London snow: TfL has stockpiled 110,000 tonnes of salt, got a fleet of road gritters and put an action plan in place to keep the capital moving
Transport for London and London Councils have stockpiled 110,000 tonnes of salt ahead of the snowy weather as the capital braces itself for the arrival of cold weather.
Forecasts predicted that snow and sleet would hit the capital by this afternoon – and it looks like the skies have punctually obliged.
A fleet of road gritters are being deployed to keep London moving, and arrangements have been put in place to enable boroughs to share salt with each other should they need.
There is also something with the impressive title “the pan-London strategic salt reserve”, which amounts to another 28,000 tonnes of salt, which can be used by TfL and the capital's boroughs. This has been available, but not used, for the past three winters.
The plans have been developed alongside emergency services to keep roads and key footways – those around police, fire and ambulance stations, hospitals, bus garages and railway stations – open throughout any severe weather.
London Underground has “well rehearsed plans” that include running de-icing trains overnight, keeping tracks as clear as possible and gritting platforms where required to keep them safe for customers.
Points – the mechanical parts that operate junctions on the network – will be heated and regularly checked on the Tube and DLR.
London Overground stations will be gritted and de-icer applied to the rails to ensure minimised disruption.
Despite all these precautions, TfL is advising commuters to check before they travel and allow extra journey time where possible.
Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL said: "Once again, we have done everything possible to ensure that, should harsh weather conditions hit, we have well rehearsed procedures in place to minimise the consequences.”