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Christmas getaway: 'Frantic Friday' delays for travellers on road and rail Christmas getaway: 'Frantic Friday' as thousands set off by road and rail
(about 2 hours later)
The Christmas getaway has been affected by traffic congestion, cancelled flights and disruption on the rail network. Thousands of travellers have hit the UK's roads and railways at the start of the Christmas getaway on what was billed as "frantic Friday".
An estimated 1.3 million Christmas drivers are adding to the usual traffic, with the RAC urging people to avoid long trips on "frantic Friday". An estimated 1.3 million Christmas drivers were expected to add to the usual end-of-week traffic.
Flights were cancelled at Bristol Airport after a plane came off the runway. Bristol Airport cancelled flights after a plane came off the runway and several train lines reported disruption.
South Western Railway, Southern Rail and ScotRail have reported disruption. However, disruption was less severe than predicted, with the RAC suggesting many may travel on Saturday instead.
Roads Many of Britain's mainline routes will be partially shut in the coming days as Network Rail carries out its biggest ever Christmas engineering programme.
The AA said "severe" traffic congestion was expected to continue until 21:00 GMT. With Paddington station completely closed between Christmas Eve and 27 December, Great Western Railway is urging passengers to get to their Christmas destination by the end of Saturday "at the latest".
The worst affected routes were initially in London and the South East, but many UK roads experienced severe delays, according to traffic data company Inrix. Meanwhile, the Association of British Travel Agents said 4.5 million people were expected to travel abroad in the coming days.
The M1 saw three serious incidents with a vehicle fire closing three northbound lanes. It said airports, ports and international train stations would be exceptionally busy and advised people to begin their journeys earlier than usual.
The M40 southbound was earlier closed between junction 10 (Brackley) and junction nine (Bicester), after a lorry caught fire. Engineering works
About 260 rail engineering projects will cause disruption to trains during the Christmas period.
Earlier South Western Railway blamed sickness among train crew for the cancellation of some services on Friday.
On Southern, there have been delays to journeys between East Croydon and Milton Keynes, Redhill and Reigate, London terminals and Tattenham Corner, and London Bridge and East Grinstead.
ScotRail has been suffering delays and cancellations between Stranraer/Ardrossan Harbour and Kilmarnock/Glasgow Central after a train derailment in a depot.
But Virgin trains as running a full timetable on the West Coast mainline after a planned strike was called off.
Flights suspended
Flights in and out of Bristol Airport were suspended after a plane carrying 25 people came off the runway. The runway was expected to stay closed until 21:00 GMT.
Road congestion
The RAC said: "Friday has turned out to be slightly less frantic than it first looked although things are hotting up this evening as holiday traffic is competing with commuters and commercial traffic."
It said it had attended 9,000 breakdowns - 15% higher than the seasonal norm.
It warned that drivers might have altered their plans, increasing the risk of serious delays on Saturday.
Earlier, the M1 was hit by three serious incidents with a vehicle fire closing three northbound lanes.
The M40 southbound was closed earlier between junction 10 (Brackley) and junction nine (Bicester), after a lorry caught fire.
Witnesses said the vehicle was carrying bottles of beer which exploded due to the heat.Witnesses said the vehicle was carrying bottles of beer which exploded due to the heat.
Flights However, according to Highways England, the disruption has now cleared. Some stretches of the M40 remain slow due to road works.
Flights in and out of Bristol Airport have been suspended after a plane carrying 25 people came off the runway. A "roadworks embargo" is in place on English motorways and major A roads until 00:01 on 2 January in a bid to ease festive congestion.
About 40 flights have been cancelled or diverted to other airports while the incident is investigated. Many lanes are open and temporary speed restrictions are lifted. However, 27 sets of roadworks, covering a total of 122 miles, are staying in place because it would be too dangerous to lift them.
Rail
South Western Railway said "sickness among train crew" meant some services would be cancelled or revised.
ScotRail suffered delays and cancellations on the route between Stranraer/Ardrossan Harbour and Kilmarnock/Glasgow Central after a train derailment in a depot.
Merseyrail has a reduced service across its network as workers are striking for 24 hours.
But Virgin trains said it was planning to run a full timetable on the West Coast mainline after a planned strike was called off.
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.
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.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 is running extra services over the festive period.
Meanwhile, the Association of British Travel Agents said 4.5 million 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.
About 260 rail engineering projects, including track maintenance, will cause problems elsewhere later on in the Christmas period.