Tens of thousands of Britons across the country are experiencing widespread power cuts, travel disruption and school closures as Storm Goretti wreaks havoc.
It brought 99mph winds and a rare red warning by the Met Office for “dangerous, stormy” winds in the South West.
More than 43,000 properties were without power in the South West at 6am on Friday, according to the National Grid’s website, while about 14,000 had no power in the West Midlands and 530 were without power in Wales.
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All trains in Cornwall were suspended from 6pm on Thursday, Network Rail said.
In Devon, trains on the Exeter-Okehampton and Exeter-Barnstaple routes were suspended from the same time because of forecast high-wind speeds.
West Midlands Railway said it has suspended all services.
It said: “We are unable to operate any services until the afternoon.”
No rail replacement road transport is being provided because of “uncertain road conditions”, it added.
London Northwestern Railway said it has suspended services between Birmingham New Street and Liverpool Lime Street until Friday afternoon.
Its services between Birmingham New Street and London Euston are reduced.
Chiltern Railways said it was not running services north of Birmingham Moor Street or on the line to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Stations at Hatton, Lapworth, Kings Sutton, Sudbury Hill Harrow, Sudbury & Harrow Road and South Ruislip will also not be served today.
Rail replacement buses will not be in operation, Chiltern said in a statement on its website.
The statement added: “Customers should check before they travel today, as services may be subject to disruption due to the impact of Storm Goretti. Services may be further amended at short notice.”
East Midlands Railway said the Hope Valley line between Sheffield and Manchester will be closed all day.
Other lines, including between Nottingham and Lincoln and between Leicester and Nottingham, will be closed until after 10am on Friday.
The train operator said: “Please check your journey before travelling today. Heavy snowfall has impacted our regional routes with some services starting later than usual.”
