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| Christmas traffic: 'So far, so good' for Christmas Eve getaway | Christmas traffic: 'So far, so good' for Christmas Eve getaway |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Drivers setting out on Christmas Eve are being warned they could face severe delays, but it's a case of "so far, so good" according to the RAC. | Drivers setting out on Christmas Eve are being warned they could face severe delays, but it's a case of "so far, so good" according to the RAC. |
| The organisation and the AA had predicted that traffic would be busiest in the afternoon, but no major problems have been reported. | |
| The M1, M25, M5, M6 and M40 are likely to see some delays, the RAC says. | |
| Meanwhile, many rail passengers across the country are facing disruption because of planned engineering work. | Meanwhile, many rail passengers across the country are facing disruption because of planned engineering work. |
| Network Rail said vital upgrades would be carried out over the festive period. | Network Rail said vital upgrades would be carried out over the festive period. |
| Fewer commuters than usual were expected to travel on Christmas Eve - many having booked the day off work. | |
| But far more leisure journeys than usual were expected - as many as 2.5 million - with the AA predicting half of all motorists would take to the UK's main roads. | |
| According to the AA's live traffic reports, vehicle accidents and a burst water main have caused problems for people trying to leave central London by car. | According to the AA's live traffic reports, vehicle accidents and a burst water main have caused problems for people trying to leave central London by car. |
| The RAC and Inrix, which provides traffic information, predicted the stretch of the M1 northbound between junction 21 (Coventry/Leicester) and junction 26 (Nottingham/Ripley) will be the worst for delays. | |
| The RAC says the number of leisure journeys over the festive season is likely to peak on Boxing Day with an estimated 6.8 million individual trips. | The RAC says the number of leisure journeys over the festive season is likely to peak on Boxing Day with an estimated 6.8 million individual trips. |
| Pete Williams, the organisation's breakdown spokesman, told the BBC News Channel that parts of London, and the M25 in particular, were "incredibly busy". | Pete Williams, the organisation's breakdown spokesman, told the BBC News Channel that parts of London, and the M25 in particular, were "incredibly busy". |
| "Up in the north, in Leeds and Bradford, the temperature has actually plummeted and we're seeing high volumes of traffic and quite a few people running into trouble." | "Up in the north, in Leeds and Bradford, the temperature has actually plummeted and we're seeing high volumes of traffic and quite a few people running into trouble." |
| Mr Williams advised travellers to check their oil, coolant level, tyre pressure and tread depth, and to buy some good screen wash before setting off. | Mr Williams advised travellers to check their oil, coolant level, tyre pressure and tread depth, and to buy some good screen wash before setting off. |
| On the trains, there are 330 sets of rail engineering works scheduled to take place until 1 January. | |
| Network Rail said it would do most of the works when no trains are scheduled to run. | Network Rail said it would do most of the works when no trains are scheduled to run. |
| No trains run on Christmas Day and there are only a limited number of services on Boxing Day - but nationwide bus companies National Express and Megabus will operate. | No trains run on Christmas Day and there are only a limited number of services on Boxing Day - but nationwide bus companies National Express and Megabus will operate. |
| The rail disruption includes: | The rail disruption includes: |
| Engineering works have been scheduled for the festive period because the railway is up to 50% quieter than usual then, said Andy Thomas, Network Rail's managing director of strategic operations. | Engineering works have been scheduled for the festive period because the railway is up to 50% quieter than usual then, said Andy Thomas, Network Rail's managing director of strategic operations. |
| "While most of the network is open for business as usual, some routes are heavily affected and so we strongly advise passengers to plan ahead." | "While most of the network is open for business as usual, some routes are heavily affected and so we strongly advise passengers to plan ahead." |
| Meanwhile, flights to and from Gatwick airport are operating as normal after three days of disruption following reports of sightings of a drone near the runway. | Meanwhile, flights to and from Gatwick airport are operating as normal after three days of disruption following reports of sightings of a drone near the runway. |
| At Birmingham airport, flights were temporarily stopped on Sunday evening after a technical fault at air traffic control but resumed later on. | At Birmingham airport, flights were temporarily stopped on Sunday evening after a technical fault at air traffic control but resumed later on. |
| The Association of British Travel Agents said more than 4.7 million people will be going abroad between 18 December and 2 January. | The Association of British Travel Agents said more than 4.7 million people will be going abroad between 18 December and 2 January. |