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| August bank holiday disruption expected on UK's railways and roads | August bank holiday disruption expected on UK's railways and roads |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| Rail engineering works, station closures and road congestion to hit the millions of Britons planning domestic breaks | |
| Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent | |
| Fri 25 Aug 2017 15.13 BST | |
| First published on Fri 25 Aug 2017 07.00 BST | |
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| People travelling over the bank holiday weekend are expected to be hit by delays and cancellations as millions take to the roads and record levels of engineering works affect rail lines in and out of the capital. | People travelling over the bank holiday weekend are expected to be hit by delays and cancellations as millions take to the roads and record levels of engineering works affect rail lines in and out of the capital. |
| The proportion of Britons planning an overnight UK trip this weekend has risen by more than a third compared with last year. About 6.9 million adults are planning a domestic break over the last long weekend before Christmas, up from 5.1 million, according to VisitEngland, the official tourist board. | The proportion of Britons planning an overnight UK trip this weekend has risen by more than a third compared with last year. About 6.9 million adults are planning a domestic break over the last long weekend before Christmas, up from 5.1 million, according to VisitEngland, the official tourist board. |
| Motoring organisations expect about 15 million drivers to set out for leisure trips this weekend, with congestion building from Friday lunchtime. | Motoring organisations expect about 15 million drivers to set out for leisure trips this weekend, with congestion building from Friday lunchtime. |
| On Saturday and Sunday, work to prepare for HS2 will close Euston station, affecting services the length of the west coast mainline to Glasgow. | On Saturday and Sunday, work to prepare for HS2 will close Euston station, affecting services the length of the west coast mainline to Glasgow. |
| Travellers will be told to switch via other routes to the east coast line. Virgin Trains, the operator of intercity services on both mainlines, said the rail network would be extremely busy due to engineering works and the end of the Edinburgh festival. | Travellers will be told to switch via other routes to the east coast line. Virgin Trains, the operator of intercity services on both mainlines, said the rail network would be extremely busy due to engineering works and the end of the Edinburgh festival. |
| A spokesman said: “We expect our services on both routes to be very busy from Friday to Monday, and are advising customers to avoid travelling on our west coast route on Saturday or Sunday unless necessary. | A spokesman said: “We expect our services on both routes to be very busy from Friday to Monday, and are advising customers to avoid travelling on our west coast route on Saturday or Sunday unless necessary. |
| “If customers choose to travel, we strongly recommend they book their tickets in advance, make a seat reservation and allow longer to get to their destination.” | “If customers choose to travel, we strongly recommend they book their tickets in advance, make a seat reservation and allow longer to get to their destination.” |
| The rebuilding of platforms at London Waterloo, the country’s busiest railway station, will continue through the bank holiday, with about 75% fewer trains than usual running on Friday. | The rebuilding of platforms at London Waterloo, the country’s busiest railway station, will continue through the bank holiday, with about 75% fewer trains than usual running on Friday. |
| A Network Rail spokeswoman said: “We apologise to our passengers for the added disruption to their journeys and thank them for their patience. This is all about delivering a bigger, better Waterloo station fit for the 21st century.” | A Network Rail spokeswoman said: “We apologise to our passengers for the added disruption to their journeys and thank them for their patience. This is all about delivering a bigger, better Waterloo station fit for the 21st century.” |
| The disruption for London commuters is likely to intensify with Southeastern trains running a reduced timetable and not stopping at Charing Cross, Waterloo East or London Bridge stations. Queueing systems are likely to be put in place at Cannon Street and Victoria stations throughout the week to cope with diverted passengers. | The disruption for London commuters is likely to intensify with Southeastern trains running a reduced timetable and not stopping at Charing Cross, Waterloo East or London Bridge stations. Queueing systems are likely to be put in place at Cannon Street and Victoria stations throughout the week to cope with diverted passengers. |
| Elsewhere, electrification work on the Great Western mainline between Swindon and Bristol Parkway will affect services between Wales and London Paddington for four weeks from Saturday. | Elsewhere, electrification work on the Great Western mainline between Swindon and Bristol Parkway will affect services between Wales and London Paddington for four weeks from Saturday. |
