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Easter weekend getaway beginning Fatality disrupts Easter getaway
(1 day later)
A busy weekend on the road and rail networks is expected as millions of people head off for the Easter break. A fatal accident on the West Coast main line brought misery to rail travellers getting away for the Easter weekend.
Tourism and motoring organisations have reported an increase in people choosing to remain in the UK instead of heading abroad this weekend. Virgin services were disrupted after a freight train struck a person near Wolverton, Bucks, just after 0400 BST.
Ten million drivers are expected to take to the roads with Thursday likely to see the largest volume of traffic. Later in the morning another line was opened and services were able to resume in both directions.
Planned engineering work will bring disruption to several train routes, including the West Coast Main Line. Engineering work also caused disruption on other routes. But 64,000 services are running over the weekend - about 5,000 more than last year.
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. 'Ongoing inquiries'
"People are looking for a fantastic deal without compromising on experience and they can find that at home," a Visit Britain spokeswoman said. After the accident, Virgin's West Coast main line services were suspended northbound from London Euston, and were finishing at Rugby or Northampton southbound.
She added that self-catering and camping breaks were proving particularly popular. Buses replaced trains for the remainder of the journey.
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. Rail company London Midland also ran replacement buses between Northampton and Milton Keynes, some of which were being extended to Bletchley.
The AA expects around 10 million drivers in total to take to the roads over the holiday period. British Transport Police (BTP) said the driver of the freight train, which was travelling from Southampton to Daventry, reported striking an object between Milton Keynes and Wolverton.
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. A spokesman said: "On inspection of the train, the driver confirmed that a person had been struck, and medical staff on scene confirmed the incident as a fatality.
But it says Good Friday is often quieter than most people expect, with traffic similar to normal rush hour levels at around midday. "BTP are currently treating the incident as unexplained and inquiries are ongoing."
Denise Plumpton, the Highways Agency director of information advised motorists to check the agency's website regularly. By 1045 BST London Midland confirmed that the West Coast slow line had opened in both directions and trains were able to run.
"Planning your journey to avoid any congestion hotspots can take the stress out of the first day of the holiday." Virgin said it was also operating services on the slow line.
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 incident came before the line was due to close between Milton Keynes and Rugby from Easter Saturday until midday on Easter Monday for engineering work.
Thursday is also traditionally the busiest day for train travel, with more than 3.5 million passengers making journeys. Rail services using London's Liverpool Street and Waterloo stations will also be affected by engineering work during the weekend.
Rail disruption Tightening belts
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. As well as the railways, roads and ports are also expected to be busy, with an estimated 10 million people planning trips within the UK and two million heading abroad for Easter.
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. Tourism body Visit Britain said many people had chosen to stay in the UK as they tighten their belts during the recession.
Buses will replace trains between Carlisle and Glasgow Central and Edinburgh on Saturday and Sunday. Planning your journey to avoid any congestion hotspots can take the stress out of the first day of the holiday Denise PlumptonHighways Agency
Services in and out of London's Liverpool Street and Waterloo stations will also be affected by engineering work. A spokeswoman said: "People are looking for a fantastic deal without compromising on experience and they can find that at home."
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. The Easter weather in the UK was forecast to be a mixture of sunshine and showers in many areas with highs of 19C (66F) in southern England.
It says New York, Geneva, Amsterdam and Dublin are among the top destinations for airport travellers. The Highways Agency said Good Friday was often quieter than most people expected, with many people choosing to travel the previous day.
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. The agency says it has completed 37 sets of roadworks in time for Easter, a further 51 are suspended until the end of Easter Monday, and 32 remain in place.
Motoring advice
Agency spokeswoman Denise Plumpton said: "Planning your journey to avoid any congestion hotspots can take the stress out of the first day of the holiday."
The agency advises motorists to check its website regularly.
Airports operator BAA expects passenger numbers to be down by around 140,000 on last year, with just under two million people passing through its terminals.
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.
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.