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'Busiest day' for Christmas holiday getaway 'Busiest day' for Christmas holiday getaway
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of people are expected to take to the roads, railways and air for what is expected to be the busiest day for Christmas travel.Thousands of people are expected to take to the roads, railways and air for what is expected to be the busiest day for Christmas travel.
Heathrow Airport is preparing for some 123,000 passengers to fly out. A fire near Brighton is affecting rail services to Gatwick Airport.
There is major disruption at London Paddington station following a fire in a lineside equipment room on Thursday. Great Western train services in to and out of London are also being disrupted by a signal problem.
The getaway comes amid warnings of disruption following heavy rain across the country on Thursday, with more than 90 flood warnings in place. The getaway comes amid warnings of disruption following heavy rain across the country on Thursday, with more than 70 flood warnings in place.
Several people were rescued from vehicles and trains were cancelled around the country.Several people were rescued from vehicles and trains were cancelled around the country.
The Met Office expects more rain overnight on Friday and the Environment Agency has issued more than 270 flood alerts and about 80 flood warnings. The Met Office expects more rain overnight on Friday and the Environment Agency has issued more than 240 flood alerts and about 75 flood warnings.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 13 flood alerts and more than 20 flood warnings in place.The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 13 flood alerts and more than 20 flood warnings in place.
Rail disruptionRail disruption
The equipment room next to the railway track at Acton, west London, which caught fire has led to the closure of two of four lines to the west of the London station, affecting services to and from south Wales and the west of England. A cable fire overnight at Preston Park, Brighton, has led to some trains from the south coast to Gatwick Airport being severely affected.
Network Rail says the fire damage was so extensive it has had to rebuild the equipment room from the ground up but hopes to have all lines back open "some time this morning". As a result, Gatwick Express trains are calling additionally at East Croydon and Clapham Junction and National Rail are warning that journey times may be extended by up to 90 minutes.
Also, there has been a signalling problem causing disruption near Hayes and Harlington. As a result of the problems, a number of Paddington services have been delayed and some cancelled, including those to Reading and Cardiff. Replacement buses are in operation between Brighton and Haywards Heath.
A signalling problem is causing disruption near Hayes and Harlington. As a result of the problems, a number of Paddington services have been delayed and some cancelled, including those to Reading and Cardiff.
Trains to Bristol are running a reduced service and the disruption is likely to continue until 15:00 GMT.Trains to Bristol are running a reduced service and the disruption is likely to continue until 15:00 GMT.
There are currently no trains between Paddington and Heathrow Airport.There are currently no trains between Paddington and Heathrow Airport.
According to National Rail, a number of train services have been affected because of the weather. According to National Rail, a number of other train services have also been affected because of the weather:
Trains are cancelled between Ellesmere Port and Hooton near Chester until further notice, with a replacement bus service running, and trains between Crewe and Chester are also cancelled because of flooding.
  • Trains are cancelled between Ellesmere Port and Hooton near Chester until further notice, with a replacement bus service running
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  • Trains between Crewe and Chester are also cancelled because of flooding
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  • Floods near Uttoxeter and Stoke-on-Trent have also caused rail disruptions
  • There are delays between Derby and Nottingham and East Midlands Parkway because of flooding
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  • Services between Liskeard and Looe are also affected, with replacement buses in operation
  • A landslip in Stirling, central Scotland, had earlier meant buses replaced trains between Bridge of Orchy and Crianlarich but that route has now been cleared
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A landslip in Stirling, central Scotland, had earlier meant buses replaced trains between Bridge of Orchy and Crianlarich but that route has now been cleared. Meanwhile, more than 200,000 people are expected to cross the channel on the Eurostar and ferries.
Floods near Uttoxeter and Stoke-on-Trent have also caused rail disruptions, while there are delays between Derby and Nottingham and East Midlands Parkway.
Services between Liskeard and Looe, and Brighton and Haywards Heath are also affected, with replacement buses in operation.
Many road works have been suspended, the Highways Agency says, and the number of railway replacement services is said to be fewer than last year.
More than 200,000 people are expected to cross the channel on the Eurostar and ferries.
Around the country's airports, Heathrow will handle a further 114,000 departures on Sunday and 88,000 on Christmas Eve.
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.
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.
Some 160,000 people are due to travel to the continent on Eurostar trains. 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 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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