Heathrow Airport said “a small number of flights” have been cancelled on Saturday due to “strong winds and airspace restrictions”.
Around 100 flights due to arrive and depart on Sunday have been cancelled due to restrictions on the rate at which planes can land and take-off.
However, spokesperson for the UK’s busiest airport said that while the vast majority of passengers can travely safely as planned, they should check with their airline for cancellations.
It comes as weather warnings kick in for parts of the UK on Saturday as millions more people get away for Christmas.
The AA predicted 23.7 million drivers hit the road on Friday, making it the busiest day on the roads since the group’s records began in 2010.
It projected that Saturday would see 22.7 million drivers and Sunday 21.3 million.
But Met Office yellow warnings have issued for parts of the UK this weekend, with the RAC warning travelling could be a “pretty exhausting experience” due to the conditions.
Yellow warnings for wind are in place from 7am on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday in the North West, the North East, Scotland and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland.
KEY POINTS
- Heathrow Airport cancels ‘small number of flights'
- M48 Severn Bridge to close from 6am Saturday
- Where will the worst traffic jams be?
- Wild weather predicted for most of UK over coming weekend
- Will train strikes affect the Christmas period?
At least 15,000 passengers due to be affected by cancellations
17:06 , simon calderAt least 15,000 passengers are believed to be receiving messages saying their flights to or from London Heathrow have been cancelled. While airlines including Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic have grounded departures, most of the flights affected are on British Airways.
The airline has now issued a statement on cancellations. A spokesperson said: “Due to adverse weather this weekend, restrictions have been put on the number of flights able to take off and land at Heathrow and therefore we’ve had to make a small number of cancellations.
“We’re offering free flight changes for those customers booked on short-haul services who don’t wish to travel this weekend, and we will be offering rebooking and refund options as always to those whose journeys are disrupted as a result of the restrictions.
“While the vast majority of our customers will travel as planned, our teams are working hard to help those who have been affected get their travel plans back on track at this important time of year.”
Heathrow airport: strong winds force cancellation of 100 Sunday flights
16:30 , Simon CalderAt London Heathrow, the UK’s biggest airport, around 100 flights due to arrive and depart on Sunday have been cancelled due to restrictions on the rate at which planes can land and take-off.
Heathrow is the world’s busiest two-runway airport, with landings as close as 80 seconds apart. During strong winds, the rate of arrivals is slowed, inevitably leading to cancellations. These are ideally made in advance rather than on the day.
British Airways alone has grounded 80 planes, including six flights to and from Amsterdam and Glasgow, as well as links with Madrid, Nice and Vienna.
Other airlines have also trimmed their schedules, with Virgin Atlantic grounding a round-trip to Miami. Lufthansa of Germany cancelled two Frankfurt arrivals and departures.
Swiss, TAP Portugal, Eurowings, SAS, KLM and Turkish Airlines also grounded flights.
Why are the trains always chaotic at Christmas?
16:15 , Holly EvansP&O Ferries cancel journeys between Larne and Cairnryan
15:45 , Holly EvansP&O Ferries have confirmed journeys between Larne and Cairnryan have been cancelled for at least 24 hours.
A spokesperson said: “Due to adverse weather conditions, all P&O Ferries sailings between Larne and Cairnryan have been cancelled from 2000 tonight (21st December) until at least 2000 tomorrow night (22nd December).
“We ask our customers please not to travel to either of the ports if their sailing has been cancelled, to avoid causing traffic congestion.
“All remaining sailings for today are fully booked, customers can manage their booking online or call us on 01304 884488 to amend or cancel their booking. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
21 ferry routes in Scotland cancelled due to high winds
15:10 , Holly EvansFerries have been cancelled and train services impacted as high winds hit Scotland’s Christmas getaway.
By noon on Saturday, CalMac, which operates ferry services on Scotland’s west coast, reported that sailings on 21 of its routes were cancelled for the day, with other services facing disruption.
Meanwhile, Northlink Ferries, which runs services between Aberdeen and the Orkney and Shetland isles, also reported disruption.
It said “adverse weather conditions” meant a sailing between Kirkwall on Orkney and Lerwick in the Shetland Isles was cancelled, along with sailings between Aberdeen and Lerwick, which were scheduled for Saturday evening.
