西歐暴風雪特輯
1. Snowstorms Spread Across Britain (02/03)
2. Snow Nightmare At UK Airports (02/03)
3. Britain's Big Freeze heads north (02/03)
4. Snow strands 2000 train passengers(02/03)
5. Snow could cost economy millions: experts
(02/03)
_____________________________________________________________________________
來源媒體或網址: http://tinyurl.com/bkus74
Sky News- Snowstorms Spread Across Britain
Tuesday, February 3 07:08 am
Commuters are facing another nightmare journey to work this morning as
snowstorms spread north and west after bringing the South to a virtual
standstill yesterday.
Motorists are being warned about hazardous roads covered in snow that has
turned to ice - this could make driving treacherous.
Although staff have been working through the night to clear train tracks and
airport runways, more delays are expected on the transport network today.
The snow is moving from the South to northern England, Scotland and Wales,
and the South-West.
Forecasters are warning of up to a foot of snow, or 30cm, in some parts,
temperatures struggling to get above freezing, and strong winds making
conditions even more hazardous.
Monday's snow, the heaviest seen in 18 years, caused chaos as runways were
closed at major airports and all bus services were cancelled in London during
the morning rush hour.
Nearly 800 flights were cancelled at Heathrow on Monday, and others were
subject to long delays.
About 200 Ryanair flights into and out of the UK were stopped, mostly at
Stansted, and all BA flights from Heathrow were cancelled until 5pm.
Flights were also cancelled or delayed at airports including Gatwick, Luton,
Birmingham, Southampton, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Edinburgh, and London
City Airport was closed completely.
Dozens of trains - including all Southeastern services in and out of the
capital - were suspended.
Navigation firm TomTom said there were more than 1,000 miles of jams around
the country, with one of the longest being 53.8 miles on the M25, which saw
drivers delayed for nearly three hours.
Some six million people are thought to have been unable to get to work, and
thousands of schools and colleges were shut - many of which will not re-open
today.
Forecasters expect Scotland, Wales and northern England to suffer the worst
of today's wintry weather, causing dangerous conditions for millions more
commuters.
The Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning to motorists across the
UK to beware of icy roads and drifting or heavy snow.
Air passengers could face a second day of flight cancellations and delays as
more snow fell overnight, airlines said.
Travellers were advised by airline operator BAA to check with their airlines
before setting off.
On the roads, police warned of "treacherous" conditions.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the authorities were doing "everything in
our power" to ensure the resumption of key transport links.
Low temperatures are expected to continue across parts of the UK, with highs
of just 1C (34F) in some areas of northern England, rising to a maximum of 5C
(41F) in London and Kent, where it is expected to become drier through the
day.
Sky News weather presenter Francis Wilson said conditions would remain
unsettled and wintry on Tuesday.
He warned ice would be the main problem facing people in the morning.
"All week we're going to have unsettled, wintry weather - but the snowfalls
will get less and less and the depth of frost less and less," he added.
Tonight, snow is forecast to disappear from all but the far north of Scotland.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
來源媒體或網址: http://tinyurl.com/bbawv5
Sky News- Snow Nightmare At UK Airports
Tuesday, February 3 06:07 am
機場照片: http://tinyurl.com/bc2cs3
This week's snowfall has caused misery for thousands of holidaymakers who
turned up at airports to find their flights had been delayed or cancelled.
Almost 800 flights were cancelled at Heathrow on Monday, and others were
subject to long delays.
About 200 Ryanair flights into and out of the UK were cancelled, mostly at
Stansted.
Flights were also cancelled or delayed at airports including Luton,
Birmingham, Southampton, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Edinburgh, and London
City Airport was closed completely.
Dozens of flights were called off at Gatwick - at least eight of them after
check-in - leaving frustrated passengers left with the task of finding a bed
for the night.
Many of those stranded had to put up with the discomfort of Gatwick's waiting
rooms, as hotels throughout the region were full to overflowing.
Energy consultant Sam Gregson planned to be in Egypt on Monday evening.
Instead, he was holed up in a hotel in Crawley, praying his rescheduled
flight this morning would take off.
