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High winds likely to add to Christmas Eve travel disruption High winds likely to add to Christmas Eve travel disruption
(about 1 hour later)
Motorway travel in the UK (file image) Christmas commuters are being warned to expect delays
Travel disruption is expected on the UK's roads and rail networks on Christmas Eve, with high winds likely to add to the challenges. Travel disruption is expected on the UK's roads and rail networks on Christmas Eve due to high winds.
Yellow weather warnings for wind are in place in Scotland and north-east England throughout much of Sunday. While Sunday is set to be unseasonably mild for many, strong winds are expected in Scotland, parts of northern England and the Midlands.
The AA has warned of "lengthy" traffic jams, and told people to prepare for longer journeys.The AA has warned of "lengthy" traffic jams, and told people to prepare for longer journeys.
Rail disruption is also anticipated, with major engineering works at two London stations and staff shortages. Met Office yellow weather warnings are in place for parts of the UK.
A number of train operators are expecting crew shortages on Christmas Eve, which could lead to the cancellation of trains, National Rail said. Rail disruption is anticipated in some areas, including major engineering works at Paddington and King's Cross in London, and weather-related cancellations.
Several said there had been "a surge in sickness absence". A number of train operatorsare expecting crew shortages due to sickness on Christmas Eve, which could lead to the cancellation of trains, National Rail said.
There is also residual disruption from recent bad weather, it added. Sunday morning saw an "exceptionally mild start" to Christmas Eve, the Met Office said, and there is a chance Sunday could be the warmest 24 December on record.
There have already been travel delays this week, with strikes in France causing cancellations on the Eurostar. The warmest Christmas Eve previously recorded was in 1931, when a high of 15.6C was reached in Scotland.
Two yellow weather warnings for wind are in place, one for most of Scotland from 12:00 GMT on Sunday until the end of the day, and another in north-east England from 08:00 Sunday until 22:00. But despite unseasonably mild conditions, there is still a chance the weather could disrupt travel plans.
A yellow weather warning for wind stretching down eastern England from the Scottish border to the Midlands is in place until 22:00 GMT.
A separate wind warning covers most of Scotland until midnight.
The Met Office has said people in those areas should expect travel disruption, damage to buildings and power cuts, while the rest of the country could see showers.The Met Office has said people in those areas should expect travel disruption, damage to buildings and power cuts, while the rest of the country could see showers.
A yellow weather warning for rain is also in place for north Wales until 18:00, with spray, flooding and travel disruption possible. Heavy rain is expected in northern and central Wales until early evening.
"People should make sure to leave more time, especially in exposed areas - it could affect rail networks and ferries," meteorologist Liam Eslick told PA news agency. Commenting on the high winds forecasted for parts of the UK, meteorologist Liam Eslick said: "People should make sure to leave more time, especially in exposed areas - it could affect rail networks and ferries."
"People travelling on roads should take care and stay away from high-sided vehicles, and for people who are at home and are going for walks, stay away from coasts," he said."People travelling on roads should take care and stay away from high-sided vehicles, and for people who are at home and are going for walks, stay away from coasts," he said.
The RAC has advised motorists to travel before 11: 00 or after 18:00 if possible to reduce the chances of being stuck in long queues.The RAC has advised motorists to travel before 11: 00 or after 18:00 if possible to reduce the chances of being stuck in long queues.
Edmund King, from the AA, said people should expect delays, and urged people to prepare supplies including food and jackets.Edmund King, from the AA, said people should expect delays, and urged people to prepare supplies including food and jackets.
"Check your tyre pressure, check your oil, check your windscreen washer fluid," he said."Check your tyre pressure, check your oil, check your windscreen washer fluid," he said.
From Christmas Eve, London's Paddington Station is closed for four days, while there will also be no long distance train services from King's Cross. Some localised rail disruption is expected across the UK, including:
West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway said they were expecting disruption due to "the combined impact of a surge in sickness absence, associated shortage of traincrew and the impact of the recent storms across our network". From Christmas Eve, London's Paddington Station is closed for four days, while there will also be no long-distance train services from King's Cross.
Northern said it was operating reduced services across the North West "due to traincrew unavailability", adding it was expecting "significant" disruption. West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway said they were expecting disruption due to "the combined impact of a surge in sickness absence, associated shortage of train crew and the impact of the recent storms across our network".
Chiltern Railways advised passengers to travel as early as possible and to anticipate some cancellations and alterations due to a "shortage of available train crew". ScotRail said weather-related disruption to some routes was expected until the end of Sunday.
Services will finish earlier than normal on Sunday, while no trains will be running on Christmas Day. Northern said it was operating reduced services across the north-west "due to traincrew unavailability", adding it was expecting "significant" disruption.
On Saturday, there were small delays for people boarding ferries to France at the Port of Dover. Chiltern Railways advised passengers to travel as early as possible and to anticipate some cancellations and alterations due to a "shortage of available train crew"
There have already been travel delays this week, with strikes in France causing cancellations on the Eurostar and Storm Pia also leading to disruption.
Are you impacted by travel disruption this Christmas? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you impacted by travel disruption this Christmas? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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