Rail operator ScotRail announced that speed restrictions would be in place for part of the route between Glasgow and Oban/Mallaig, and the Inverness service to Kyle/Wick.
Met Office say Christmas more likely to be grey than white
14:45 , Holly EvansThe Met Office have warned of a “grey Christmas”, disappointing those who were hoping for snow.
With the weather due to turn milder in the coming days, cloudy and unsettled weather is set for 25 December.
It will be feeling cold for all of us during the rest of the weekend.
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 21, 2024
However as we head towards Christmas, milder Atlantic air will move in, with many of us seeing a grey Christmas rather than a white one 🎄 pic.twitter.com/tZscBxQhUE
Drivers urged to be ‘patient’ on the roads
14:16 , Holly EvansMillions of drivers have been urged to be patient on the roads as the UK prepares for a “perfect storm” of the Christmas getaway and bad weather.
Roads and public transport could be disrupted by strong gusts after the Met Office announced yellow warnings for parts of the country.
The AA predicted 23.7 million drivers would hit the road on Friday, making it the busiest day on the roads since the group’s records began in 2010.
It projected that Saturday would see 22.7 million drivers and Sunday 21.3 million.
A spokesperson for the group said: “With more than 20 million car journeys expected on both Saturday and Sunday if the congestion wasn’t enough of a headache, the inclement weather could create the perfect storm.
“We advise those heading out to allow extra time to travel and increase the distance between themselves and other road users.”
Heathrow Airport cancels ‘small number of flights'
13:41 , Holly EvansHeathrow Airport said “a small number of flights” have been cancelled on Saturday due to “strong winds and airspace restrictions”.
A spokesperson said: “This will ensure the vast majority of passengers can still safely travel as planned.
“We know how important travel at this time of year is and have extra colleagues on hand in our terminals to support people on their journeys.
“We encourage passengers to check in with their airlines for the latest information about their flights.”
Rail passengers face cancellations due to staff shortage and weather
13:04 , Simon CalderRail passengers the length of Britain face delays and cancellations as a combination of staff shortage and bad weather disrupt schedules.
In southeast England, Great Northern and Thameslink have apologies to passengers for “cancellations and service changes” due to “a shortage of train drivers today”. The rail operators link Cambridge with London, Gatwick airport and the south coast.
On Sunday, passengers on Northern in northwest England will experience widespread cancellations, with all trains axed on six routes including Blackpool South to Preston and Oxenholme to Windermere.
The train operator said: “Recently, we have seen higher levels of cancellations in the North West and for that we are sorry. The underlying reason is train crew availability, in particular on Sundays which is contractually outside of the working week.
In Scotland, links from Glasgow to Oban and Mallaig, and from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and Wick are subject to speed restrictions because of high winds. Some rail replacement buses will run.
Where is the yellow weather warning on Sunday?
12:16 , Holly Evans
Road, rail and ferry services likely to be affected in Scotland
11:37 , Holly EvansDouglas Cairns, from Transport Scotland, said road, rail, air and ferry services are “all likely to be affected by the conditions” with possible longer journey times, cancellations and restrictions on bridges.
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said its 7.45pm Saturday ferry service from Douglas, Isle of Man to Heysham, Lancashire was cancelled due to the “forecast adverse weather”, along with its 2.15am Sunday service from Heysham to Douglas.
CalMac, which operates ferries to the west coast of Scotland, said possible disruptions and cancellations could affect each of its planned services for Saturday.
With yellow @metoffice warnings in place this weekend, travellers are urged to #PlanAhead this festive period.
— Transport Scotland (@transcotland) December 20, 2024
While wind may impact our busier than usual transport network, @FionaHyslop says our teams are prepared to #KeepScotlandMoving.
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/naVPFc08Na pic.twitter.com/ckSGiYiIvu
Christmas travellers urged to be ‘patient’ on motorways
11:13 , Holly EvansThe RAC has urged Christmas getaway travellers to “be patient” on the roads and highlighted the M25, M4 and M5 as “crunch points” for delays.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “Anyone travelling now, I’m looking at the maps, you’ve got a lot of the road largely to yourself.
“But we are expecting things to build up through the course of the morning … If you’re packing up now, this is a good time to travel. There’s a core of about 11 o’clock this morning and between about four and six this afternoon, that’s the core time where we expect the traffic to be heavier.”
