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Hundreds of freezing passengers have been stranded on trains overnight with no food or heating as the big freeze caused rail lines to buckle amid intense snow .

Around 100 travellers are said to be trapped on a South Western Railway service, which left Waterloo at 5.35pm yesterday to Bournemouth.

Those still on board this morning told how they spent the night huddled under foil blankets with no power or extra water.

On another train, one passenger on a train from Waterloo to Poole can be seen lying in a luggage rack after passengers were also stranded overnight.

(Image: @dSAMANTHAj/Twitter)

(Image: @dSAMANTHAj/Twitter)

South Western Railway said lines had been blocked between Weymouth and Southampton Central because of "multiple broken down trains".

Disruption is expected until 12pm today.

Beth Hopkins wrote on Twitter: "Will I get compensation for being stranded on the 17:35 train from Waterloo to Bournemouth for 7 hours (5 hours at standstill) and counting?

"A mere refund doesn't e52ven begin to cover it. No food, water, heat or idea when we'll be moving."

Nigel Thomas tweeted: "100s of commuters stuck on Southwestern Railways trains through the night! No heating, no water, foil blankets for some....8 hours on a train from Waterloo to Bournemouth...we are in a sitcom...Britain's Railways tut tut tut."

Liv Thurlow wrote: “Been stuck on train to #Bournemouth at #Southampton since 10pm - now almost 4am with no further info!!!

“Full 9 coaches here - worried for when the power runs out?!?”

Shane White was stuck on the 4.30pm service from Cardiff to Bournemouth until shortly before 8am on Friday morning.

He wrote on Twitter: "All sorts of problem all due to ice and snowy, apparently one train near Christchurch has welded itself to the track trying to move, obviously very high voltage going through these lines, but little current flow due to the ice build up.

"They have been trying all night to come up with a solution but trains have ran out of battery power etc, there was some rain that has frozen points and other electrical connections, with all the roads block and vehicle snowed in there is no road transport available."

Samantha Blackburn tweeted: "Friends #stranded on the 17.30 from #Waterloo to #Poole, stuck at #Brokenhurst, on a train with no power, no heating left In the cold with no news. #Snow is heavy.”

In s statement, South Western Railway said: “Because of the severe weather conditions multiple trains have broken down between Weymouth and Bournemouth. All lines between these stations are currently blocked.

“Trains are stuck in a queue behind the defective trains and are unable to move.

“We are in the process of trying to move the broken down trains and will update you when we have further information, Emergency Rail Replacement is extremely limited in the area due to severe weather, but we are doing our best to help you complete your journey.

“For further assistance, please contact us on a Help Point or contact a member of staff at a station.”

Commuters are facing another day of disruption as the weather continues to cripple the UK and Ireland's travel networks.

Several roads remain impassable and have been closed, and drivers have been warned not to travel unless absolutely essential.

Train services will be cancelled and delayed across nearly all operators on Friday, with many urging passengers no to attempt to make journeys.

All cross-border trains between England and Scotland remain suspended.

The West Coast Main Line is closed between Carlisle and Scotland, with no trains or replacement buses.

Virgin Trains East Coast is pleaded with passengers "not to travel" on the entire East Coast Main Line between London and Scotland.

No trains will run between Newcastle and Edinburgh on Friday.

ScotRail said train lines will need to be tested on Friday morning to check if they are safe, which means there will not be any services in the worst affected areas during the morning peak.

Southeastern will continue to run a modified timetable on Friday as heavy snowfall is expected in the South East during the afternoon and overnight into Saturday.