Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads

Drivers are being warned to expect long delays as millions of Britons set off on Easter getaway trips.

Transport analysis company Inrix predicted Thursday afternoon would see the worst congestion.

Meanwhile, airports and airlines expect numbers over bank holiday weekends and school holidays to return to pre-pandemic levels.

And rail passengers are advised to plan ahead due to engineering works.

Motoring company RAC has warned that journeys on popular routes could take twice as long as the bank holiday weekend coincides with the start of the Easter holiday.

A survey by RAC and Inrix suggested that 14 million Easter getaway trips are expected.

“With Easter falling earlier than usual at the start of the school holidays, it could be carmageddon for holidaymakers,” said an RAC spokesman.

In particular, journeys on the M25, between the M23 for Gatwick and the M1 in Hertfordshire, are expected to take more than two hours – twice the usual time.

The M5 southbound between Bristol and Taunton is also likely to be congested.

Meanwhile, tourist board Visit England says 11 million people in the UK are planning an overnight trip this Easter.

Airports and airlines are expecting big numbers, in some cases above 2019 levels.

Manchester Airport said it was preparing for around 320,000 passengers this weekend, 8% more than the equivalent last year.

Glasgow Airport said it would have extra staff in place for “three exceptional weekends in advance”.

Low cost airline Easyjet is predicting its busiest ever Easter weekend.

Network Rail is urging people to check their journey details before travelling.

There will be disruption on some rail routes over the bank holiday as some major routes close due to engineering work.

London Euston, one of the UK’s busiest railway stations, will be closed between Good Friday and Easter Monday – except for London Overground trains.

That’s because Network Rail’s engineering works between London and Milton Keynes will close part of the West Coast Main Line.

There will be replacement nozzles in this stretch. Avanti West Coast will operate a revised service on its network.

There is more information about other changes to train services in the country on the The National Rail website.

French authorities in Dover have stepped up border monitoring following the attack on the Moscow concert hall. Drivers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time.

Around 20,000 cars are expected to travel through the port between Thursday and Easter Sunday.

People heading to the Channel Tunnel in the Port of Dover will find the Operation Brock traffic management system in place on the M20.

At rush hour over the next few days, Dover told bus operators that even with the right resources in place at the border, waiting times could be up to 2.5 hours.

Eurotunnel told the BBC it was putting in extra shuttles and staff to cope with the expected high numbers.