When asked if there are particular crunch points of delays the RAC is worried about, Mr Dennis said: “Yeah, I wouldn’t say worried about. I think this is the thing people are going to be well used to, where they’re not able to tear all the cones out and open all the lanes.
“Obviously there’s stretches of the northern part of the M25, part of the M4, the M5, a lot of routes people use for the sorts of journeys they’re going to make ahead of Christmas where they just can’t open all the lanes back up again. So, there’s those to bear in mind.
“What we’re saying to people is just be patient. These are journeys that matter to us this time of year. Just don’t expect to get there the minute your sat-nav says it will. Allow yourself a bit of time to make it easy and get there safely.”
Conditions for Christmas Day set to be ‘exceptionally mild’
10:52 , Holly EvansMet Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Hicks said: “We’ll start to see high pressure to the south of the UK bringing in more settled and much milder conditions from Christmas Eve.
“Christmas Day itself will be cloudy for most, although some eastern areas of the UK, most likely eastern Scotland, may see some clear or sunny spells.
“We could see some drizzle across hills in the west, and some more persistent rain is possible for north-west Scotland, but overall it will be a fairly cloudy, nondescript day.
“Conditions on Christmas Day and Boxing Day look to be exceptionally mild for the time of year, especially in the north.
“East and north-east Scotland, for example, could see overnight temperatures that are 10C above average on Christmas morning.”
Read the full story: Windy weather brings potential disruption to Christmas getaway travel
10:31 , Holly EvansWeather warnings for wind have come into force across much of the UK as millions more people get away for Christmas.
Roads and public transport could be disrupted by strong gusts as the Met Office forecast a wet and windy weekend for many.
The AA predicted 23.7 million drivers would hit the road on Friday, making it the busiest day on the roads since the group’s records began in 2010.
Read the full article here:
Windy weather brings potential disruption to Christmas getaway travel
Severe coastal gales and damaging gusts of wind on Saturday
10:14 , Holly EvansThe Met Office has warned of severe coastal gales, with other regions of the UK enduing heavy showers and thunder on Saturday.
A post on X read: “Windy on Saturday morning with severe coastal gales in the northwest and a risk of damaging gusts in northwest Scotland later.
“Rain moving southeast with colder and brighter weather following giving a mixture of sunny spells and heavy showers, perhaps with hail and thunder.”
Windy on Saturday morning with severe coastal gales in the northwest and a risk of damaging gusts in northwest Scotland later⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 20, 2024
Rain moving southeast with colder and brighter weather following giving a mixture of sunny spells and heavy showers, perhaps with hail and thunder 🌦️ pic.twitter.com/z5ru2fetxw
Seven million leisure trips could be an ‘exhausting experience'
09:47 , Holly EvansThe RAC estimated seven million leisure trips will be made on major roads during the weekend, which excludes everyday traffic.
It predicted that congestion hotspots will be on both directions of the M1 to Gatwick via the M25 and the M23; Liverpool to Chester on the M53; Oxford to the south coast via the A34 and the M3; the M25 to the south coast along the M3; and at the Taunton to Almondsbury Interchange in Bristol heading down the M5.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “With the weekend bringing a mix of strong winds along with heavy, and in some places wintry, showers, it’s going to make many of the estimated seven million getaway trips by car a pretty exhausting experience.”
Cancellations at Heathrow as London-Dublin fares soar
09:30 , Simon CalderBritish Airways has cancelled at least 26 flights to and from London Heathrow airport. According to the airline’s website, domestic departures to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester are grounded, along with European links to and from Barcelona, Munich, Rome and elsewhere.
Two BA round-trips from London Heathrow to Dublin have been cancelled, adding to pressure on fares to the Irish capital. With seats scarce – and the main Holyhead-Dublin ferry link out of action for at least three weeks – fares are soaring.
It appears the last seats on the only available British Airways flight from Heathrow to Dublin, at 8.30am, sold at £462, and no more seats are available on the route all day.
Three Ryanair flights from Gatwick to Dublin are selling at £500 or more, though others are available at £260.
The Dutch airline KLM has cancelled one round-trip from Amsterdam to Heathrow, and Swiss has done the same from Zurich.
