at 8.55 the train wasn’t expected for another half an hour at least so I ended up getting the bus along with many others.”
Greater Anglia confirmed it was running a normal service through Havering as of 1.15pm with only minor delays.
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A Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail would like to apologise to anyone who was delayed on their journeys this morning after poor weather conditions led to late-finishing engineering work between Ilford and Romford.
“Two of the four lines were in operation from the start of service, with all lines open by 7.20am.”
A Greater Anglia spokesman said: “We’re very sorry for the disruption that affected train services to and from Liverpool Street this morning, following overrunning engineering work and a problem with the overhead power lines at Ilford. We worked to restore services as quickly as possible and we would like to apologise to our customers for the inconvenience these delays caused.”