He told Sky News Online: "I left London at 5am on Monday and have faced
nothing but travel chaos and disgraceful customer service ever since.
"The underground was barely operating, my overground train to Gatwick broke
down, I trudged a mile through snow with my luggage and by some miracle made
check-in.
"But my flight was then cancelled, the airline didn't have a clue what was
going on and, to add insult to injury, my duty free was confiscated.
"It's been like an episode of Laurel and Hardy - although I'm not laughing."
Another passenger explained to Sky News how he was told his flight was
cancelled by text in the departure lounge, before ground staff knew
themselves.
"It was a complete shambles," he said.
However, another passenger praised ground staff at the airport for their
cool-headedness.
He said: "I'm amazed at the professionalism of the staff.
"While some of the airlines were clearly at fault for giving passengers false
hopes, their staff shold be praised for dealing with the fallout in a calm
and professional manner."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
來源媒體或網址: http://tinyurl.com/b2ds3b
ITN- Britain's Big Freeze heads north
Tuesday, February 3 11:10 am
Britain's Big Freeze is gripping the north with conditions so bad in places
that the Met Office has issued an emergency weather warning.
Weathermen have warned that more than a foot of snow could fall in northern
England and in Scotland.
The blizzards are thought to have cost the economy as much as ￡3 billion as
London and other major cities ground to a halt.
Children across Britain are getting another day off school after thousands of
schools and colleges remain closed for a second day.
Air passengers face a second day of flight cancellations and delays as more
snow fell overnight and travellers are advised by airport operator BAA to
check with their airlines before setting off.
A limited train service resumed today for commuters in Kent and East Sussex
coming into London.
Operator Southeastern advised travellers to expect some delays and allow
extra time to complete their journeys.
Passengers were also warned of slippery conditions underfoot, particularly at
smaller unstaffed stations.
A Southeastern spokeswoman said: "We're aiming to run a limited service
today, mostly half-hourly for the majority of routes, with some more remote
locations operating an hourly service, so if people want to travel they can
travel."
Forecaster Claire Austin said: "Northern England and Scotland will be having
lots of snow, mainly on higher ground, with sleet and rain elsewhere."
She added: "The snow will also come to west Wales and south-west England. As
the day goes on northern England will get drier but the rain will stay in
Scotland and fall as snow over higher ground. Northern Ireland will stay wet.
"Wales and south-west England will have wintry showers with a mixture of
sleet, snow and a bit of hail. The rest of the country will stay pretty much
dry."
Low temperatures are expected to continue across parts of the UK, with highs
of just 1C (34F) in some areas of northern England, rising to a maximum of 5C
(41F) in London and Kent, where it is expected to become drier through the
day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
來源媒體或網址: http://tinyurl.com/d9k3pu
法新社- Snow strands 2000 train passengers
February 03, 2009 11:14pm AEST
SOME 2000 Eurostar cross-Channel rail passengers were stranded through the
night in trains and stations due to heavy snowfall in northern France and
Britain, the operator said on Tuesday.
Two Paris-to-London trains and one London-to-Paris service were held up by
between five and a half and seven hours, according to a spokeswoman for the
high-speed rail operator.
No further details were immediately available.
The spokeswoman said the delays were caused by "extremely bad and exceptional
weather conditions,'' and that passengers would be offered a full refund and
a free journey by way of compensation.
Four trains scheduled for Tuesday were also cancelled because of the weather.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
來源媒體或網址: http://tinyurl.com/ap786c
法新社- Snow could cost economy millions: experts
Tuesday, February 3 12:47 pm Katherine Haddon
The snow storms which paralysed Britain may have cost businesses already
battling the credit crunch up to a billion pounds, experts said Tuesday --
and more blizzards could be still on their way.
The 10 centimetres of snow which coated London, Europe's financial capital,
Monday virtually shut down air, rail and road links, forcing thousands of
workers to stay at home.
With the country in recession and facing what the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) says will be the worst slump in the developed world, the rare cold snap
risks putting many struggling businesses into the deep freeze for good.
The Federation of Small Businesses, which represents over 200,000
businessmen, said one in five people did not make it to work Monday, costing
employers up to 1.2 billion pounds.