Great Western Railway plans normal Sunday service
09:18 , Simon CalderFor the first Sunday this month, Great Western Railway (GWR) plans to run all its planned trains linking London Paddington with South Wales and the West of England on 22 December. Many staff are not obliged to work on Sundays, and for the first three Sundays of December dozens of trains were cancelled as crew decided not to accept overtime shifts.
But The Independent understands that overtime rates increase close to Christmas, incentivising more staff to work on their rest days.
Great Western Railway said: “We’re expecting to operate our full advertised timetable on Sunday 22 December.”
But from Christmas Day to Sunday, 29 December, GWR services will not run into Paddington due to work on HS2 near the London terminus. Some trains will be re-routed to and from London Euston.
No trains running north from London St Pancras International
09:01 , Simon CalderNo trains will run on the Midland Main Line north from London St Pancras International to Luton (including the airport), Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield from today to 29 December inclusive due to the replacement of the Agar Grove railway bridge in Camden, north London.
St Pancras is the eighth-busiest station in the UK, with over 90,000 passengers a day.
Hourly East Midlands trains are running from Sheffield, Corby and Nottingham as far south as Bedford, for rail-replacement
buses to Milton Keynes Central – connecting to the West Coast main line, and therefore London Euston.
Thameslink trains, which normally connect Gatwick and Luton airports via central London, are severely affected, with shuttles running south and north of London St Pancras.
Eurostar links to Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels, as well as Southeastern trains to Kent, are unaffected by the closure.
'Snarl-up Saturday’ under way on the roads
08:31 , Simon CalderThe RAC is calling 21 December “snarl-up Saturday,” and says the heaviest traffic will be between 1 and 6pm.
The AA also warns Saturday 21 and Monday 23 December will be extremely busy, with 22.7 million on each day. It has issued amber warnings for 21 and 23 December, “due to the volume of congestion predicted”.
Motorways near big shopping venues will be busy, especially the M25 around Bluewater in Kent, the M1 in the vicinity of Meadowhall near Sheffield in South Yorkshire and the M60 around the Trafford Centre west of Manchester.
By “messy Monday,” 23 December, additional congestion is expected on:
- M1 from Luton to Northampton
- M5 from Bristol to Taunton
- A303 around Stonehenge
- M42 between the M40 and M6 interchanges
- A64 around York
The RAC predicts the busiest single getaway day for motorists will be Christmas Eve, with peak time 10am-4pm. That evening, multiple closures of rail lines for engineering work begin – meaning more road traffic that there would otherwise be, as travellers have little choice but to drive.
How to avoid travel chaos on road and rail this Christmas and New Year
06:00 , Barney DavisFriday 20 December is set to be the busiest day of the winter on motorways and trunk roads according to rival motoring organisation the AA, which predicts a record 23.7 million car journeys.
The organisation warns Saturday 21 and Monday 23 December will also be extremely busy, with 22.7 million on each day. The RAC, meanwhile, predicts 1-6pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Monday will be the busiest times.
The Independent has analysed AA figures to calculate that one in seven motorists plans to drive more than 100 miles on “frantic Friday”, 20 December.
Find out more about Christmas road congestion here:
How to avoid travel chaos on road and rail this Christmas and New Year
What should you expect from a yellow weather warning?
04:00 , Holly EvansYellow wind warnings have been put in place on Saturday and Sunday, covering much of the UK as rain and disruptive winds are set to hit the country over the weekend.
The Met Office says that people can expect some delays to public transport, as well as disruption to travel by road.
On Saturday, a small chance of significant delays or even cancellations to services including ferry and air, whilst some roads, bridges and causeways may be closed.
On Sunday, some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely.
The weather experts have advised those travelling to give themselves the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus timetables and amending travel plans if necessary.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Rebekah Hicks, said: “This period of disruptive weather coincides with a busy period on UK roads as the festive getaway starts for many.
“The area of low pressure will bring rain and strong winds on Saturday, with a chance of significant disruption especially to transport networks across the north, including the potential for ferry cancellations.
“The strongest winds are expected across northern Scotland on Saturday afternoon and evening, with the potential for gusts of 80 to 85 mph in coastal districts.
“The strong winds will be more widespread on Sunday with gusts of 50-60 mph across much of northern, central and western UK, locally higher for coasts and across high ground.”
