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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/24/christmas-travel-plans-face-disruption
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Christmas travel plans face disruption | Christmas travel plans face disruption |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| More misery awaits Christmas commuters as flooding continues to hamper parts of the road and rail network. | More misery awaits Christmas commuters as flooding continues to hamper parts of the road and rail network. |
| People trying to get home to friends and family for the festive period are facing a series of challenges on the railways. | People trying to get home to friends and family for the festive period are facing a series of challenges on the railways. |
| A number of routes remain affected by flooding, while services are widely expected to groan under passenger numbers as those unable to travel over the weekend rescheduled their journeys on Monday. | A number of routes remain affected by flooding, while services are widely expected to groan under passenger numbers as those unable to travel over the weekend rescheduled their journeys on Monday. |
| CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains, First Great Western and First TransPennine Express are all experiencing major delays, according to National Rail, while many services are operating with amended timetables. | CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains, First Great Western and First TransPennine Express are all experiencing major delays, according to National Rail, while many services are operating with amended timetables. |
| In the south-west, there are no trains running between Bristol Parkway and Swindon because of flooding, while services between London Paddington and Swansea will be diverted, with journey times extended up to 45 minutes. | In the south-west, there are no trains running between Bristol Parkway and Swindon because of flooding, while services between London Paddington and Swansea will be diverted, with journey times extended up to 45 minutes. |
| Trains will not run between Exeter St Davids and Tiverton Parkway until Friday at the earliest, with replacement buses and diverted routes offering alternatives. | Trains will not run between Exeter St Davids and Tiverton Parkway until Friday at the earliest, with replacement buses and diverted routes offering alternatives. |
| But First Great Western warned that poor road conditions mean that buses will not be able to travel on many routes, and advised passengers not to travel if at all possible. | But First Great Western warned that poor road conditions mean that buses will not be able to travel on many routes, and advised passengers not to travel if at all possible. |
| London Midland was also facing disruption on most of its routes on Christmas Eve – this time because of a shortage of train crew. Flooding near Long Eaton meant services between Derby and Nottingham were suspended, while a landslip is affecting journeys between Liverpool and Manchester. | London Midland was also facing disruption on most of its routes on Christmas Eve – this time because of a shortage of train crew. Flooding near Long Eaton meant services between Derby and Nottingham were suspended, while a landslip is affecting journeys between Liverpool and Manchester. |
| Trains between Brighton and London via Gatwick Airport were running normally after signalling problems caused by a fire at Preston Park on Friday were fixed. | Trains between Brighton and London via Gatwick Airport were running normally after signalling problems caused by a fire at Preston Park on Friday were fixed. |
| Network Rail on Sunday said it was working closely with the Environment Agency and its weather service to try and keep things moving where possible. | Network Rail on Sunday said it was working closely with the Environment Agency and its weather service to try and keep things moving where possible. |
| Robin Gisby, NR's director of network operations, said: "We apologise to passengers who have had their journeys disrupted at this busy time and we are doing all we can to keep things moving. | Robin Gisby, NR's director of network operations, said: "We apologise to passengers who have had their journeys disrupted at this busy time and we are doing all we can to keep things moving. |
| "However, safety is our priority and where flooding has submerged tracks or damaged structures we cannot allow trains to run. | "However, safety is our priority and where flooding has submerged tracks or damaged structures we cannot allow trains to run. |
| "Our engineers have been out at vulnerable locations since the rains began and through the night to monitor the situation and we are doing all we can to help operators get passengers to where they want to get to." | "Our engineers have been out at vulnerable locations since the rains began and through the night to monitor the situation and we are doing all we can to help operators get passengers to where they want to get to." |
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