People should be prepared for delays and disruptions to flights, roads and railways if they are travelling in the UK during the Easter bank holiday.
On Good Friday alone, over 19 million car trips are anticipated, according to the AA, which means traffic jams on major routes are likely.
Easter falls three weeks later than in 2024, so the amount of car trips is expected to be higher because of the expectation of better weather. The rise is predicted to be about 15 per cent, according to the motoring association.
In addition to the shutdown of London Euston station, there will be some disruptions to flights via Gatwick Airport.
We have compiled a list of the main problems that could cause travel disruptions for Easter so you can avoid them.
Motorways
The AA cautioned drivers to be ready for traffic, especially on main roads, in town and city centres, and in shopping parks. The south and western portion of the M25 between the M23 and M40, the M5 at Bristol, the A303 in Wiltshire and the M6 close to Birmingham and the Blackpool area are predicted to be hotspots.
Ahead of the Easter holidays, National Highways has implemented traffic control system Operation Brock in Kent. It is intended to control traffic flows on the M20 motorway in the event of delays at Channel ports, which are in heavy demand from holiday makers. It includes narrow lanes and a lowered 50 mph speed limit.
Operation Brock covers a 13-mile section of the motorway between junctions 8 for Maidstone and 9 for Ashford. At junction 8, lorries bound for the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel are instructed to follow instructions to enter a designated lane.
Trains
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Thousands of Easter train trips will be disrupted by engineering work. Worst affected will be London Euston, the 10th busiest train station in the UK. All lines to and from London Euston will be closed between Saturday April 19 and Monday April 21.
The Elizabeth line will operate a reduced service between Heathrow Terminal 4 and Paddington and Maidenhead between Friday April 18 and Monday April 21, while Acton main line, West Ealing and Hanwell stations are closed.
Disruptive works will be taking place at Paddington during the Easter weekend.
Southern and Gatwick Express will operate a lighter schedule to and from Victoria over the Easter weekend, while Southeastern services will not be available in Victoria due to train diversions.
The Caledonian Sleeper will be diverted to King's Cross in London via the East Coast main line.
The line is closed between London Marylebone and Aylesbury because of the installation of an HS2 bridge along the Chiltern Railways line.
There will be no East Midlands Railway or Thameslink trains between London St Pancras and Bedford on April 12 and 13.
Key travel disruptions
- Lines to and from London Euston and the station will be closed between Saturday, April 19, and Monday, April 21
- National Highways has implemented Operation Brock, a traffic control system, in Kent to control traffic
- Disruptions are anticipated at Gatwick Airport following the announcement of a strike
- Elizabeth line will operate a reduced service between Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21
- Southern and Gatwick Express will operate a lighter schedule to and from Victoria over the Easter weekend
Hitchin will be served by rail replacement buses on the East Coast main line with Bedford.
During the bank holiday, lines between Norwich, Colchester, Ipswich and London Liverpool Street will be closed. There will be rail replacement buses between Billericay and Colchester.
Services from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport and Brighton will be restricted because of construction on the Clapham Junction line.
Additionally, there will be timetable modifications and disruptions over the long weekend to the train service at Manchester/Stockport, the Leeds and Huddersfield region, Cambridge and Southampton.
In Scotland, trains between Carlisle and Edinburgh and Glasgow are being replaced by buses because of track renewal works.
Flights
Those hoping to catch a flight or land at Gatwick Airport should prepare for disruptions following the announcement of a strike.
During the Easter weekend, Unite members will go on strike at the second-busiest airport in the UK in a pension dispute. The action involves aircraft dispatchers, baggage handlers and check-in employees who work for Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace.
According to aviation expert Cirium, 11,282 aircraft are scheduled to take off from UK airports between Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Other large airports, such as Heathrow and Stansted, will probably be busier as a result.