What time will Christmas Eve trains finish?
02:00 , Barney DavisChristmas Eve will mostly be everyone’s final chance to reach their Christmas destination for the holidays, as no passenger trains will run in the UK on Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be similar, except for some rare exceptions.
On 24 December, trains will start to roll into their depots ahead of Christmas from late afternoon onwards.
The last direct trains on key intercity routes are:
- London King’s Cross-Edinburgh: 5.30pm/Edinburgh-London King’s Cross: 4.13pm
- London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly: 5.55pm/Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston: 6.13pm
- London Paddington-Cardiff Central: 7.48pm/Cardiff Central-London Paddington: 8.18pm
- London Victoria-Gatwick Airport: 8.45pm/Gatwick Airport-London Victoria: 7.32pm
- Bristol Temple Meads-Leeds: 4.35pm/Leeds-Bristol Temple Meads: 4.11pm
- Glasgow Queen Street-Aberdeen: 6.41pm/Aberdeen-Glasgow Queen Street: 6.36pm
All Caledonian Sleeper services are cancelled until 27 December.
Where will the worst traffic jams be?
00:01 , Barney DavisThe AA has released its predictions of where the worst snarl ups will be on the roads over the festive period and which days drivers can expect the most traffic.
Today, Friday December 20 is expected to see the most cars on the road, with an estimated 23.7 million drivers planning a trip.
The breakdown rescue company predicts that the joint second worst days for congestion over the festive period will be tomorrow Saturday December 21 and Monday December 23, each with 22.7 million drivers on the road.
It has identified several likely congestion hotspots, including:
- M4/M5 interchange near Bristol
- M25 near Heathrow airport, west London
- M5/M6 interchange near Birmingham
- M60 near the Trafford Centre, Manchester
- M1 near Meadowhall, Sheffield
See the AA’s map of the worst traffic jams:
When and where to expect the worst traffic jams this Christmas
How to avoid this airport luggage mistake this Christmas
Friday 20 December 2024 23:30 , Amelia NeathHeathrow Airport, the UK’s largest and busiest aviation hub, has advised travellers not to wrap gifts on their website as “as security staff may wish to view them”.
The airport said in a blog post: “Wrapped gifts can be viewed as concealed packages and may need to be screened, opened and searched by airport staff. If you are taking wrapping paper and gift bags with you, make sure they fold flat so they won’t get creased. And if you’re expecting a festive haul on The Big Day, make sure you pack a swag bag to bring them all back safely!”
Other airports and airlines have also offered up similar advice.
Natalie Wilson has more:
The airport luggage mistake which could cost you this Christmas
Weather warnings issued
Friday 20 December 2024 23:26 , Alex RossWeather warnings have been issued for parts of the UK as the Christmas getaway begins.
Yellow warnings for wind have been issued in the North West and the North East, Scotland and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland from 7am on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday.
Sunday’s warning will also include London, the South East and South West, the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and all of Wales and Northern Ireland.
Westerly winds are forecast to pick up over Saturday with 50-60mph gusts expected, with a small chance of some reaching 80mph.
The strong winds will be more widespread on Sunday, meteorologists said, but the weather will be “exceptionally mild” by Christmas Day.
Euston station expected to be ‘extremely busy’ over Christmas, rail authority warns
Friday 20 December 2024 21:30 , Amelia NeathAs many make their way back up North or down south into London during the Christmas period as they come and go visiting friends and family or making their way back to work are warned some rail routes will be very busy.
Passengers travelling between the North and London are advised that London Euston is expected to be extremely busy.
Christmas rail work, which is affecting journeys into London Paddington and London St Pancras stations, means more passengers are expected to travel through Euston station over the festive period.
Network Rail has recommended that passengers travelling to or from Euston on the West Coast Main Line, are advised to travel before Tuesday 24 December or after Thursday 2 January.
Strong winds to impact Scotland’s transport network over the weekend
Friday 20 December 2024 19:30 , Amelia NeathTravel in Scotland over the weekend ahead of the Christmas celebrations is predicted to be impacted, as strong winds set to hit and gusts in excess of 80 mph in coastal districts.
Douglas Cairns from Transport Scotland said: “The strong winds across Scotland this weekend are expected to have an impact on the transport network.
