Tubes and buses running but more disruption on the trains

There were cancellations, delays and shorter trains than usual — although the Tube and buses were back working at last.

London's transport bosses have been warned that commuters will not accept a repeat of the chaos despite forecasters predicting further snow storms this week.

Southern, which operates services from the south coast into London Bridge and Victoria, cancelled 22 trains and First Great Western's service between Paddington and Greenford remained suspended while other of its services between London and the Thames Valley were cancelled.

Southeastern, the busiest commuter operator, serving Kent and south-east London into Cannon Street, Charing Cross and Victoria — and which cancelled all services on Monday — reported trains virtually back to normal.

Buses replaced trains on the Bromley North to Grove Park branch line because the tracks were iced over.

Motoring groups, campaigners and politicians lambasted bus and rail chiefs for failing to keep routes running and said authorities should "learn their lessons".

There have also been calls for a full-scale inquiry into why roads were not gritted and why the transport network seized up. Transport for London chiefs are to be quizzed over Monday's shutdown when all of London's buses were taken off the roads.

The AA, RAC and passenger group, London Travelwatch, called for measures to be taken to ensure buses, trains and the Tube do not come to a standstill twice in one week.

Edmund King, AA president, said: "There's no excuse not to keep the key bus routes moving. We can't be burned twice. If there is a forecast for extreme weather, there needs to be a co-ordinated response so key services are maintained on red routes."

London Travelwatch revealed TfL would be asked to explain why there was such an extensive shutdown. A spokesman said: "TfL have said they did grit the roads on Sunday but it snowed again and the gritters couldn't get back to the depot. We will investigate this."

Labour's transport chairman on the London Assembly, Val Shawcross, said: "TfL must co-ordinate with councils for early and heavy gritting on important strategic bus routes."

TfL refused to rule out more disruption with another six inches of snow forecast by the Met Office. A spokesman said: "TfL will do all we can to help prevent significant disruption."

TFL: NO REFUNDS FOR MONDAY

BUS and Tube passengers will not be refunded for Monday's travel chaos, although suburban train commuters are in line for compensation.

Transport for London said the collapse had been beyond its control. A spokesman added: "With around 10 million daily journeys, providing refunds on this scale would be a massive cost which would be borne by taxpayers."

Labour's transport spokeswoman Val Shawcross said: "The Mayor was quick to offer a [congestion charge] refund to motorists, he should be giving equal treatment to bus and Tube users."

Train travellers forced to abandon journeys before they boarded are entitled to a full refund.