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Rail delays affect Christmas holiday getaway Rail delays affect Christmas holiday getaway
(35 minutes later)
Severe problems on some rail routes are causing major delays on what is expected to be the busiest day for Christmas travel.Severe problems on some rail routes are causing major delays on what is expected to be the busiest day for Christmas travel.
Trains between London and Brighton and to Heathrow from London Paddington have been affected following two fires. Trains between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington have been affected following a fire and signal problems.
First Great Western train services to and from Paddington are also being disrupted by signal problems. There are also delays on the Brighton line between the south coast and London due to an earlier trackside fire.
Flooding has further added to travel problems on Friday, 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 240 flood alerts and 64 flood warnings.The Met Office expects more rain overnight on Friday and the Environment Agency has issued more than 240 flood alerts and 64 flood warnings.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 19 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts in place..The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 19 flood warnings and 12 flood alerts in place..
Rail disruptionRail disruption
An earlier cable fire at Preston Park, Brighton is causing delays to trains from the south coast to Gatwick Airport and London.
However, Gatwick Express trains are now running normally in both directions, making a couple of additional stops both ways to relieve congestion. This is expected to remain the case for the rest of Friday.
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 and Cardiff.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.
An earlier cable fire at Preston Park, Brighton is causing delays to trains from the south coast to Gatwick Airport and London.
However, Gatwick Express trains are now running normally in both directions, making a couple of additional stops both ways to relieve congestion. This is expected to remain the case for the rest of Friday.
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:
  • Trains are cancelled between Ellesmere Port and Hooton near Chester until further notice, with a replacement bus service running
  • Trains between Crewe and Chester are also cancelled because of flooding
  • 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
  • Services between Liskeard and Looe are also affected, with replacement buses in operation
  • 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.
  • Trains are cancelled between Ellesmere Port and Hooton near Chester until further notice, with a replacement bus service running
  • Trains between Crewe and Chester are delayed because of flooding
  • 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
  • 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 and Midland Mainline services are affected
  • Services between Liskeard and Looe are also affected, with replacement buses in operation
  • Train are cancelled between Stourbridge Junction and Birmingham Snow Hill
  • Delays are continuing between Doncaster, Sheffield and Leeds
    •
  • 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.
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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