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| Easter disruption hits passengers | Easter disruption hits passengers |
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| Train travellers in the UK are facing disruption over the Easter weekend as Network Rail carries out major works on key routes. | Train travellers in the UK are facing disruption over the Easter weekend as Network Rail carries out major works on key routes. |
| The main projects are on the East Coast mainline and the West Coast mainline, where work over-ran at New Year. | The main projects are on the East Coast mainline and the West Coast mainline, where work over-ran at New Year. |
| Some of the busiest routes have fewer than one train per hour. Cross-Channel ferries at Dover are also delayed due to high winds and heavy traffic. | Some of the busiest routes have fewer than one train per hour. Cross-Channel ferries at Dover are also delayed due to high winds and heavy traffic. |
| Roadworks and the possibility of snow could also lead to travel chaos. | Roadworks and the possibility of snow could also lead to travel chaos. |
| Roadworks suspended | Roadworks suspended |
| Weather forecasters have said there is a chance of snow in Scotland on Good Friday, which may spread south over the weekend. They have predicted up to 2cm of snow in eastern England and 5-10cm in northern Scotland on Saturday. | Weather forecasters have said there is a chance of snow in Scotland on Good Friday, which may spread south over the weekend. They have predicted up to 2cm of snow in eastern England and 5-10cm in northern Scotland on Saturday. |
| RAILWAYS Scheduled maintenance: West Coast main line: Closed Good Friday-Easter Monday between Coventry, Rugby and Northampton and from London Euston Sat - MondayEast Coast main line: London King's Cross - NE England and Scotland services diverted via Leeds, 1400 Sat - 1400 SunGreat Western main line: Didcot Parkway - Swindon and Chippenham services replaced by a bus service or diverted, Fri-MonSouth West main line: Alterations and diversions to services to and from London Waterloo due to engineering works at Clapham Junction, Fri-MonEast Anglia/Essex coast line: Replacement bus service between Gidea Park, Billericay and Ingatestone National Rail Easter 2008 summary | RAILWAYS Scheduled maintenance: West Coast main line: Closed Good Friday-Easter Monday between Coventry, Rugby and Northampton and from London Euston Sat - MondayEast Coast main line: London King's Cross - NE England and Scotland services diverted via Leeds, 1400 Sat - 1400 SunGreat Western main line: Didcot Parkway - Swindon and Chippenham services replaced by a bus service or diverted, Fri-MonSouth West main line: Alterations and diversions to services to and from London Waterloo due to engineering works at Clapham Junction, Fri-MonEast Anglia/Essex coast line: Replacement bus service between Gidea Park, Billericay and Ingatestone National Rail Easter 2008 summary |
| Transport Scotland has warned of high winds on the Skye Bridge. The Erskine Bridge approach is closed to high-sided vehicles and the Tay Road Bridge is open to cars only. | |
| Generally, the weather is expected to be cold and windy across much of the UK for the Easter weekend. | Generally, the weather is expected to be cold and windy across much of the UK for the Easter weekend. |
| Police in Dover said many travellers were missing their scheduled ferries because of delays caused by high winds in the Channel, and heavy traffic. | Police in Dover said many travellers were missing their scheduled ferries because of delays caused by high winds in the Channel, and heavy traffic. |
| They are warning of a three-mile queue at the eastern dock and heavy demand at the Channel Tunnel. | They are warning of a three-mile queue at the eastern dock and heavy demand at the Channel Tunnel. |
| Bad weather and accidents, rather than volume of traffic, are reported to be causing the problems on the roads. | Bad weather and accidents, rather than volume of traffic, are reported to be causing the problems on the roads. |
| Queues are building southbound on the M5, north of Bristol, between junctions 14 and 17 following an accident involving two cars. And a lane has been closed in either direction on the M48 in Gloucestershire between junctions one and two due to strong winds. | Queues are building southbound on the M5, north of Bristol, between junctions 14 and 17 following an accident involving two cars. And a lane has been closed in either direction on the M48 in Gloucestershire between junctions one and two due to strong winds. |
| Early getaway | Early getaway |
| The RAC said so far most roads were flowing relatively freely. | The RAC said so far most roads were flowing relatively freely. |
| A spokeswoman said this could be down to the lack of commuters, to families getting away early to make the most of the four-day holiday, and to drivers having a lie-in. | A spokeswoman said this could be down to the lack of commuters, to families getting away early to make the most of the four-day holiday, and to drivers having a lie-in. |
