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| Festive getaway 'will hit peak' | Festive getaway 'will hit peak' |
| (40 minutes 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. | 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 are facing severe problems because the West Coast Mainline is closing for five days. | And rail travellers are facing severe problems because the West Coast Mainline is closing for five days. |
| 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | As a result, engineering work beginning on 27 December will now last until New Year's Eve, a day later than originally planned. |
| The work will mean the closure of the West Coast Mainline, which affects any services that would have passed through Rugby. | The work will mean the closure of the West Coast Mainline, which affects any services that would have passed through Rugby. |
| 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 | 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 |
| These are mostly Virgin Train's services, but the closure also affects some London Midland and First ScotRail Sleeper services. | These are mostly Virgin Train's services, but the closure also affects some London Midland and First ScotRail Sleeper services. |
| Alternative services will be provided either by other train operating companies or replacement coaches. | Alternative services will be provided either by other train operating companies or replacement coaches. |
| "It's completely our fault. We under-estimated the amount of time we needed," said Mr Groves. | "It's completely our fault. We under-estimated the amount of time we needed," said Mr Groves. |
| "There are alternative routes from Scotland, from Manchester, from Birmingham that go into different stations in London, that are completely unaffected by engineering works." | "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. | Mr Groves also said the busiest remaining times for rail travel would be Friday and Saturday. |
| The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said up to 4m passengers, about one million more than a typical weekday, are expected to take the train on Friday, and Saturday is also predicted to be busy. | The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said up to 4m passengers, about one million more than a typical weekday, are expected to take the train on Friday, and Saturday is also predicted to be busy. |
| George Muir, its director general, said: "Christmas Day falls this year on a Tuesday and with more and more people taking two weeks off, we are expecting many passengers to travel on the Friday and Saturday before Christmas. | George Muir, its director general, said: "Christmas Day falls this year on a Tuesday and with more and more people taking two weeks off, we are expecting many passengers to travel on the Friday and Saturday before Christmas. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I'm travelling from the bedroom via the stairs into the lounge. I might go exploring in the kitchen and, weather permitting, even sit outside on the patio Geoff Molloy, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY I'm travelling from the bedroom via the stairs into the lounge. I might go exploring in the kitchen and, weather permitting, even sit outside on the patio Geoff Molloy, UK Send us your comments |
| "We strongly advise people to book ahead and reserve seats wherever possible." | "We strongly advise people to book ahead and reserve seats wherever possible." |
| A spokeswoman for the Met Office said conditions on the roads would be "tricky" on Saturday morning. | |
| "We can expect a frost on Friday night in southern England and quite a sharp frost over south-east England and East Anglia by Saturday morning. | |
| "Northern England and Scotland has the biggest potential for travel problems. There is a risk of ice, mostly over Scotland, with snow over mountains in Grampian. | |
| "That risk continues through the higher ground in northern England, places such as Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Northumberland and Durham. | |
| "Those icy conditions will last during Saturday morning and could cause problems for Scottish airports in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh." | |
| Foreign destinations | |
| Temperatures are expected to rise on Sunday, with only a light frost in England and Wales and rain and wind in Scotland. | |
| 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." |