“Road, rail, air and ferry services are all likely to be affected by the conditions, with longer journey times and cancellations possible, as well as potential restrictions on bridges. The network is also expected to be busier than usual, given it’s the last weekend before Christmas.
“As always, we ask travellers to plan their journeys before setting off to ensure they reach their festive celebrations in good time. If you’re driving, make sure your vehicle is winter ready and follow any Police Scotland travel advice that may be in place. Traffic Scotland provides up-to-date travel information on the trunk road network through its website, X account and internet radio broadcasts.
“The same advice goes for other modes of transport – if you are planning to travel by rail, air or ferry, stay in contact with your operator for the latest service information.”
Airports busy but running smoothly – with one Ryanair diversion
Friday 20 December 2024 19:27 , Simon CalderPassengers are flowing in and out of the UK’s airports smoothly on what for several of them – London Heathrow, Luton, Newcastle and Glasgow – is the busiest in the winter.
Most flights are leaving and arriving largely on time, though some arrivals from the US were a couple of hours behind schedule.
One irregular operation involved a Ryanair flight from Vilnius in Lithuania to the airline’s main base, London Stansted.
The Boeing 737 Max operating flight FR542 took off normally and flew for half-an-hour before turning back and diverting to another Lithuanian city, Kaunus.
The plane stayed on the ground for about 90 minutes then continued its journey to London.
The Independent has contacted Ryanair for comment.
Everything to remember if you’re flying away this Christmas
Friday 20 December 2024 17:30 , Amelia NeathAs millions flock to UK airports this Christmastime and into the New Year, there are several things that will make life much easier ahead of travelling.
Making sure your holiday money is sorted in advance, researching customs rules and making sure you can reach the airport amid train cancellations and planned closures are among some top tips to try and make Christmas air travel less stressful.
For more Christmas holiday tips from Simon Calder, read here:
Northern Rail announce Cgristmas cancellations
Friday 20 December 2024 17:26 , Simon CalderThe state-run rail firm Northern has announced a wide range of cancellations in northwest England for Sunday.
The train operator said: “Recently, we have seen higher levels of cancellations in the North West and for that we are sorry.
“The underlying reason is train crew availability, in particular on Sundays which is contractually outside of the working week.”
On six routes, buses with replace trains. “Journeys will be longer and less frequent,” Northern warns. The routes are:Preston - ColnePreston - Blackpool SouthOxenholme - WindermereStockport - ChesterStockport – CreweWigan North Western – Euxton - Preston
There could also be long gaps on service of up to four hours on other lines, such as Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton.
Serious collision on A38 in Devon
Friday 20 December 2024 17:21 , Barney DavisThe A38 in Devon is closed westbound between the between A380 (Kennford) & B3344 (Chudleigh) due to a serious collision.
Devon & Cornwall Police and emergency services are currently on scene.
Diversion Route
Road users are advised to follow the Solid Circle diversion symbol on road signs.
- Heading south on Devon Expy/A38.
- Use the left 2 lanes to turn slightly left onto A380 (signs for Torquay).
- Take the B3195 exit towards Kingsteignton/Ideford/Combe.
- Continue onto B3195.
- Keep left to stay on B3195.
- At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Strap Lane.
- At the roundabout, continue straight onto Clay Pits Way/B3193.
- Continue onto B3344.
- Turn right to merge onto Devon Expy/A38 towards Plymouth.
Accident on M4 has shut two lanes
Friday 20 December 2024 17:20 , Barney DavisTraffic is building on the M4 westbound at J11 by Reading.
Traffic England is reporting that two of three lanes are closed on the motorway.
They added normal traffic conditions are expected to return at 8.30pm.
25 December – Get out and about
Friday 20 December 2024 17:00 , Simon CalderThe Independent has been investigating European tourist attractions open on Christmas Day.
Many top attractions are open (though sometimes with reduced hours) on 25 December. They include the Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House in Amsterdam; the Abba Museum in Stockholm, and Disneyland Paris.
For animal attractions, you can choose between Lisbon Aquarium and Prague Zoo.
And if you are heading out for the day in the UK, all 664 Wetherspoons pubs will be open – but only those at airports will serve food.
