Britons have been cautioned about potential extended travel times during their Easter getaways, as more than 14 million journeys are anticipated on roads, airports brace for a surge in passengers, and significant rail engineering works loom ahead.
The RAC has issued a warning that popular routes may experience double the usual journey duration, as the bank holiday weekend coincides with a two-week vacation for many schools. Additionally, Network Rail is scheduled to undertake engineering works on the West Coast Main Line, impacting train services between London Euston and Milton Keynes.
Several major airports are gearing up for their busiest Easter weekend on record, with Bristol, Newcastle, and Edinburgh expecting a significant influx of passengers from Good Friday through Easter Monday. High demand is particularly anticipated on routes to Geneva.
Approximately two million Britons are projected to fly over the holiday weekend, with Bristol alone anticipating 30,000 travelers on Easter Sunday. Luton Airport, among others, expects a staggering 38 passengers per minute on April 5th. Increased travel demand has been attributed to Easter occurring earlier than usual this year, aligning with school holidays.
Rail disruptions are also anticipated, with the West Coast Main Line closure from Good Friday to Easter Monday and expected service interruptions in Glasgow and Huddersfield. Network Rail emphasizes the necessity of these works, which involve over 493 tasks, including the installation of new rail and ballast.
The RAC's spokesperson, Alice Simpson, warns of potential "carmageddon" on the roads, with heavy traffic and lengthy queues expected along popular routes. Inrix transportation analyst Bob Pishue advises drivers to prepare for longer journeys than usual throughout the holiday weekend.
According to surveys commissioned by the RAC and Inrix, over 2.6 million journeys are planned on Good Friday alone, with significant travel expected on Easter Saturday and Sunday as well.
The worst traffic congestion is anticipated between 2 pm and 7 pm on Thursday, with particularly busy routes including the western section of the M25, the M5 southbound between Bristol and Taunton, and the M3 towards the south coast.
Travel disruptions may be exacerbated by unsettled weather conditions, with a yellow weather warning for strong winds in effect on Thursday. Storm Nelson is expected to bring heavy showers, longer spells of rain, and gusts of up to 70mph near Channel coasts.
Meanwhile, travelers using ferries, particularly at the Port of Dover, should anticipate increased border processing times due to France's heightened terror alert. Last year saw significant delays at the port, with wait times extending up to two hours.
Around 20,000 cars are expected to pass through Dover's port between Thursday and Easter, prompting the establishment of a Coach Processing Facility at the Western Docks to facilitate smoother travel processes.
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