Commuters travelling by train this week will be concerned about disruption to their journey as the country braces for more snow and 'blizzard' conditions.
The Met Office has issued a new amber heavy snow warning for large parts of England from 3pm on Thursday to midday on Friday. Parts of the south have already been affected by the snow showers following the coldest night of the year on Tuesday.
The forecaster said temperatures at Kinbrace in the Highlands dropped to minus 15.4C overnight, the lowest of the year so far. Train passengers have been warned that snow and ice will pose a hazard for the railways.
READ MORE: Met Office issues amber heavy snow warning for parts of Greater Manchester
Network Rail said: “Until the morning of Thursday, 9 March, snow showers are expected at times, although not all areas of the network will be equally affected. Ice will cause an additional hazard, especially overnight. Staff are working hard to minimise any disruption, but there could be some changes to trains."
The operator also advised passengers to double check their journey for any changes or cancellations.
Trains can still run during wintry conditions, but snow and ice can pose risks. They can build up on the tracks blocking points - the equipment that allows trains to move between tracks.
Ice can also coat the electrified third rail and overhead power cables, preventing trains from drawing the power they need to run and leaving them stranded, according to Network Rail. When snow lies deeper than 30cm, trains can’t run safely unless they have been fitted with snow ploughs.
Network Rail says to help keep passengers moving, a 'special winter fleet' complete with snowploughs, hot air blowers, steam jets, brushes, scrapers and anti-freeze are deployed to clear snow and ice from the tracks.
The operator's website explains: "We use technology, such as visual and thermal imaging from our helicopter and drones, to help us identify issues before they become a problem and respond as fast as possible. When snow is forecast we work with train operators to fit snow plough attachments to the front of passenger trains.
"Our winter timetables also allow empty passenger trains, known as ghost trains, to be run overnight to keep the tracks clear of snow and ice."
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