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London, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – Britain is groaning under the weight of the heaviest snowfall the country has experienced since 1965. The country’s second largest airport, Gatwick, and major rail routes have been closed for several days. Car travel is also difficult because of closed highways and slippery roads.

According to estimates, the widespread transport paralysis costs the British economy $1.8 billion (GBP 1.2 billion) daily.

To address the situation, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond tapped transport expert David Quarmby to lead an urgent review of the transport paralysis. Quarmby is expected to finish the report before Christmas.

Quarmby, chairman of the RAC Foundation, however, hints the task of moving Britain’s transportation sector is gargantuan and could not be accomplished within 24 hours.

Gatwick will likely remain closed until 6 a.m. on Friday even if workers have cleared over 100,000 tons of snow from the facility.

Train companies in different parts of Britain suspended their services because of the heavy snowfall. The Association of Train Operations Companies estimates that 30 percent of rail services across the country were canceled, while 60 percent of coaches managed to arrive on time despite reduced timetables.

The Department of Education reported that as of Thursday, 7,000 schools closed, from only 3,000 shuttered schools on Wednesday.

Seaports also shut down because of the bad weather, placing in peril the delivery schedules of container ships from Asia. The shipments include toys, clothing, electrical goods and furniture intended to reach British department stores for the Christmas shopping season.

Store owners fear a shortage of Christmas gifts for the Yuletide yearend holiday season.

Because of the halt to daily life the snow has caused, the Labor Party accused the coalition government of being complacent in addressing the transport paralysis

Britain’s weather bureau, the Met Office, said the prolonged cold snap may soon ease with snowfall likely limited to coastal regions. But very low overnight temperatures averaging minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit) are still forecast over Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham.

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