Snow Business...

New Malden woke up to a picture postcard-esque covering of snow this morning, and unsurprisingly there are considerable train delays into London - I waited half an hour for a train this morning, but some people have waited up to an hour.

So why are trains in south London more affected by snow than those elsewhere? There is actually a technical reason for this - according to www.bbc.co.uk/local (where you can also find the latest road and rail updates), a number of train companies including South West Trains have to operate using the 'third rail system'.  

With this system, the electricity is transmitted to the train using an electrified third rail that the train picks up through a bit of metal called a shoe. And when the snow and ice hits, if the conductor third rail is cold, it freezes. 

For the latest travel information, visit www.bbc.co.uk/local

Some schools are also closed, however I noticed that Corpus Christi on Elm Road was open today.

How has the extreme weather affected your day or commute? Tell us your stories!