Travelling to London? Don't bank on it...

Yesterday's howling winds and lashing rain truly divided the north from the south.

Those commuters hoping to head to the capital - whether to work, shop or play - were out of luck.

The M1 - a nightmare journey at the best of times - was effectively shut down. A jacknifed lorry at Wakefield closed it southbound and further on at Barnsley you couldn't travel either way, even if you had wanted to, as lorries flipped over in the blustery conditions.

And there was little point in letting the train take the strain either.

True, you would get a little further than Barnsley - but not quite to the capital. And all thanks to the wind again.

GNER's East Coast Mainline service was terminating at the city of Peterborough because the wind had brought powerlines down - terminating in the city may have been very nice for the tourist, but not so good for those businessmen from Bradford who had urgent appointments in the capital.

But never mind - surely, there would be connecting buses from the picturesque Cambridgeshire city?

Not on your nelly...

So just how were those good people of Bradford supposed to get to the capital? The planes were full, the roads closed, the trains just struggling to get anywhere.

But for the more bold and adventurous, or the simply ingenious (with a little time on their hands) there were a few alternatives.

Forget heading to Leeds Bradford - there were limited seats to Heathrow because businessman had been pulling out their credit cards to snap up the quickest way to travel, although not the most comfortable in blustery winds.

British Midland was advising callers to its helplines to try flying to London from Manchester Airport.

But in desperation and for the tidy sum of between £300 and £400 some may look to choose the four-hour journey from Leeds-Bradford to London via Paris. The trip may be a little longer than normal, but just think of the chance to have a little lunch and vin rouge along the way.

For the more adventurous, helicopters are also thriving. More and more people are using the service to get to London in a little over an hour.

Prices vary, but a group of four travelling can expect to pay around £600 - not bad if you have enough friends desperate to get to the capital.

Taxi firms trying to get businessmen to their London meetings on time claim a journey, without problems, would take in the region of four hours and cost a fairly reasonable £200. But that doesn't take into account the country's propensity to grind to a halt when rain and wind hit the roads.

But forget the more conventional approach - and if you are prepared to spend a little more time travelling then there are some romantic, traditional methods of travel.

When new technology lets you down turn to the old favourites.

British Waterways suggests a barge trip. Okay, it might not be that good for those who desperately need to see the chairman of the board today, but fine for those hoping to be there in time for spring.

The route would start from Saltaire in Bradford travelling along eight different canals before finishing on Regents Canal in London. But the downside is travelling at a leisurely 4mph it could take up to three weeks and could cost up to £4,000.

Those who want to trot to their destination could, of course, try the horse drawn carriage. James Hanson, of Raikes Hall Farm in Bradford, estimated that a journey to London would have taken around three days during its hey-day - but it would have involved changing horse teams.

In modern monetary terms this service would have cost more than £2,000.

A cost-effective mode for people with plenty of energy would be to cycle. Keith Lambert, of Keith Lambert Cycle-sports, Main Street, Bingley, claims he once managed the trip in a blistering pace of 12 hours.

However, it would probably take most people a more realistic ten days.

And then again you could also begin walking...