Spokesman Stephen Alambritis said if the bad weather continues this week,
that could rise to 3.5 billion pounds.
The bad weather also hit other European countries including France, Italy,
Switzerland, Belgium and Spain.
Forecasters say Scotland will bear the brunt of the snow in the coming days.
It has now largely stopped snowing in London and southeast England.
Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the Centre for Economics and Business
Research, suggested several thousand firms could go bankrupt after the snow,
especially if it lingers.
"If it leads to delayed payments, the combined hit on profits and cashflow
could send many businesses who might be close to the brink into premature
bankruptcy," he told the Guardian newspaper.
"Many are in retail and construction, sectors likely to be most affected by
snow and transport disruption."
But he added the cold weather could have an upside for some sectors.
"Consumers spend more on heating and on warm clothes, and any accidents or
structural damage leads to increased spending on repairs," said McWilliams.
However the weather looks over the next few days, business leaders have
criticised officials in London and southeast England for not doing more to
prepare for the snow, despite forecasts predicting a deluge.
David Frost, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said
images of snowbound Britain were embarrassing abroad.
"All the European channels were showing images of London at a complete
standstill, which was not a very positive image for the UK," he told BBC
radio.
"I wonder whether we have become a bit too complacent... when something like
this does happen, we are caught very much on the hop."
London Mayor Boris Johnson was criticised by his predecessor Ken Livingstone
after the widespread failure of the city's public transport system Monday.
Even the city's iconic red buses, which stayed on the road during World War
II German bombing raids on London, failed to run for the first time in 100
years.
Television ran pictures of bus drivers enjoying snowball fights instead.
Johnson blamed the "wrong quantity of snow" for the problems and told BBC
radio that "unleashing a 12-tonne bus on to heavily packed snow or ice" would
risk "turning it into a lethal weapon".
But Alambritis urged him to consult his counterparts in cities like Moscow
and Vancouver on keeping public transport on track despite snowfalls.
"We need this debate," he said. "One of the world's biggest economies should
not be grinding to a halt, even if it is only once every 10 years."
---
--
1. Snowstorms Spread Across Britain (02/03)
2. Snow Nightmare At UK Airports (02/03)
3. Britain's Big Freeze heads north (02/03)
4. Snow strands 2000 train passengers(02/03)
5. Snow could cost economy millions: experts
(02/03)
_____________________________________________________________________________
來源媒體或網址: http://tinyurl.com/bkus74
Sky News- Snowstorms Spread Across Britain
Tuesday, February 3 07:08 am
Commuters are facing another nightmare journey to work this morning as
snowstorms spread north and west after bringing the South to a virtual
standstill yesterday.
Motorists are being warned about hazardous roads covered in snow that has
turned to ice - this could make driving treacherous.
Although staff have been working through the night to clear train tracks and
airport runways, more delays are expected on the transport network today.
The snow is moving from the South to northern England, Scotland and Wales,
and the South-West.
Forecasters are warning of up to a foot of snow, or 30cm, in some parts,
temperatures struggling to get above freezing, and strong winds making
conditions even more hazardous.
Monday's snow, the heaviest seen in 18 years, caused chaos as runways were
closed at major airports and all bus services were cancelled in London during
the morning rush hour.
Nearly 800 flights were cancelled at Heathrow on Monday, and others were
subject to long delays.
About 200 Ryanair flights into and out of the UK were stopped, mostly at
Stansted, and all BA flights from Heathrow were cancelled until 5pm.
Flights were also cancelled or delayed at airports including Gatwick, Luton,
Birmingham, Southampton, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Edinburgh, and London
City Airport was closed completely.
Dozens of trains - including all Southeastern services in and out of the
capital - were suspended.
Navigation firm TomTom said there were more than 1,000 miles of jams around
the country, with one of the longest being 53.8 miles on the M25, which saw
drivers delayed for nearly three hours.
Some six million people are thought to have been unable to get to work, and
thousands of schools and colleges were shut - many of which will not re-open
today.
Forecasters expect Scotland, Wales and northern England to suffer the worst
of today's wintry weather, causing dangerous conditions for millions more
commuters.
