Motorists have been advised to exercise extreme caution while driving on British roads due to predicted high winds and rain. These weather conditions may result in significant delays as people begin their Christmas travels.
The most severe weather is expected on Thursday afternoon, just as many schools in southern England are finishing for the term. This may lead to increased traffic on the roads, with the peak expected on Friday.
Reworded: As reported by motoring organizations, road congestion may be even worse this year compared to last year. The RAC predicted that 13.5 million “leisure” trips will be taken by car between Friday and Christmas Eve. The AA stated that over 40% of drivers are anticipated to be on the roads on Friday.
According to Inrix, a transportation analysis company, there will be daily delays of approximately 40 minutes from December 22nd to 24th. The most significant backups are anticipated on the M25 clockwise route from London. There will also likely be congestion on the M1 northbound from Woburn, Bedfordshire, and on the M6 southbound from Wigan to Stafford.
Following severe weather alerts from the Met Office throughout the UK, a representative from AA stated: “Numerous locations in the UK can expect to experience high winds and precipitation leading up to Christmas, increasing the likelihood of trees and other debris obstructing roadways. Motorists should exercise extreme caution, particularly in rural or wooded regions.”
Motorists were recommended to depart prior to 11am or after 6pm in order to decrease the likelihood of getting stuck in lengthy lines.
The National Highways organization announced plans to eliminate over 1,000 miles of roadworks on motorways in England during the Christmas season.
Network Rail announced that there will be reduced engineering works on the railways compared to normal. However, passengers on certain routes should still make travel arrangements to avoid any disruptions to transportation.
During the period between Christmas Eve and 27 December, the London Paddington rail station will not be in operation. This means that there will be no mainline trains running to and from Heathrow airport during this time. Additionally, the London King’s Cross station will also be closed on Christmas Eve.
There will be no train service on Christmas Day, and a reduced service on Boxing Day.
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The primary train service from London to Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow, called Avanti West Coast, has announced changes due to engineering work during the holiday season. On Christmas Eve, services will end earlier and on December 27th, they will start later. Additionally, there will be a reduced schedule on other days in the new year due to many staff members being absent. Avanti has also eliminated peak fares for the holiday season and is recommending that passengers plan ahead and make reservations.
During the holiday season, a large number of individuals are projected to travel abroad, causing airports to prepare for their busiest time. The Heathrow airport is expecting around 6.5 million travelers to pass through in the next month, with a significant number departing on Christmas Day.
Many airlines and UK airports, such as London Gatwick, anticipate Friday to be the busiest day of the holiday season. According to easyJet, this year will see their busiest Christmas Day yet, with Tenerife being the top destination for passengers seeking to celebrate the holiday in a sunny location.
Source: theguardian.com