Snow could settle in lower areas this weekend - Met Office
Friday 20 December 2024 16:41 , Barney DavisA cold snap is on the way this weekend, with a lowering of the height at which the air is below freezing 📉
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 20, 2024
Snow will largely be restricted to hills in northern Britain on Saturday, but by Sunday some snow is possible at lower levels, and even some hill snow in the south ❄️ pic.twitter.com/WrtKuqAAwv
Trespasser at Northampton station causing cancellations
Friday 20 December 2024 16:37 , Barney DavisLondon Northwestern Railway announced that trespassers on the railway at Northampton blocked all the lines.
A spokesperson said: “Train services running through this station are returning to normal but some services may still be cancelled or delayed.”
Lymington Branch Line to close for two weeks over Christmas period
Friday 20 December 2024 16:30 , Amelia NeathBuses will replace trains between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier from Sunday 22 December, with trains returning to service on Monday, 6 January.
Network Rail is using the festive period as an opportunity to strengthen the bridge across the Lymington River between Lymington Town and Pier stations, as well as re-railing Lymington Town Level Crossing and improving the Brockenhurst Level Crossing.
Mark Goodall, Wessex Route Director for Network Rail, said: “We appreciate that there is never a good time to close the railway, however the statistics show that fewer people travel during the festive period.
“Once this work is completed, passengers using the branch line will benefit from smoother and more reliable journeys.”
Delays on the M6 as Frantic Friday kicks off
Friday 20 December 2024 16:20 , Barney DavisCongestion is building on the M6 northbound between junctions J12 and J13 just north of Wolverhampton.
There are currently delays of 20 minutes against the expected traffic, Traffic England said.
Pictured: Hay bales caught fire causing tailbacks on the M5
Friday 20 December 2024 16:09 , Barney DavisHaybales caught fire on the back of a lorry adding to the disruption of Frantic Friday on the M5 in Devon.
The singed stable stuff was dumped along the highway to stop the vehicle from going up in flames too.
Along with the emergency response, this has closed two of four southbound lanes between J30 for Exeter and J31 for Shillingford Abbot causing 90 minute delays earlier.
‘Frantic Friday’ is the busiest day of the winter for air travel
Friday 20 December 2024 16:00 , Simon CalderThe UK’s biggest airports are expecting record-breaking passenger numbers over the festive season 2024-25. The Independent predicts these will be the busiest days:
- Heathrow: Friday 20 December (outbound); Friday, Saturday and Sunday 3/4/5 January (inbound).
- Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted: Saturday and Sunday 21/22 December (outbound); Saturday and Sunday 4/5 January (inbound). The intermediate weekend, 28/29 December, will be very busy.
- Luton: Friday 20 December (outbound); Fridays 27 December and 3 January (inbound).
Christmas Day will be busier than ever at major UK airports. Manchester Airport expects a record number of passengers on 25 December, handling 25,000 passengers.
Figures from the fare-comparison website Skyscanner says Saturday 21 December will be the second liveliest at the UK’s airports, with Christmas Eve in third place.
The top five key destinations searched for abroad are all east: Mumbai, Bangkok, Dubai, Jeddah and Delhi, with New York, Barcelona and Istanbul also very popular.
What will the windy weekend look like?
Friday 20 December 2024 15:27 , Amelia NeathThe Met Office says that strong winds may bring disruption to Christmas travel over the weekend.
A cold snap will also see some snow in places on Sunday.
See where the weather will hit below:
Strong winds may bring disruption to Christmas travel and festivities this weekend, with a cold snap bringing some snow in places on Sunday ⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 20, 2024
Find out if the colder weather will persist and give a white Christmas or if the mild theme will return 🎄👇 pic.twitter.com/6US2DHwGZV
Shortage of station staff see Southern trains not serving Beckenham Junction
Friday 20 December 2024 15:00 , Amelia NeathA shortage of station staff at Beckenham Junction means that this station will no longer run Southern trains after 2.50pm today.
Southern services that usually run to Beckenham Junction will terminate at Birkbeck instead, and services that usually start from Beckenham Junction will start at Birkbeck instead.
Beckenham Junction will not be served by Southern and disruptions are expected until the end of the day.
It appears that Southeastern is still operating trains at Beckenham Junction, but the ticket office will be closed until the end of the day.
