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| Festive getaway 'will hit peak' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Britain is being told to expect the busiest time of the festive period on the roads, with a peak at 1500 GMT. | Britain is being told to expect the busiest time of the festive period on the roads, with a peak at 1500 GMT. |
| Some 18m cars are expected to be on the roads - with 16m on the second busiest days, 27 and 28 December. | |
| A record 3.5m Britons will head abroad for Christmas - but the result of a ballot of UK airport workers could lead strikes as soon as 28 December. | A record 3.5m Britons will head abroad for Christmas - but the result of a ballot of UK airport workers could lead strikes as soon as 28 December. |
| And rail travellers on the West Coast Mainline are facing disruption because of engineering works. | |
| The dispute with BAA, which operates seven UK airports including Heathrow and Gatwick, is over the closure of final salary pensions to new employees. | The dispute with BAA, which operates seven UK airports including Heathrow and Gatwick, is over the closure of final salary pensions to new employees. |
| Industrial action could start on 28 December but may be delayed until after the Christmas holiday period. | Industrial action could start on 28 December but may be delayed until after the Christmas holiday period. |
| Christmas Day should be much quieter on UK roads, with only 4m cars being driven. | |
| The Highways Agency is suspending roadworks on several motorways and major A-roads in England over the holiday period, but roadworks remain on some key routes, including the M1 and M25. | The Highways Agency is suspending roadworks on several motorways and major A-roads in England over the holiday period, but roadworks remain on some key routes, including the M1 and M25. |
| Rail disruption | |
| Kevin Groves, of Network Rail, said rail travellers on the West Coast Mainline will experience disruption because the company had "made a mistake" and under-estimated the amount of work being planned over the Christmas break. | |
| As a result, engineering work beginning on 27 December will now last until New Year's Eve, a day later than originally planned. | |
| "It's completely our fault. We under-estimated the amount of time we needed," said Mr Groves. | |
| This is always a peak time for travel as people make the most of the bank holidays, and once again there are a record number travelling Justin Fleming, Abta | |
| "There are alternative routes from Scotland, from Manchester, from Birmingham that go into different stations in London, that are completely unaffected by engineering works." | |
| Mr Groves also said the busiest remaining times for rail travel would be Friday and Saturday. | |
| For those heading abroad, top city-break destinations include Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin and New York, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta). | For those heading abroad, top city-break destinations include Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin and New York, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta). |
| The Canary Islands, Egypt, Goa and Dubai are also proving popular among travellers this year. Abta also said the busiest day for overseas travel will be Saturday, followed by 30 December when people head for New Year's Eve celebrations abroad. | The Canary Islands, Egypt, Goa and Dubai are also proving popular among travellers this year. Abta also said the busiest day for overseas travel will be Saturday, followed by 30 December when people head for New Year's Eve celebrations abroad. |
| A total of 1.2m passengers are expected to leave from London's Heathrow airport between Friday and 2 January. | A total of 1.2m passengers are expected to leave from London's Heathrow airport between Friday and 2 January. |
| Abta president Justin Fleming said: "This is always a peak time for travel as people make the most of the bank holidays, and once again there are a record number travelling." | Abta president Justin Fleming said: "This is always a peak time for travel as people make the most of the bank holidays, and once again there are a record number travelling." |