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| Storm Barbara set to disrupt Christmas travel across Britain | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Millions of travellers face a festive getaway headache as Storm Barbara is set to batter parts of the UK with winds of 90mph – on what is expected to be the busiest day of Christmas travel. | Millions of travellers face a festive getaway headache as Storm Barbara is set to batter parts of the UK with winds of 90mph – on what is expected to be the busiest day of Christmas travel. |
| The Met Office issued severe weather warnings for many parts of Britain on Friday, with Scotland expected to bear the brunt of the storm. | The Met Office issued severe weather warnings for many parts of Britain on Friday, with Scotland expected to bear the brunt of the storm. |
| Forecasters are warning that strong wings, wintry showers and lightning could disrupt power supplies and travel across the north-west of the UK. An amber “be prepared” wind warning is in place for northern and western parts of Scotland for Friday afternoon, evening and overnight into Christmas Eve. | Forecasters are warning that strong wings, wintry showers and lightning could disrupt power supplies and travel across the north-west of the UK. An amber “be prepared” wind warning is in place for northern and western parts of Scotland for Friday afternoon, evening and overnight into Christmas Eve. |
| Two separate amber wind warnings are in place. In the north of the UK, gusts of 60-70mph are expected, while in the south a narrow but intense band of heavy rain and gusty winds could lead to disruption. | Two separate amber wind warnings are in place. In the north of the UK, gusts of 60-70mph are expected, while in the south a narrow but intense band of heavy rain and gusty winds could lead to disruption. |
| Flood alerts are also in place for the Highlands and Western Isles, as well as Skye and the Scottish Borders. | Flood alerts are also in place for the Highlands and Western Isles, as well as Skye and the Scottish Borders. |
| Brent Walker, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, said: “Storm Barbara is crossing the Atlantic and will pass close to the north-west of the UK during Friday, bringing the potential for some disruption to power supplies and travel, and possibly structural damage.” | Brent Walker, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, said: “Storm Barbara is crossing the Atlantic and will pass close to the north-west of the UK during Friday, bringing the potential for some disruption to power supplies and travel, and possibly structural damage.” |
| The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents hundreds of councils in England and Wales, said it was issuing renewed advice on how to deal with flash floods and had stockpiled more than a million tonnes of salt to grit roads. | The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents hundreds of councils in England and Wales, said it was issuing renewed advice on how to deal with flash floods and had stockpiled more than a million tonnes of salt to grit roads. |
| Rail disruption is expected to cause more trouble for holidaymakers , with a number of lines closed for an extended period as Network Rail carries out up to 200 improvement projects costing £103m. | Rail disruption is expected to cause more trouble for holidaymakers , with a number of lines closed for an extended period as Network Rail carries out up to 200 improvement projects costing £103m. |
| The company defended the decision, with Network Rail’s chief executive, Mark Carne, telling BBC Breakfast: “The reality is this is the best time of the year for us to do this sort of huge engineering project because the numbers of people travelling by train is about half of what it is on a normal weekend or a normal day.” | The company defended the decision, with Network Rail’s chief executive, Mark Carne, telling BBC Breakfast: “The reality is this is the best time of the year for us to do this sort of huge engineering project because the numbers of people travelling by train is about half of what it is on a normal weekend or a normal day.” |
| No trains will operate to or from London Paddington between Saturday and Thursday because of work to build Crossrail. As a result, Heathrow Express services will be suspended for six days and Great Western Railway trains will terminate at Ealing Broadway. | No trains will operate to or from London Paddington between Saturday and Thursday because of work to build Crossrail. As a result, Heathrow Express services will be suspended for six days and Great Western Railway trains will terminate at Ealing Broadway. |
| ScotRail said that due to the severe weather conditions forecast, speed restrictions and a small number of service withdrawals will take place as a precaution on Friday. | ScotRail said that due to the severe weather conditions forecast, speed restrictions and a small number of service withdrawals will take place as a precaution on Friday. |
| Troubled Southern rail has warned passengers to expect a severely reduced and disrupted service between 31 December and 2 January due to a strike by conductors. | Troubled Southern rail has warned passengers to expect a severely reduced and disrupted service between 31 December and 2 January due to a strike by conductors. |
| Passengers travelling in Manchester and Cardiff will also be affected by engineering work. | Passengers travelling in Manchester and Cardiff will also be affected by engineering work. |
| The annual festive shutdown means no trains will run on Christmas Day, with only limited services on Boxing Day. | The annual festive shutdown means no trains will run on Christmas Day, with only limited services on Boxing Day. |
| That could push more travellers on to the roads. The AA predicts about 12m cars will be on the roads on Friday. More than 41% of 19,000 motorists surveyed by the AA said they expected to drive more than 20 miles. | That could push more travellers on to the roads. The AA predicts about 12m cars will be on the roads on Friday. More than 41% of 19,000 motorists surveyed by the AA said they expected to drive more than 20 miles. |
| The AA patrol of the year, John Snowling, said: “On Friday, it’s likely to be very busy at peak times on the major routes as the Christmas getaway coincides with commuter traffic. | The AA patrol of the year, John Snowling, said: “On Friday, it’s likely to be very busy at peak times on the major routes as the Christmas getaway coincides with commuter traffic. |
| “With Christmas falling on a weekend, many people will start their break from Friday, but almost a third of our members will be making their journey on Saturday and more than a fifth will be travelling on Christmas Day to visit friends and family.” | “With Christmas falling on a weekend, many people will start their break from Friday, but almost a third of our members will be making their journey on Saturday and more than a fifth will be travelling on Christmas Day to visit friends and family.” |
| On the roads, Highways England said 448 miles of roadworks on England’s motorways and major roads had been suspended or completed, leaving 98% of roads free of works until 3 January. | On the roads, Highways England said 448 miles of roadworks on England’s motorways and major roads had been suspended or completed, leaving 98% of roads free of works until 3 January. |
| Roadside rescue firm Green Flag estimated almost 500,000 people will break down between 15 December and 15 January – equivalent to one every 11 minutes. | Roadside rescue firm Green Flag estimated almost 500,000 people will break down between 15 December and 15 January – equivalent to one every 11 minutes. |
| National Express reported last month that its bookings for Christmas Day were up by more than a third compared with last year while demand for seats on Boxing Day has risen by almost a fifth. | National Express reported last month that its bookings for Christmas Day were up by more than a third compared with last year while demand for seats on Boxing Day has risen by almost a fifth. |
| The coach operator is running its biggest Christmas service, with 50% more coaches on the roads on 25 December than last year. | The coach operator is running its biggest Christmas service, with 50% more coaches on the roads on 25 December than last year. |
| Travel association Abta said Friday was expected to be the busiest day for airports as people jet off to spend Christmas overseas. | Travel association Abta said Friday was expected to be the busiest day for airports as people jet off to spend Christmas overseas. |
| More than 4.5 million people will head abroad from the UK between 18 December and 2 January. | More than 4.5 million people will head abroad from the UK between 18 December and 2 January. |
| Heathrow said the most popular day for flights in the week leading up to Christmas would be Friday, with more than 118,000 departing passengers. | Heathrow said the most popular day for flights in the week leading up to Christmas would be Friday, with more than 118,000 departing passengers. |