It's just a bit of snow and ice, isn't it?
In fact, it takes a dedicated team and a special fleet to
keep you moving throughout winter.
We don't typically get lots of extremely cold weather in most
parts of Britain. But when we do,
it can pose serious challenges to transport infrastructure,
like roads and the railway.
Snow and ice can build up to block points -
the movable sections of track that enable trains to change lines.
This can prevent trains from accessing certain routes or
platforms, causing delays.
Ice can even coat the electrified third rail and
overhead power cables.
This stops trains from drawing the power they need to run,
leaving them stranded.
Icicles on tunnels and bridges can sometimes cause serious
damage to passing trains.
Meanwhile,
a sharp drop in temperature after a very wet autumn can
cause rain to freeze in between the stones that support the track.
When it thaws, the track can move.
Snowdrifts can form when an excessive amount of snow has fallen.
If a train runs into a large, compacted snowdrift,
it could even derail.
We have a specially equipped winter fleet that includes snow
ploughs, hot air blowers, steam jets, brushes,
scrapers and antifreeze to clear snow and ice.
We also use tech, like visual and thermal imaging from our
helicopters and drones.
These help us identify issues before they become a problem.
We fit electric heaters and NASA-grade insulation to the points'
operating equipment to prevent the build-up of snow and ice in
critical locations.
Other practical measures include fitting fences to
routes most at risk of snowdrifts.
Train companies also run empty trains at night to help keep tracks clear.
We've even added protective covers to 4,000 points and
2,500 point motors to keep snow out and prevent
damage from ice that can fall from passing trains.
And we're always researching and trialing new methods to
help keep your services and freight moving.
In previous winters,
snow has also caused lots of disruption to railways
elsewhere in Europe.
In fact,
they often experience the same problems as we do in Britain
and need to slow trains down to keep people safe.
Our seasons tend to be less severe than in other countries
so we can't pre-stress our rails for extreme heat or cold.
The same rails that must endure a heatwave in the summer have
to withstand extreme cold months later.
We're doing all we can to reduce delays and keep you moving safely.
Please check to see if your train is running on time,
and thank you for bearing with us.