The Met Office has issued an extreme weather warning to motorists across the
UK to beware of icy roads and drifting or heavy snow.
Air passengers could face a second day of flight cancellations and delays as
more snow fell overnight, airlines said.
Travellers were advised by airline operator BAA to check with their airlines
before setting off.
On the roads, police warned of "treacherous" conditions.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the authorities were doing "everything in
our power" to ensure the resumption of key transport links.
Low temperatures are expected to continue across parts of the UK, with highs
of just 1C (34F) in some areas of northern England, rising to a maximum of 5C
(41F) in London and Kent, where it is expected to become drier through the
day.
Sky News weather presenter Francis Wilson said conditions would remain
unsettled and wintry on Tuesday.
He warned ice would be the main problem facing people in the morning.
"All week we're going to have unsettled, wintry weather - but the snowfalls
will get less and less and the depth of frost less and less," he added.
Tonight, snow is forecast to disappear from all but the far north of Scotland.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
來源媒體或網址: http://tinyurl.com/bbawv5
Sky News- Snow Nightmare At UK Airports
Tuesday, February 3 06:07 am
機場照片: http://tinyurl.com/bc2cs3
This week's snowfall has caused misery for thousands of holidaymakers who
turned up at airports to find their flights had been delayed or cancelled.
Almost 800 flights were cancelled at Heathrow on Monday, and others were
subject to long delays.
About 200 Ryanair flights into and out of the UK were cancelled, mostly at
Stansted.
Flights were also cancelled or delayed at airports including Luton,
Birmingham, Southampton, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Edinburgh, and London
City Airport was closed completely.
Dozens of flights were called off at Gatwick - at least eight of them after
check-in - leaving frustrated passengers left with the task of finding a bed
for the night.
Many of those stranded had to put up with the discomfort of Gatwick's waiting
rooms, as hotels throughout the region were full to overflowing.
Energy consultant Sam Gregson planned to be in Egypt on Monday evening.
Instead, he was holed up in a hotel in Crawley, praying his rescheduled
flight this morning would take off.
He told Sky News Online: "I left London at 5am on Monday and have faced
nothing but travel chaos and disgraceful customer service ever since.
"The underground was barely operating, my overground train to Gatwick broke
down, I trudged a mile through snow with my luggage and by some miracle made
check-in.
"But my flight was then cancelled, the airline didn't have a clue what was
going on and, to add insult to injury, my duty free was confiscated.
"It's been like an episode of Laurel and Hardy - although I'm not laughing."
Another passenger explained to Sky News how he was told his flight was
cancelled by text in the departure lounge, before ground staff knew
themselves.
"It was a complete shambles," he said.
However, another passenger praised ground staff at the airport for their
cool-headedness.
He said: "I'm amazed at the professionalism of the staff.
"While some of the airlines were clearly at fault for giving passengers false
hopes, their staff shold be praised for dealing with the fallout in a calm
and professional manner."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
來源媒體或網址: http://tinyurl.com/b2ds3b
ITN- Britain's Big Freeze heads north
Tuesday, February 3 11:10 am
Britain's Big Freeze is gripping the north with conditions so bad in places
that the Met Office has issued an emergency weather warning.
Weathermen have warned that more than a foot of snow could fall in northern
England and in Scotland.
The blizzards are thought to have cost the economy as much as ￡3 billion as
London and other major cities ground to a halt.
Children across Britain are getting another day off school after thousands of
schools and colleges remain closed for a second day.
Air passengers face a second day of flight cancellations and delays as more
snow fell overnight and travellers are advised by airport operator BAA to
check with their airlines before setting off.
A limited train service resumed today for commuters in Kent and East Sussex
coming into London.
Operator Southeastern advised travellers to expect some delays and allow
extra time to complete their journeys.
Passengers were also warned of slippery conditions underfoot, particularly at
smaller unstaffed stations.
A Southeastern spokeswoman said: "We're aiming to run a limited service
today, mostly half-hourly for the majority of routes, with some more remote
locations operating an hourly service, so if people want to travel they can
travel."
Forecaster Claire Austin said: "Northern England and Scotland will be having
lots of snow, mainly on higher ground, with sleet and rain elsewhere."
