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Thousands of travellers hoping to reach home for Christmas have had to organise last minute alternatives, as flights, ferries and trains have been cancelled across the UK, while drivers face traffic chaos on motorways.
National Highways is reporting congestion on multiple roads across the country.
However, it said the M1 has now reopened after emergency services were called to a van fire there on Monday.
More than 100 flights at Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, were cancelled on Sunday. Dozens of ferry routes in Scotland and Ireland were not running due to the bad weather, while rail passengers faced chaos as Northern cancelled all trains on 11 routes.
Snow over the weekend also caused chaos on the M62, with one lane closed, as millions have taken to the roads ahead of Christmas.
More snow is expected towards the end of December, with the Met Office forecasting ice, sleet and snow is set to hit the north of the country and perhaps also central areas.
However, conditions are expected to improve this week after the widespread disruption caused by the “perfect storm” of adverse weather conditions and road congestion. The forecaster is currently predicting a “grey Christmas” with some sunny spells and “extremely mild” temperatures.
Worst times for driving during ‘record festive getaway’ revealed by RAC
Drivers have been warned which major routes to avoid this Christmas season as experts predict a record number of festive trips will be made.
Around 29.3 million Christmas journeys will take place between Wednesday and 24 December, the RAC has estimated, with nearly half taking place on the pre-Christmas weekend alone.
Surveying over 2,000 drivers, the motoring group has urged festive commuters when to avoid major routes over the coming days.
My colleague Albert Toth has more in this report:
For rail passengers, today is all about timing
Trains will start to go home to their depots for Christmas from late afternoon onwards, with services on most routes shutting down early. Last direct trains on key intercity routes on 24 December include:
- London King’s Cross-Edinburgh: 5.30pm/Edinburgh-London King’s Cross: 4.13pm
- London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly: 5.55pm/Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston: 6.13pm
- London Paddington-Cardiff Central: 7.48pm/Cardiff Central-London Paddington: 8.18pm
- London Victoria-Gatwick Airport: 8.45pm/Gatwick Airport-London Victoria: 7.32pm
- Bristol Temple Meads-Leeds: 4.35pm/Leeds-Bristol Temple Meads: 4.11pm
- Glasgow Queen Street-Aberdeen: 6.41pm/Aberdeen-Glasgow Queen Street: 6.36pm
No passenger trains will run on any UK rail line on Christmas Day.
All Caledonian Sleeper services between London and Scotland are cancelled until Friday 27 December, while the Night Riviera Sleeper linking London with Plymouth and Penzance is out of action until Friday 3 January.
Mapped: Where to expect the worst traffic jams this Christmas
Drivers planning Christmas getaways have been warned by the AA to expect possible congestion over the run-up to Christmas in the following areas:
Worst train stations for cancellations in 2024 revealed
Manchester Victoria has been revealed as the station with the highest percentage of service cancellations in 2024 in an analysis of the busiest train stations in the UK.
Around 9.5 per cent of all scheduled stops in Manchester Victoria were found to have been cancelled between January and November this year, according to a BBC analysis of National Rail figures collected by train data website On Time Trains.
More than three million stops were cancelled across the UK between January and November this year, which amounts to 3.8 per cent of nearly 83 million scheduled.
The north-west of England was the worst region for cancellations due to having the highest rate at 6.5 per cent, which amounts to 611,047 cancellations.
My colleague Amelia Neath reports:
The airport luggage mistake which could cost you this Christmas
Holidaymakers flying ahead of 25 December will have checked their suitcase and probably packed it twice – but it’s best to leave the gift wrapping until you land.
Whether headed for a destination Christmas or visiting far-flung family, travellers may want to keep sentimental gifts close in their carry-on when taking off.
But, passengers are now being warned to ditch wrapping efforts before passing through security checks to avoid line delays and gift confiscations.
Natalie Wilson has more details in this report:
An acceptable level of travel cancellations? Discuss
Your guide to passengers’ rights if your flight is cancelled.
Which parts of Europe will see a White Christmas?
ICYMI: Plane crash lands in high winds at UK airport
A plane crash-landed in high winds at a Belfast airport as poor weather disrupted travel across the UK in the run-up to Christmas.
Belfast City Airport was forced to enact emergency procedures on Sunday after a plane’s nose wheel collapsed upon landing in adverse weather conditions. There were no reported injuries.
The remote island perfect for winter sun that you’ve probably never heard of
For anyone still eyeing up a sunny escape this winter, or those looking ahead to next, Sarah Marshall reports on one largely undiscovered destination akin to a Caribbean getaway, and whose sandy, unspoilt beaches are equally first class:
Source: independent.co.uk
