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Rail delays affect Christmas holiday getaway Rail delays affect Christmas holiday getaway
(about 2 hours later)
Rail failures and flooding are continuing to cause major delays on national train routes on one of the busiest days of Christmas travel.Rail failures and flooding are continuing to cause major delays on national train routes on one of the busiest days of Christmas travel.
Trains between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington were cancelled due to signal failure and the problems also hit Wales and West Country journeys.Trains between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington were cancelled due to signal failure and the problems also hit Wales and West Country journeys.
A trackside fire has seen major delays between Brighton and London.A trackside fire has seen major delays between Brighton and London.
Flooding has further added to travel problems, following heavy rain across the country on Thursday.Flooding has further added to travel problems, following heavy rain across the country on Thursday.
Several people were rescued from vehicles and trains were cancelled in England and Scotland.Several people were rescued from vehicles and trains were cancelled in England and Scotland.
The Met Office expects more rain overnight on Friday and the Environment Agency has issued more than 260 flood alerts and 66 flood warnings. The Met Office expects more rain overnight on Friday and the Environment Agency has issued more than 260 flood alerts and 65 flood warnings.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 18 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts in place.. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 16 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts in place..
Rail disruptionRail disruption
A signalling problem is causing disruption on the Great Western main line near Hayes and Harlington.A signalling problem is causing disruption on the Great Western main line near Hayes and Harlington.
A number of Paddington services have been delayed and some cancelled, including those to Reading, Bristol and Cardiff - with disruption likely to continue throughout Saturday. A number of Paddington services have been seriously delayed and some cancelled, including those to Reading, Bristol and Cardiff - with disruption likely to continue throughout Saturday.
There are currently no trains between Paddington and Heathrow and thousands of passengers were forced to use Tube services to get to the airport. There are currently no trains between Paddington and Heathrow and thousands of passengers are being forced to use Tube services to get to the airport.
An earlier cable fire at Preston Park, Brighton has been causing major delays to trains from the south coast to Gatwick Airport and London - expected to continue until Sunday. An overnight cable fire at Preston Park, Brighton has been causing major delays to trains from the south coast to Gatwick Airport and London - expected to continue until Sunday.
However, Gatwick Express trains between London Victoria and Brighton are only running Three Bridges. Gatwick Express trains between London Victoria and Brighton are only running as far as Three Bridges.
According to National Rail, a number of other train services have also been affected because of the weather:According to National Rail, a number of other train services have also been affected because of the weather:
  • There are delays between Derby and Nottingham and East Midlands Parkway because of flooding
  • A landslip on the railway line between Manchester and Liverpool - at Glazebrook, near Warrington - is causing delays and cancellations between the two cities: Northern Rail, Transpennine Express and East Midlands services are affected
    •
  • Replacement bus services are running between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey until the end of service
  • Services between Liskeard and Looe are also affected, with replacement buses in operation
  • Train are cancelled between Stourbridge Junction and Birmingham Snow Hill
  • The line between Perth and Gleneagles has been blocked by landslip about a mile south of Perth. Engineers are on site but journeys between Glasgow and Inverness and Aberdeen are affected, as well as those between Edinburgh and Inverness
  • A landslip on the railway line between Manchester and Liverpool - at Glazebrook, near Warrington - is causing delays and cancellations between the two cities
  • Replacement bus services are running between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey until the end of service
  • Services between Liskeard and Looe are also affected, with replacement buses in operation
  • Train are delayed between Stourbridge Junction and Birmingham Snow Hill
  • The line between Perth and Gleneagles has been blocked by landslip about a mile south of Perth, delaying trains between Stirling, Kirkcaldy and Perth until around 20:15 GMT
Meanwhile, more than 200,000 people are expected to cross the channel on the Eurostar and ferries.Meanwhile, more than 200,000 people are expected to cross the channel on the Eurostar and ferries.
Works suspendedWorks suspended
Around the country's airports, Heathrow is preparing for some 123,000 passengers to fly out on Friday and will handle a further 114,000 departures on Sunday and 88,000 on Christmas Eve.Around the country's airports, Heathrow is preparing for some 123,000 passengers to fly out on Friday and will handle a further 114,000 departures on Sunday and 88,000 on Christmas Eve.
From Friday until 3 January, a total of 700,000 will be leaving from Gatwick airport, 320,000 from Manchester, 300,000 from Stansted, 125,000 from Luton, 116,000 from Birmingham and 75,000 from Glasgow.From Friday until 3 January, a total of 700,000 will be leaving from Gatwick airport, 320,000 from Manchester, 300,000 from Stansted, 125,000 from Luton, 116,000 from Birmingham and 75,000 from Glasgow.
And between Saturday until the end of Christmas Eve, 52,000 will fly from Edinburgh airport and 56,000 from Bristol.And between Saturday until the end of Christmas Eve, 52,000 will fly from Edinburgh airport and 56,000 from Bristol.
On the roads, the Highways Agency said many road works have been suspended, adding that more than 250 miles of road works will have been completed before Christmas.On the roads, the Highways Agency said many road works have been suspended, adding that more than 250 miles of road works will have been completed before Christmas.
Also, a further 57 miles of works will be suspended between Friday and 2 January, but works remain in place at 19 locations covering nearly 100 miles.Also, a further 57 miles of works will be suspended between Friday and 2 January, but works remain in place at 19 locations covering nearly 100 miles.
These include the M4 between junctions 10 and 11 at Reading in Berkshire, the M25 at junctions 5 and 6 near Godstone in Surrey and the M5 between junctions 19 and 21 near Bristol.These include the M4 between junctions 10 and 11 at Reading in Berkshire, the M25 at junctions 5 and 6 near Godstone in Surrey and the M5 between junctions 19 and 21 near Bristol.
John Curtin, of the Environment Agency, said people should look out for the risk of flooding as they travel over the weekend.John Curtin, of the Environment Agency, said people should look out for the risk of flooding as they travel over the weekend.
"With a very busy travel weekend coming up, we would also ask that people check their route before travelling, and remember not to drive or walk through flood water," he said."With a very busy travel weekend coming up, we would also ask that people check their route before travelling, and remember not to drive or walk through flood water," he said.
The RAC said it had about 9,000 call outs due to breakdowns, mainly weather related, in the 24-hour period from Thursday morning to Friday morning. The RAC said it had about 9,000 call-outs due to breakdowns, mainly weather related, in the 24-hour period from Thursday morning to Friday morning.
Are you travelling on what is expected to be the busiest day for Christmas travel? Send us your getaway experiences using the form below.Are you travelling on what is expected to be the busiest day for Christmas travel? Send us your getaway experiences using the form below.
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