Jon Snow's dramatic claim that climate change is to blame for fallen tree that caused COP26 rail chaos sparks anger among critics who point out that disruption is 'normal' in Autumn
- Jon Snow claimed climate change was to blame for branches falling on railway
- Critics pointed out branches have been falling for as long as trees have existed
- Social media users slammed Mr Snow and said disruption was normal in Autumn
Channel 4 anchor Jon Snow has been mocked online after blaming climate change when a stormy autumn day knocked branches onto railway wires.
The media veteran, 74, said climate change was the reason his train from London's Euston to Glasgow for the COP26 climate summit was delayed.
At one point the locomotive slowed to a five mph crawl because branches fell on overhead wires during strong gales between Rugby and Milton Keynes on the West Coast Main Line yesterday.
Mr Snow wrote on Twitter: 'En route to COP26 - trees and branches affected by climate change have slowed our rail journey - tho the branches have been cleared we are doen to 5mph - What an irony! What a message! We MUST change! Dare we hope that we shall?'
Two hours later Mr Snow revealed his journey started again at Kings Cross where he got a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) service.
Enraged social media users were quick to point out branches have always fallen from trees onto railway lines.
Jon Snow, 74, said climate change was the reason his train from London's Euston to Glasgow for the COP26 climate summit was delayed
At one point the locomotive slowed to a five mph crawl because branches fell on overhead wired during strong gales between Rugby and Milton Keynes on the West Coast Main Line yesterday
One critic wrote: 'I suppose branches didn't fall on lines before climate change then?'
It comes following a day of travel chaos as desperate delegates booked last-minute flights to Glasgow when trains from London's Euston were cancelled.
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Parts of the UK may have seen tornadoes yesterday, according to the Met Office, when rain and strong winds of up to 80mph battered the country.
Mr Snow put the weather down to climate change, something other social media users decried.
Enraged social media users were quick to point out branches have always fallen from trees onto railway lines
One said: 'Utterly ridiculous, in Europe they cut down trees within close proximity of railway lines which is why they don’t suffer from "leaves on the line" in October. Here, we pander to the environmentalists which stop that kind of thing which is why you’re doing 5mph.'
Another added: 'Oh get a grip! We’ve had storms as long as I can remember…and unless you’ve missed it your train is running on electricity - generated from power plants et al !'
One wrote: 'It's got bugger all to do with climate change. Next you will say it's snowing in January because of climate change. It's autumn coming into winter. That's what happens every year. Stop trying to make this about a political agenda when it isn't.'
One added: 'I'm fairly sure we had windy days 50yrs ago before anyone was talking about climate change. Its just normal October weather.'
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