Questions are being asked about Britain’s ability to cope with sub-zero conditions after much of the transport network shuddered to a halt.
Thousands of people were left high and dry after rail operators cancelled services, four major airports closed their doors and motorists faced chaos on the roads.
Some 7,000 schools turned children away from lessons while around two in five people failed to turn up for work, dealing a huge blow to the economy in the crucial run-up to Christmas.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, who has announced a review of how transport operators have coped, was forced to defend himself in the Commons after Labour’s Maria Eagle told him to “get a grip”.
The shadow transport secretary said: “The country is in chaos with passengers forced to sleep at stations, stuck freezing all night in broken-down trains and trapped in their cars – all at a cost to the economy of up to £1.2 billion a day.”
Mr Hammond replied: “When there’s extremely high snow and extremely low temperatures, there will be disruption to the transport system.”
Many of those hoping to travel from Gatwick, Edinburgh, Southampton and London City Airport airports saw their plans thrown into disarray. Officials said Gatwick would not reopen until at least 6am on Friday.
On the roads, the AA said it had attended 10,500 breakdowns, with calls coming in at 1,150 every hour.
Forecasters said around 15 inches (38cm) of snow had fallen in Redesdale, Northumberland, while another 10 inches (25cm) carpeted Charlwood, West Sussex.
Temperatures – which struggled to climb above zero during the day and fell to minus 17.9C in Kinbrace, in Scotland – were expected to plummet further, possibly dipping below minus 12C in London and the South East.
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