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Christmas getaway: Travellers warned over 'frantic Friday' Christmas getaway: 'Frantic Friday' delays for travellers on road and rail
(about 7 hours later)
Drivers, rail passengers and coach travellers are being warned to expect delays in some parts of the UK, as many begin their Christmas getaway. Travellers have been hit by delays on the road and the rail network as many people begin their Christmas getaway.
The RAC says Christmas travellers will combine with the usual commuter traffic as well as rail disruption to create a "frantic Friday" on Britain's roads. An estimated 1.3 million Christmas travellers are adding to the usual traffic, with the RAC urging people to avoid long journeys on "frantic Friday".
Virgin Trains West Coast has warned of some cancellations to services. South Western Railway, Southern Rail and ScotRail have all reported delays and cancellations.
Highways England has suspended 400 miles of roadworks, but it says "busy road conditions" should be expected. Highways England said there had been 46 traffic incidents by 13:00 GMT.
It is urging motorists to check their vehicles before setting off. It has called on motorists to check their oil. water and tyres before setting off to make sure their cars are ready for the journey, and "most importantly", make sure they have enough fuel.
"We're urging people to make sure their cars are ready for the journey - check the oil, water and tyres. Most importantly, make sure you have enough fuel." Traffic is expected to peak between 16:00 and 20:00 GMT, according to the RAC.
Traffic is expected to peak between 16:00 and 20:00 GMT, the RAC says. Graham Cookson, from traffic data company Inrix, said it would be one of the busiest days of the year, with "incredibly severe" traffic jams.
Traffic data company Inrix has predicted the worst delays to be on the M1 northbound between junctions 11 and 22, peaking at about 11:00 GMT, and southbound between junctions 19 and 12, peaking at about 12:15. He said the M25 was "at the top of the list" for congestion, while the M6 between Merseyside and Staffordshire, the M1 and the M4 were also expected to be "incredibly busy".
It also predicts delays all along the M1 in Northern Ireland, peaking at about 17:00 GMT, and the A720 eastbound in Scotland. Earlier, the M40 southbound was closed between Junction 10 (Brackley) and junction nine (Bicester), after a lorry caught fire.
Virgin Trains says strikes which had been due to affect the West Coast mainline have been called off. The company said it would try to operate a full service on Friday, but there would be some cancellations. Witnesses said the vehicle was carrying bottles of beer which exploded due to the heat.
Merseyrail workers are striking for 24 hours, disrupting services in and around Liverpool, in a long-running dispute over the role of guards. On the railways, South Western Railway said "sickness among train crew" meant some services would be cancelled or revised.
There will be no trains running on the Ellesmere Port or Hunts Cross lines and some stations may be closed. Most trains on other routes will run between 07:00 and 19:00 GMT. ScotRail suffered delays and cancellations on the route between Stranraer/Ardrossan Harbour and Kilmarnock/Glasgow Central after a train derailment in a depot.
In England, a "roadworks embargo" will be in place on motorways and major A roads until 00:01 on 2 January, meaning lanes will be open and temporary speed restrictions lifted as roadworks are paused. Merseyrail has a reduced service across its network as workers are striking for 24 hours.
However, 27 sets of roadworks covering a total of 122 miles are staying in place because it would be too dangerous to lift them. But Virgin trains said it was planning to run a full timetable on the West Coast mainline after a planned strike was called off.
The Welsh Government said no roadworks would take place in Wales over Christmas and the New Year, other than essential or emergency work. In England, a "roadworks embargo" is in place on motorways and major A roads until 00:01 on 2 January, meaning many lanes are open and temporary speed restrictions lifted as works are paused.
Scottish Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said that while mostly mild weather was expected in the coming days, there were large stockpiles of grit to cope with any icy conditions. However, 27 sets of roadworks, covering a total of 122 miles, are staying in place because it would be too dangerous to lift them.
In Wales. no roadworks are taking place over Christmas and the New Year, other than essential or emergency work.
Coach operator National Express said it was running its biggest Christmas schedule yet, increasing the number of services from locations such as Bournemouth, Cardiff, Leeds, Edinburgh, Portsmouth, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester.Coach operator National Express said it was running its biggest Christmas schedule yet, increasing the number of services from locations such as Bournemouth, Cardiff, Leeds, Edinburgh, Portsmouth, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester.
Meanwhile, the Association of British Travel Agents said 4.5m people were expected to travel abroad in the coming days.Meanwhile, the Association of British Travel Agents said 4.5m people were expected to travel abroad in the coming days.
It said airports, ports and international train stations would be exceptionally busy and that people should begin their journeys earlier than usual.It said airports, ports and international train stations would be exceptionally busy and that people should begin their journeys earlier than usual.
About 260 rail engineering projects, including track maintenance, will cause problems elsewhere later on. About 260 rail engineering projects, including track maintenance, will cause problems elsewhere later on in the Christmas period.