| She added many of those who set off last night were caught in various delays. | She added many of those who set off last night were caught in various delays. |
| More than 30 rail projects are to be carried out over the Easter holiday, with 6,000 people working about 300,000 man-hours. The work includes laying new track, repairing bridges and updating signalling systems. | More than 30 rail projects are to be carried out over the Easter holiday, with 6,000 people working about 300,000 man-hours. The work includes laying new track, repairing bridges and updating signalling systems. |
| You have got four clear days to get to grip with the network and do some big serious work Edward FunnelAssociation of Train Operating Companies | You have got four clear days to get to grip with the network and do some big serious work Edward FunnelAssociation of Train Operating Companies |
| Network Rail was fined a record £14m by the Office of Rail Regulation after engineering work over-ran on a stretch of track near Rugby, causing delays for thousands of people over New Year. | Network Rail was fined a record £14m by the Office of Rail Regulation after engineering work over-ran on a stretch of track near Rugby, causing delays for thousands of people over New Year. |
| The company said lessons had been learned from the disruption and there would be minimum inconvenience to passengers at Easter. | The company said lessons had been learned from the disruption and there would be minimum inconvenience to passengers at Easter. |
| It said information about service changes was readily available and it promised to deliver improvements on time. | It said information about service changes was readily available and it promised to deliver improvements on time. |
| But it advised passengers to double check their travel plans before setting out. | But it advised passengers to double check their travel plans before setting out. |
| Despite the Easter getaway, the number of journeys - usually around 3.5 million a day - was expected to be down by more than half on Good Friday because most commuters had the day off. | Despite the Easter getaway, the number of journeys - usually around 3.5 million a day - was expected to be down by more than half on Good Friday because most commuters had the day off. |
| Edward Funnel from the Association of Train Operating Companies said 80-90% of rail services would be unaffected, and the work was being carried out while fewer people than normal would be using services. | Edward Funnel from the Association of Train Operating Companies said 80-90% of rail services would be unaffected, and the work was being carried out while fewer people than normal would be using services. |
| He said: "You have got four clear days to get to grip with the network and do some big serious work to improve the network, signals, new track and so on." | He said: "You have got four clear days to get to grip with the network and do some big serious work to improve the network, signals, new track and so on." |
| Ease congestion | Ease congestion |
| On other forms of transport, two million people are expected to pass through British airports this weekend, peaking on Good Friday. | On other forms of transport, two million people are expected to pass through British airports this weekend, peaking on Good Friday. |
| At Heathrow, 187,000 passengers are expected on Good Friday, compared to 200,000 who checked-in yesterday. | At Heathrow, 187,000 passengers are expected on Good Friday, compared to 200,000 who checked-in yesterday. |
| The Highways Agency said two-thirds of roadworks had been removed from England's motorways and major A-roads to ease congestion. | The Highways Agency said two-thirds of roadworks had been removed from England's motorways and major A-roads to ease congestion. |
| A total of 38 sets of roadworks have been completed and a further 47 are suspended until midnight on Monday 24 March. | A total of 38 sets of roadworks have been completed and a further 47 are suspended until midnight on Monday 24 March. |
| However, roadworks are still affecting the M1, M4, M5, M6, M11, M25, M42, M48, M55, M56, M57, M60, M62, M65, M69 and many A-roads. | However, roadworks are still affecting the M1, M4, M5, M6, M11, M25, M42, M48, M55, M56, M57, M60, M62, M65, M69 and many A-roads. |
| The AA said 6.5 million cars were expected on the roads over the weekend. | The AA said 6.5 million cars were expected on the roads over the weekend. |
| Eurostar said it would be carrying a record 160,000 rail travellers through the Channel Tunnel over Easter. | Eurostar said it would be carrying a record 160,000 rail travellers through the Channel Tunnel over Easter. |
| On the London Tube, the Circle, District, Hammersmith and City, Jubilee and Metropolitan lines are affected by engineering works. | On the London Tube, the Circle, District, Hammersmith and City, Jubilee and Metropolitan lines are affected by engineering works. |
| Have you been affected by the Easter travel disruption? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. | Have you been affected by the Easter travel disruption? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |