Storm Goretti brings heavy snow in Birmingham and Black Country

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Snow turned heavy in Aldridge and other parts of the West Midlands on Thursday night

Heavy snow arrived in the West Midlands on Thursday evening thanks to Storm Goretti.

An amber Met Office warning is in place for much of the Midlands and most of Wales until Friday morning. Snow could reach up to 30cm in some areas, it said.

Weather conditions also caused disruption and hazardous driving conditions, with some videos showing cars and even buses sliding around in the snow in Kings Heath, in Birmingham

Rail services have also been affected, with West Midlands Railway and Network Rail asking commuters to check journeys before travelling.

They warned passengers rail services may be delayed as ice could make it difficult for trains to run safely.

"From 19:00 GMT on Thursday, some trains across the West Midlands will run on a reduced timetable and passengers should take extra care and plan their journeys in advance," Network Rail said.

Chiltern Railways advised those travelling that a "significantly reduced service" would be in place on Friday. A spokesperson added one Chiltern Railways service per hour would operate in each direction from Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone.

(BBC article continues)

Huddersfield gritting lorry toppled amid 'hazardous' conditions

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A gritting lorry overturned on a patch of icy West Yorkshire moorland road as temperatures across the county dipped below freezing.

The distinctive vehicle came off the road and ended up on its side with its nose in a ditch in Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, earlier.

Kirklees Council confirmed the driver was not injured and the vehicle had been recovered and "returned to service".

A spokesperson added: "The incident highlights the challenging and often hazardous conditions our teams are working in to keep roads safe and accessible."

Councillor Tyler Hawkins, from the authority's Highways department, also said: "Although gritting vehicles are designed for winter conditions, severe weather, particularly black ice, can make some routes difficult to navigate. The safety of our staff and the public remain our top priority, but conditions can still be unpredictable." He urged people to take greater care on the roads as the treacherous conditions "could worsen" in the coming weeks.

There are currently a number of severe weather warnings throughout the UK ahead of Storm Goretti, which is expected to bring heavy snowfall to parts of the country, including Yorkshire.

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My friend in Leominster just sent me a photo of his street under a canopy of snow. I think Leominster is still served by GWR isn't it?

Has anyone yet seen any snow today?

If your travelling to Cornwall from London today the latest you can depart is at 1303. Sleeper's cancelled and all other services will terminate at Plymouth.

Up to 30cm of snow in Wales and the West Midlands - Met Office
published at 17:18
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The Met Office has updated its weather warnings ahead of Storm Goretti

The Met Office has updated an amber weather warning covering parts of the West Midlands and Wales as heavy snow is likely to lead to dangerous travelling conditions.

The warning now includes Wrexham, Stafford and parts of Flintshire.

A yellow snow warning has also been extended north to cover parts of Cheshire.

There could be up to 30cm of snow in some locations, especially on hills above 200m in Wales and the Peak District.

There could be 10 to 15cm of snow in a fairly wide area, the Met Office adds.

The forecaster says snow will ease through the course of Friday morning, turning to rain or sleet at times at low levels.

But disruption is likely to continue into Friday after the snow stops falling.

Mark, I'm leaving it is as it is for now - all things weather-wise are moving a bit fast at the moment. Image not available to guests

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ScotRail has confirmed it has launched an internal investigation following allegations that some staff were given gifts in exchange for contracts.

Scotland's nationalised rail operator has allegedly suspended staff members from the property services management team while inquiries take place.

According to a report in the Scotsman, a car may have been one of the gifts accepted.

A ScotRail spokesman confirmed an investigation was being carried out but said he could not divulge any details about it.

ScotRail was taken into public ownership by the SNP government in April 2022, having previously been operated by Dutch company Abellio, and before that National Express and First Group.

A ScotRail spokesman told BBC Scotland: "We can confirm that an independent investigation is ongoing. We wouldn't comment on individuals. We are unable to make any further comment until the investigation process has been completed."

... Mods please move this post if needed, this may be celtic fringe but Cornwall it ain't)

Followed GWR's advice and came home early; Bristol-Chippenham-Melksham not due to be (directly) affected but no point in risking it.

Our plan to fix the UK’s traffic problem

It’s no secret that the UK has a traffic problem. Transport costs are pushing people into poverty, roads are dangerous, and congestion is costing us dearly.

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Turning the tide on traffic means prioritising accessible and affordable public transport, making walking, wheeling and cycling safe and easy, and getting electric vehicles (and the lower running costs these can bring) to those who need them. This isn’t just how we tackle the biggest chunk of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions: taking action on traffic can boost our health, save us money, create safer neighbourhoods and make more space for nature too.

Alterations to services on all routes
Due to forecasted severe weather:
Train services running across the whole Great Western Railway network will be revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 09/01/26.
Customer Advice
Storm Goretti is forecast to hit the UK later this afternoon, bringing strong winds and heavy rain/snow. This is likely to bring disruption to the GWR network.
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Based on the forecast for the areas expected to be worst-affected, the following alterations will apply:

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- No GWR services will run between Great Malvern and Hereford after 15:00. From 19:00, no services will run between Worcester and Great Malvern.

[...]

Please note the final services to run will depart stations earlier than these times; please check journey planners for details of individual journeys.

[...]

Last Updated:08/01/2026 12:45