Britain's transport network has been plunged into chaos after Storm Goretti unleashed the heaviest snowfall seen in years across large swathes of the country. The severe weather, which also brought dangerously high winds, has led to widespread cancellations on the railways, significant disruption on the roads, and the suspension of numerous flights from major airports.
Nationwide Rail Network Battered by Snow
The storm's impact on the rail network has been severe and widespread. West Midlands Railway has suspended all services, with no trains expected to run again until the afternoon, and no replacement buses due to treacherous road conditions.
In a major blow to cross-country travel, London Northwestern Railway (LNR) has suspended services between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street. It has also reduced services from Birmingham to London Euston, with these disruptions expected to last until Friday afternoon.
Key routes in the North have been cut off, with all rail services between Manchester and Sheffield cancelled, including those via New Mills, due to the storm's severe impact on the Peak District. Transpennine Express confirmed the line will stay closed until at least midnight.
Great Western Railway has been forced to close multiple lines in the South-West. No trains are running on routes including Plymouth to Penzance, Exeter to Barnstaple, and Truro to Falmouth, with services not expected to resume until midday at the earliest.
Chiltern Railways is running no services north of Birmingham Moor Street or to Stratford-upon-Avon, with the rest of its network operating at half capacity. National Rail has warned that services across England, Wales, and Scotland face further disruption throughout the day.
Roads Become Hazardous as Warnings Issued
The Met Office's yellow weather warnings for snow have been activated across the Midlands, North, and Scotland, urging drivers to take extreme care. The AA has advised motorists to 'approach every journey with heightened caution', warning that untreated roads and drifting snow are creating unpredictable icy patches.
Major incidents have already occurred, with all but one lane of the northbound M1 closed between junctions 28 and 29 in Derbyshire following a lorry crash. Clearance is being hampered by the need for specialist snow-clearing vehicles.
In Cornwall, the A30 is closed between Longrock and St Erth due to a 'large number' of fallen trees. The AA has highlighted the following regions as particularly dangerous for travel today:
- East Midlands, East of England, London & South East
- North West England, South West England, Wales
- West Midlands, and Yorkshire & Humber
Air Travel Hit by Runway Closures
Air travel has not escaped the storm's wrath. More than 50 flights in and out of London Heathrow have been cancelled, all operated by British Airways on predominantly short-haul routes.
Birmingham Airport was forced to close its runways for several hours this morning, leading to the cancellation of all early-morning flights. While the runway has now reopened on a reduced basis, bosses have warned passengers to expect major delays as teams work to clear the backlog.
The Midlands, Wales, and coastal areas of the South-West have been especially hard hit by Storm Goretti, but with further issues expected to develop throughout Friday, 9th January 2026, the disruption is truly nationwide. Commuters and travellers are being urged to check with their transport operator before setting out.
