A significant traffic incident on the M25 motorway caused widespread disruption for road users. Late last night, a lorry collided with the central reservation between Junction 10 (A3) and Junction 8 (Reigate), effectively blocking the anti-clockwise carriageway. The incident occurred just before 11:50 PM, with the lorry coming to rest sideways across the lanes. Emergency services, including an air ambulance, attended the scene, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Highways authorities immediately closed the affected section of the M25, implementing a diversion route to manage the flow of traffic. Drivers were urged to plan ahead and consider alternative routes, including the A240 and A217, to avoid the congested area.
The closure of this major arterial route led to substantial traffic backlogs, as evidenced by highway cameras and live images from the scene. National Highways, responsible for managing England’s motorways and major A roads, provided regular updates on the situation via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), keeping motorists informed of the ongoing closure and advising them to follow the designated diversion route. The official diversion, marked by the hollow square symbol, directed drivers off the M25 at Junction 10, then onto the A3 northbound towards London. From there, the route proceeded via the A240, A24, and A217, eventually rejoining the M25 at the Reigate Hill Interchange.
Following the successful recovery of the lorry, specialist engineers assessed the road surface for any damage caused by the collision. Once the assessment was complete and any necessary repairs were made, the affected section of the M25 was reopened. This incident added to the travel chaos caused by severe weather across the UK, with major roads closed and rail lines blocked due to heavy snow, flooding, and fallen trees.
The severe weather impacting the UK caused widespread disruption across various transport networks. Heavy snow forced the temporary closure of runways at Manchester Airport, though they were later reopened. Numerous flights experienced delays or cancellations as a result. Across England, several A-roads were closed due to hazardous conditions, including the A66 in Cumbria due to snow, the A628 Woodhead Pass due to flooding, and the A49 in Herefordshire also due to flooding. An incident on the A46 in Warwickshire, where a car reportedly aquaplaned due to flooding, further added to the road closures. Aquaplaning occurs when a layer of water prevents tyres from gripping the road surface, leading to loss of control.
Rail services were also significantly affected by the severe weather. Flooding caused complete closures of lines between Derby and both Nottingham and East Midlands Parkway, impacting CrossCountry and East Midlands Railway services. Similar flooding led to closures between Peterborough and Leicester, compounding the disruption. A fallen tree blocked Southeastern train services from Ramsgate and Margate towards London via Canterbury West. Heavy rain and flooding also impacted Great Western Railway services between Bristol Parkway and Gloucester, causing reduced speeds. TransPennine Express services faced similar issues between Barnetby and Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire. Transport for Wales services between Manchester and North Wales were restricted to operating only between Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester due to flooding.
The Met Office issued various weather warnings across the UK, including yellow warnings for rain in the West Midlands, snow and ice in northern England and North Wales, and ice in Northern Ireland. Two further warnings for snow and ice covered much of Scotland. The severe weather, including heavy snow and icy rainfall, impacted much of the UK over the weekend, leading to airport closures, stranded vehicles, and road collisions, especially across northern England. The Met Office forecast predicted a return to cold conditions across the country following a brief milder spell in southern areas. This incident on the M25, coupled with the widespread weather-related disruptions, highlighted the challenges faced by travellers and the importance of staying informed about road and weather conditions.
