Millions of people are set to face disruption to their Easter travel plans this weekend due to major rail engineering works, strike action, heavy traffic and possible flooding.
More than 300 engineering projects will be carried out by Network Rail across Britain between Good Friday and Easter Monday, prompting warnings for passengers to check their journeys in advance.
The worst-affected routes include those serving London Euston, where no trains will run to or from Milton Keynes on Saturday and Sunday due to work to renew overhead electric lines and improve drainage.
At Gatwick Airport, more than 100 members of the Unite union who work for ground handling firm Red Handling are expected to strike across the weekend in a dispute over pensions and pay. They include baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers for airlines including Norwegian and Delta.
On the roads, the AA estimates nearly 20 million people will travel by car on Good Friday alone, with just under that number expected to make journeys on the remaining days of the weekend. And there are also warnings of potential flooding in the South West with drivers urged to take extra care in affected areas.
Follow the live updates on the travel chaos here:
The Met Office is forecasting “changeable weather for many”, with deputy chief meteorologist Steven Skeates warning of “heavy and possibly even disruptive rain” on Good Friday in parts of south-west England, South Wales and Northern Ireland.
There are also warnings of potential flooding in the South West into Saturday, with drivers urged to take extra care in affected areas.
RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said if the heavy rain becomes a reality “many drivers may have their journeys disrupted as they set off for day trips and long weekends”.
She added: “It’s vital to plan ahead and be prepared for trips to take longer because of the wet weather and the expected getaway congestion.”
Ms Simpson said an estimated 6.2 million people are “undecided” on when they will travel for an Easter leisure trip, which means “any sign of sun” could spark “big jams”.
On the roads, the AA estimates nearly 20 million people will travel by car on Good Friday alone, with just under that number expected to make journeys on the remaining days of the weekend.
National Highways has lifted roadworks from more than 1,100 miles of motorway and major A roads, with 97.5% of its network now free of traffic cones.
Traffic hotspots are expected on the M6 in Birmingham and near Blackpool, the south and western M25, the M5 at Bristol and the A303 in Wiltshire.
RAC spokesperson Alice Simpson warned of the potential for “big jams”, particularly if there is a break in the weather.
She said: “It’s vital to plan ahead and be prepared for trips to take longer because of the wet weather and the expected getaway congestion.”
Gatwick Airport, the second busiest in the UK after Heathrow, is set to face strike action during the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Baggage handlers and flight dispatchers will walk out in protest over pension disputes and payment delays – meaning flight delays, short-notice cancellations, and long queues at check-in are likely.
The strike action will start on Good Friday and last until Tuesday. Passengers worried about their flight are advised to check with their airline.
A total of 11,282 flights are scheduled to leave UK airports over the four-day period, with popular destinations including Dublin, Amsterdam, Malaga, Alicante and Mallorca, aviation analytics firm Cirium said.
A large build up of traffic can already be seen this morning at the port of Dover for people going abroad over Easter.
It’ll also be a busy bank holiday on the roads, and drivers are being advised to prepare for congestion around town and city centres, retail parks and major routes.
According to the AA, an estimated 19.1 million people in the UK will drive on Good Friday alone, with 18.5 million hitting the road on Saturday and 18.2 million on each of Easter Sunday and Monday.
Heavy traffic is expected on the M6 at Birmingham and around the Blackpool area, the south and western section of the M25 between the M23 and M40, the M5 at Bristol and the A303 in Wiltshire.
Some of the biggest impacts will be felt at London Euston, the 10th busiest railway station in the UK, which will have no services to or from Milton Keynes on Saturday and Easter Sunday. It will also reduced timetable on Good Friday and Monday to allow engineering work to take place, including renewals of overhead electric lines and drainage improvements.
Services on the West Coast Main Line between Saturday and Monday will meanwhile start and terminate at Carlisle, with replacement buses serving stations to the north. Platforms 1-8 will be closed at London Victoria, meaning no Southeastern trains will serve the station over the four-day bank holiday period.
Services will be diverted to London Bridge or London Cannon Street. Engineering work in the Southampton and Brockenhurst areas will close various lines in the region, meaning trains running through the popular New Forest area will be affected.
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