| The coach operator National Express said it was adding hundreds of extra services this weekend as rail passengers sought alternatives, with demand up by more than a third compared with the previous August bank holiday. | The coach operator National Express said it was adding hundreds of extra services this weekend as rail passengers sought alternatives, with demand up by more than a third compared with the previous August bank holiday. |
| There has been a surge of bookings on routes out of London Waterloo and Euston stations to the south-west and cities in the Midlands and north-west, while more than 1,000 extra seats will be provided on the Great Western route. | There has been a surge of bookings on routes out of London Waterloo and Euston stations to the south-west and cities in the Midlands and north-west, while more than 1,000 extra seats will be provided on the Great Western route. |
| Network Rail’s poll suggested that 77% of Britons were not planning to venture far from home over the bank holiday. While Network Rail said most lines would be open for business, its £133m programme of engineering works meant passengers should check before they travel, particularly in and out of the capital. | Network Rail’s poll suggested that 77% of Britons were not planning to venture far from home over the bank holiday. While Network Rail said most lines would be open for business, its £133m programme of engineering works meant passengers should check before they travel, particularly in and out of the capital. |
| Within London, the Unite union has warned that a strike by bus controllers would see disruption and “safety and welfare challenges” on the capital’s bus network over a weekend that includes the Notting Hill carnival. Transport for London has said that contingency plans mean the 48-hour strike on Sunday and Monday would cause minimal disruption. | Within London, the Unite union has warned that a strike by bus controllers would see disruption and “safety and welfare challenges” on the capital’s bus network over a weekend that includes the Notting Hill carnival. Transport for London has said that contingency plans mean the 48-hour strike on Sunday and Monday would cause minimal disruption. |
| About 5 million motorists are expected to embark on leisure journeys on Monday, up by nearly 1 million on the 2016 figure. | About 5 million motorists are expected to embark on leisure journeys on Monday, up by nearly 1 million on the 2016 figure. |
| The RAC recommended drivers wanting to beat the queues this weekend should avoid Friday afternoon and evening, and set off early if travelling on Monday. | The RAC recommended drivers wanting to beat the queues this weekend should avoid Friday afternoon and evening, and set off early if travelling on Monday. |
| According to the traffic analysts Inrix, the worst hotspots are likely to be on the M25 between junctions 9 and 21; the M5 southbound; the M27/A31 between Southampton and Ringwood; and the M4 westbound. | According to the traffic analysts Inrix, the worst hotspots are likely to be on the M25 between junctions 9 and 21; the M5 southbound; the M27/A31 between Southampton and Ringwood; and the M4 westbound. |
| Highways England said it was removing more than 400 miles of roadworks from motorways and major roads to ease congestion this weekend. | Highways England said it was removing more than 400 miles of roadworks from motorways and major roads to ease congestion this weekend. |
| Abta, the travel trade organisation, estimated 2.1 million British holidaymakers would travel abroad over the weekend, with Spain, Turkey and Greece among the most popular destinations. | Abta, the travel trade organisation, estimated 2.1 million British holidaymakers would travel abroad over the weekend, with Spain, Turkey and Greece among the most popular destinations. |
| Heathrow expects 243,000 departing passengers on Friday, while an estimated 304,000 will fly from Gatwick over the weekend. | Heathrow expects 243,000 departing passengers on Friday, while an estimated 304,000 will fly from Gatwick over the weekend. |
| Returning passengers and visitors may face long queues at immigration, British Airways has warned. The national carrier said passengers were being forced to wait in lines for more than an hour on arrival from some international flights, due to Border Force inefficiency. | Returning passengers and visitors may face long queues at immigration, British Airways has warned. The national carrier said passengers were being forced to wait in lines for more than an hour on arrival from some international flights, due to Border Force inefficiency. |
| BA said around two-thirds of the 29 automatic eGates at Heathrow’s terminal 5 were “routinely” closed, with all of them shut “prematurely” at 11pm while customers are still making their way off flights. The airline said it was causing “constant frustration to us and to our customers”. | BA said around two-thirds of the 29 automatic eGates at Heathrow’s terminal 5 were “routinely” closed, with all of them shut “prematurely” at 11pm while customers are still making their way off flights. The airline said it was causing “constant frustration to us and to our customers”. |
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