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| Easter weekend getaway beginning | Easter weekend getaway beginning |
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| A busy weekend on the road and rail networks is expected as millions of people head off for the Easter break. | A busy weekend on the road and rail networks is expected as millions of people head off for the Easter break. |
| Tourism and motoring organisations have reported an increase in people choosing to remain in the UK instead of heading abroad this weekend. | Tourism and motoring organisations have reported an increase in people choosing to remain in the UK instead of heading abroad this weekend. |
| Ten million drivers are expected to take to the roads with Thursday likely to see the largest volume of traffic. | Ten million drivers are expected to take to the roads with Thursday likely to see the largest volume of traffic. |
| Planned engineering work will bring disruption to several train routes, including the West Coast Main Line. | Planned engineering work will bring disruption to several train routes, including the West Coast Main Line. |
| With the recession forcing many people to tighten their belts, staying in the UK has become a popular option this Easter. Domestic tourism body Visit Britain says many British companies have reported an increase in bookings. | With the recession forcing many people to tighten their belts, staying in the UK has become a popular option this Easter. Domestic tourism body Visit Britain says many British companies have reported an increase in bookings. |
| "People are looking for a fantastic deal without compromising on experience and they can find that at home," a Visit Britain spokeswoman said. | "People are looking for a fantastic deal without compromising on experience and they can find that at home," a Visit Britain spokeswoman said. |
| She added that self-catering and camping breaks were proving particularly popular. | She added that self-catering and camping breaks were proving particularly popular. |
| Research by the motoring organisation, the RAC, suggests that the majority of Britons are choosing to stay in the UK this weekend. It says 33% more people intend to take short trips by road this Easter than last year. | Research by the motoring organisation, the RAC, suggests that the majority of Britons are choosing to stay in the UK this weekend. It says 33% more people intend to take short trips by road this Easter than last year. |
| The AA expects around 10 million drivers in total to take to the roads over the holiday period. | The AA expects around 10 million drivers in total to take to the roads over the holiday period. |
| The Highways Agency says there could be as many as 70,000 extra vehicles on the road by late Thursday evening - an increase of more than 80% on a typical Thursday. | The Highways Agency says there could be as many as 70,000 extra vehicles on the road by late Thursday evening - an increase of more than 80% on a typical Thursday. |
| But it says Good Friday is often quieter than most people expect, with traffic similar to normal rush hour levels at around midday. | But it says Good Friday is often quieter than most people expect, with traffic similar to normal rush hour levels at around midday. |
| Denise Plumpton, the Highways Agency director of information advised motorists to check the agency's website regularly. | Denise Plumpton, the Highways Agency director of information advised motorists to check the agency's website regularly. |
| "Planning your journey to avoid any congestion hotspots can take the stress out of the first day of the holiday." | "Planning your journey to avoid any congestion hotspots can take the stress out of the first day of the holiday." |
| The agency says it has completed 37 sets of roadworks in time for Easter. A further 51 sets are suspended until the end of Easter Monday, with 32 remaining in place. | The agency says it has completed 37 sets of roadworks in time for Easter. A further 51 sets are suspended until the end of Easter Monday, with 32 remaining in place. |
| Thursday is also traditionally the busiest day for train travel, with more than 3.5 million passengers making journeys. | Thursday is also traditionally the busiest day for train travel, with more than 3.5 million passengers making journeys. |
| Rail disruption | Rail disruption |
| Although 5,000 more train services are expected to run over the Easter period this year than last year, a £55 million upgrade programme means there will be disruption to some routes. | Although 5,000 more train services are expected to run over the Easter period this year than last year, a £55 million upgrade programme means there will be disruption to some routes. |
| The West Coast Main Line between Milton Keynes and Rugby will be closed from Easter Saturday until midday on Easter Monday. An alternative route and a rail replacement bus service will operate. | The West Coast Main Line between Milton Keynes and Rugby will be closed from Easter Saturday until midday on Easter Monday. An alternative route and a rail replacement bus service will operate. |
| Buses will replace trains between Carlisle and Glasgow Central and Edinburgh on Saturday and Sunday. | Buses will replace trains between Carlisle and Glasgow Central and Edinburgh on Saturday and Sunday. |
| Services in and out of London's Liverpool Street and Waterloo stations will also be affected by engineering work. | Services in and out of London's Liverpool Street and Waterloo stations will also be affected by engineering work. |
| Not everybody has chosen to stay in the UK this year. Airports operator BAA expects just under two million people to pass through its terminals, with passenger numbers down around 140,000 on last year. | |
| It says New York, Geneva, Amsterdam and Dublin are among the top destinations for airport travellers. | |
| P&O Ferries will carry 132,000 passengers on its Dover-Calais route from Good Friday to Easter Monday - an increase on the 98,000 who took the ferry last Easter. | P&O Ferries will carry 132,000 passengers on its Dover-Calais route from Good Friday to Easter Monday - an increase on the 98,000 who took the ferry last Easter. |
| Eurostar says 200,000 passengers will travel on its trains through the Channel Tunnel between Thursday and Tuesday. | Eurostar says 200,000 passengers will travel on its trains through the Channel Tunnel between Thursday and Tuesday. |