She added: "The snow will also come to west Wales and south-west England. As
the day goes on northern England will get drier but the rain will stay in
Scotland and fall as snow over higher ground. Northern Ireland will stay wet.
"Wales and south-west England will have wintry showers with a mixture of
sleet, snow and a bit of hail. The rest of the country will stay pretty much
dry."
Low temperatures are expected to continue across parts of the UK, with highs
of just 1C (34F) in some areas of northern England, rising to a maximum of 5C
(41F) in London and Kent, where it is expected to become drier through the
day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
來源媒體或網址: http://tinyurl.com/d9k3pu
法新社- Snow strands 2000 train passengers
February 03, 2009 11:14pm AEST
SOME 2000 Eurostar cross-Channel rail passengers were stranded through the
night in trains and stations due to heavy snowfall in northern France and
Britain, the operator said on Tuesday.
Two Paris-to-London trains and one London-to-Paris service were held up by
between five and a half and seven hours, according to a spokeswoman for the
high-speed rail operator.
No further details were immediately available.
The spokeswoman said the delays were caused by "extremely bad and exceptional
weather conditions,'' and that passengers would be offered a full refund and
a free journey by way of compensation.
Four trains scheduled for Tuesday were also cancelled because of the weather.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
來源媒體或網址: http://tinyurl.com/ap786c
法新社- Snow could cost economy millions: experts
Tuesday, February 3 12:47 pm Katherine Haddon
The snow storms which paralysed Britain may have cost businesses already
battling the credit crunch up to a billion pounds, experts said Tuesday --
and more blizzards could be still on their way.
The 10 centimetres of snow which coated London, Europe's financial capital,
Monday virtually shut down air, rail and road links, forcing thousands of
workers to stay at home.
With the country in recession and facing what the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) says will be the worst slump in the developed world, the rare cold snap
risks putting many struggling businesses into the deep freeze for good.
The Federation of Small Businesses, which represents over 200,000
businessmen, said one in five people did not make it to work Monday, costing
employers up to 1.2 billion pounds.
Spokesman Stephen Alambritis said if the bad weather continues this week,
that could rise to 3.5 billion pounds.
The bad weather also hit other European countries including France, Italy,
Switzerland, Belgium and Spain.
Forecasters say Scotland will bear the brunt of the snow in the coming days.
It has now largely stopped snowing in London and southeast England.
Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the Centre for Economics and Business
Research, suggested several thousand firms could go bankrupt after the snow,
especially if it lingers.
"If it leads to delayed payments, the combined hit on profits and cashflow
could send many businesses who might be close to the brink into premature
bankruptcy," he told the Guardian newspaper.
"Many are in retail and construction, sectors likely to be most affected by
snow and transport disruption."
But he added the cold weather could have an upside for some sectors.
"Consumers spend more on heating and on warm clothes, and any accidents or
structural damage leads to increased spending on repairs," said McWilliams.
However the weather looks over the next few days, business leaders have
criticised officials in London and southeast England for not doing more to
prepare for the snow, despite forecasts predicting a deluge.
David Frost, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said
images of snowbound Britain were embarrassing abroad.
"All the European channels were showing images of London at a complete
standstill, which was not a very positive image for the UK," he told BBC
radio.
"I wonder whether we have become a bit too complacent... when something like
this does happen, we are caught very much on the hop."
London Mayor Boris Johnson was criticised by his predecessor Ken Livingstone
after the widespread failure of the city's public transport system Monday.
Even the city's iconic red buses, which stayed on the road during World War
II German bombing raids on London, failed to run for the first time in 100
years.
Television ran pictures of bus drivers enjoying snowball fights instead.
Johnson blamed the "wrong quantity of snow" for the problems and told BBC
radio that "unleashing a 12-tonne bus on to heavily packed snow or ice" would
risk "turning it into a lethal weapon".
But Alambritis urged him to consult his counterparts in cities like Moscow
and Vancouver on keeping public transport on track despite snowfalls.
"We need this debate," he said. "One of the world's biggest economies should
not be grinding to a halt, even if it is only once every 10 years."
---
--
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