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| Roadworks removed to ease busy Christmas roads | Roadworks removed to ease busy Christmas roads |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Nearly 400 miles of roadworks have been removed ready for one of busiest days on the roads for motorists, Highways England has said. | |
| A total of 148 schemes were lifted on Wednesday morning in an effort to free up motorways and A-roads. | |
| However, motoring organisations warned that the next two days would still see heavy traffic on the roads. | However, motoring organisations warned that the next two days would still see heavy traffic on the roads. |
| Meanwhile, unions said rail passengers were enduring a "fortnight from hell" on Britain's "over-stretched" railways. | Meanwhile, unions said rail passengers were enduring a "fortnight from hell" on Britain's "over-stretched" railways. |
| The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said travellers had already been hit with signal failures, staff shortages, overcrowding and congestion. | The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said travellers had already been hit with signal failures, staff shortages, overcrowding and congestion. |
| People travelling by rail this Christmas are advised to check for possible service disruptions with National Rail Enquiries. | People travelling by rail this Christmas are advised to check for possible service disruptions with National Rail Enquiries. |
| Millions of people are also expected to travel by air, with major airports reporting increases on last year's festive passenger numbers, the Association of British Travel Agents said. | Millions of people are also expected to travel by air, with major airports reporting increases on last year's festive passenger numbers, the Association of British Travel Agents said. |
| It said Wednesday, along with 30 December, would be a peak travel day. | It said Wednesday, along with 30 December, would be a peak travel day. |
| Is your motorway clear? Check disruption with BBC Travel | Is your motorway clear? Check disruption with BBC Travel |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent | By Richard Westcott, BBC transport correspondent |
| Some 95% of the rail network will be running as normal this Christmas, but Network Rail uses the break to crack on with some of its biggest projects, because the trains are so much quieter than normal. | Some 95% of the rail network will be running as normal this Christmas, but Network Rail uses the break to crack on with some of its biggest projects, because the trains are so much quieter than normal. |
| Last year, a catalogue of errors left 115,000 people stranded and angry. It came down to silly things. Equipment didn't work. Critical safety paperwork that should have taken a couple of hours took ten. The back-up plan was laughable. | Last year, a catalogue of errors left 115,000 people stranded and angry. It came down to silly things. Equipment didn't work. Critical safety paperwork that should have taken a couple of hours took ten. The back-up plan was laughable. |
| Network Rail says it's done bigger jobs since then without a hitch, and months of planning will prevent any repeat of last year. | Network Rail says it's done bigger jobs since then without a hitch, and months of planning will prevent any repeat of last year. |
| The company boss was on holiday in Cornwall when it all kicked off last Christmas. He's not going away this year. | The company boss was on holiday in Cornwall when it all kicked off last Christmas. He's not going away this year. |
| Follow Richard on Twitter @BBCwestcott | Follow Richard on Twitter @BBCwestcott |
| Christmas Eve traffic | Christmas Eve traffic |
| Highways England said the removal of roadworks would leave 98% of the motorways and major roads clear for the Christmas period. | Highways England said the removal of roadworks would leave 98% of the motorways and major roads clear for the Christmas period. |
| On the M5, a one-and-a-half mile stretch of works were to be cleared at Exeter and a further four-miles were to be taken away near Bristol. | On the M5, a one-and-a-half mile stretch of works were to be cleared at Exeter and a further four-miles were to be taken away near Bristol. |
| Roadworks will stay lifted until midnight on Saturday, 2 January. | Roadworks will stay lifted until midnight on Saturday, 2 January. |
| Christmas Eve is expected to be the busiest day for festive getaways by road, with the RAC predicting 4.1 million separate journeys - although the reduction in normal traffic could mean the roads are actually quieter than usual, it said. | Christmas Eve is expected to be the busiest day for festive getaways by road, with the RAC predicting 4.1 million separate journeys - although the reduction in normal traffic could mean the roads are actually quieter than usual, it said. |
| For the latest live travel advice motorists are encouraged to check the Highways England website. | For the latest live travel advice motorists are encouraged to check the Highways England website. |
| 'More lanes open' | 'More lanes open' |
| Highways England spokeswoman Melanie Clarke said: "This Christmas we're clearing roadworks across the majority of motorways and major A-roads in England to help people make important journeys to see family and friends. | Highways England spokeswoman Melanie Clarke said: "This Christmas we're clearing roadworks across the majority of motorways and major A-roads in England to help people make important journeys to see family and friends. |
| "Where possible, we've completed or lifted roadworks, leaving more lanes open and lifting many of the associated speed restrictions to help people travelling over the festive period." | "Where possible, we've completed or lifted roadworks, leaving more lanes open and lifting many of the associated speed restrictions to help people travelling over the festive period." |
| Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "It's impossible to improve roads without some element of engineering work, but I also know how frustrating they can be. We are determined to apply common sense to our roads so we can minimise disruption." | Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: "It's impossible to improve roads without some element of engineering work, but I also know how frustrating they can be. We are determined to apply common sense to our roads so we can minimise disruption." |
| An AA poll of more than 29,000 motorists found that 40% would drive at least 20 miles on Wednesday, and 36% doing so on Thursday. | An AA poll of more than 29,000 motorists found that 40% would drive at least 20 miles on Wednesday, and 36% doing so on Thursday. |
| The RAC predicted that Christmas Eve would be the busiest day for traffic with 4.1 million journeys being made. | The RAC predicted that Christmas Eve would be the busiest day for traffic with 4.1 million journeys being made. |
| The RMT union said rail passengers had suffered two weeks of "hell". | The RMT union said rail passengers had suffered two weeks of "hell". |
| On Wednesday, a fault with the signalling system near Chippenham caused disruption to Great Western journeys between Bristol Temple Meads and Swindon. | On Wednesday, a fault with the signalling system near Chippenham caused disruption to Great Western journeys between Bristol Temple Meads and Swindon. |
| A temporary shortage of train crew has caused disruption to Southern services, with some trains altered or cancelled. | A temporary shortage of train crew has caused disruption to Southern services, with some trains altered or cancelled. |
| Heading onto the railways? Check BBC Travel for latest incidents | Heading onto the railways? Check BBC Travel for latest incidents |