UK railways are facing widespread disruption on Friday as severe winter weather continues to affect large parts of the country, forcing multiple operators to suspend or sharply reduce services.

Chiltern Railways said it is running only around half of its normal timetable. According to the operator, no services are operating north of Birmingham Moor Street, nor on the line to Stratford-upon-Avon. Several stations, including Hatton, Lapworth, Kings Sutton, Sudbury Hill Harrow, Sudbury & Harrow Road, and South Ruislip, are not being served at all. No replacement bus services are in place for rail.

The disruption comes amid multiple weather warnings issued by the Met Office, which is forecasting snow, strong winds, heavy rain, and icy conditions across much of the UK. The extreme weather has also led to power cuts, school closures, and significant travel disruption.

In the Midlands and Wales, an amber warning for heavy snow remains valid until 09:00 GMT, after which it is due to ease to a yellow warning until midday. Most of Scotland is under a yellow warning for snow and ice until 12:00, with similar alerts in place for Northern Ireland. Elsewhere, yellow warnings for heavy and persistent rain cover eastern England and Wales, while strong winds have triggered a yellow warning across south-west England and along the south coast.

Other rail operators are reporting severe impacts. West Midlands Railway said it has suspended all services, stating it is “unable to operate any services until the afternoon”. The company added that no rail replacement road transport is being provided due to “uncertain road conditions”.

London Northwestern Railway said services between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street are suspended until Friday afternoon, while trains between Birmingham New Street and London Euston are operating on a reduced timetable.

East Midlands Railway also warned of major disruption, confirming that the Hope Valley line between Sheffield and Manchester will be closed for the entire day due to snowfall. The operator advised passengers to check journeys carefully, noting that heavy snow has affected regional routes and delayed the start of some services.

Beyond the rail network, ferry operator DFDS warned of disruption on routes between Dover and France, citing strong winds in the Channel.

Passengers across the UK are being urged to check travel plans before setting out, as severe weather continues to place heavy strain on the national rail network and wider transport system.