If you are travelling to/from Beckenham Junction, you can change at Birkbeck and use London Trams to complete your journey instead, Southern recommends.
Signalling issues at Southampton Central means fewer trains
Friday 20 December 2024 14:45 , Amelia NeathA fault with the signalling system at Southampton Central means that fewer trains are able to run on some lines, National Rail said at 1.30pm.
Trains running to and from this station may be delayed, or terminated at and started back from Portsmouth & Southsea and disruption is expected until the end of the day.
What time will the roads be busiest on Friday
Friday 20 December 2024 14:29 , Amelia Neath2The RAC says that the worst time to travel for getaway journeys will be between 2pm and 7pm today, Friday, 20 December, but the best time will be after 7pm, when traffic caused by leisure car trips ease.
The worst time to travel on Saturday will be between 1pm and 6pm, with the RAC advising to travel before 1pm that day, while Sunday’s traffic will be worse between 8am and 11am.
On 23 December and Christmas Eve, the worst time to travel will be the same between 10am and 4pm, with Christmas Eve predicted to be the busiest single day for getaway trips, such as those driving to see family and friends, in the last final flurry before Christmas Day.
Broken down vehicles, accidents and congestion continue to impact motorway traffic Friday afternoon
Friday 20 December 2024 14:21 , Amelia NeathThe M5 J27 southbound access near Halberton/Culmstock is experiencing lane closures due to a broken down vehicle, as of 2.20pm.
The M4 J19 eastbound access near Bristol currently has all lanes closed due to an accident.
The M55 J1 eastbound access near Preston also closed one of its two lanes due to an accident.
One lane is still closed due to a vehicle fire on the M5 southbound between J30 (Exeter / Topsham) and J31 (Matford / Exminster) that occurred earlier in the day.
M48 Severn Bridge to close from 6am Saturday
Friday 20 December 2024 13:54 , Amelia NeathThe M48 Severn Bridge will closed as of 6am on Saturday, 21 December due to forecast strong winds, National Highways has announced.
The road authority said they will monitor the wind speeds and will re-open the bridge when it is safe to do so, however, strong winds are forecast throughout most of Saturday and into Sunday.
There are currently no plans in place to close the M4 Prince of Wales.
When there are expected gusts above 40 knots (46mph), National Highways closes the M48 Severn Bridge to all traffic until wind speeds have dropped.
If wind speeds exceed 70 knots (80mph), both bridges are closed.
Traffic can still travel between England and Wales by following a diversion using the M5, M50, A40 and A449.
Due to forecast strong winds the #M48 #SevernBridge will be closed from 0600 tomorrow (21/12/24).
— The Severn Bridges (@2SevernBridges) December 20, 2024
For advise on driving in #SevereWeather follow the link.https://t.co/peqkiIe5lB#WeatherReady pic.twitter.com/o3gcC0J2tZ
Severe congestion and lane closures across multiple motorways ahead of Friday rush hour
Friday 20 December 2024 13:38 , Amelia NeathWith the busiest day for road traffic in the Christmas period here, traffic on the roads is already starting to feel congested in places and lanes are also being closed.
There is a lane closed on the M5 southbound between J30 near Exeter/ Topsham and J31 near Matford / Exminster due to a vehicle fire, with delays of one and a half hours against expected traffic, Traffic England says.
M40 northbound within J1A before M25 J16 anti-clockwise access near Hockley Heath also has lane closures due to a vehicle being overturned.
The M55 has also experienced a road traffic collision at the eastbound entry slip at J1, causing a lane to be closed.
Incidents on the motorway will cause varying delays for traffic, while severe congestion is also being found across many sections of different motorways.
Met Office issues weather update: Strong winds in Scotland
Friday 20 December 2024 13:29 , Amelia NeathRain and potentially disruptive strong winds are expected to sweep across large swathes of the UK on Saturday, weather that has the potential to cause delays to public transport and some disruption to the road network.
National severe weather warnings for wind have been put in place for both Saturday and Sunday.
“We have slightly tweaked our weather warnings as the peak winds have now shifted slightly north,” the Met Office wrote on Friday. “
“The strongest winds are expected across the far north of Scotland on Saturday afternoon and evening, with the potential for gusts in excess of 80 mph in coastal districts including Orkney.”
As for the entire country, “strong winds will be more widespread on Sunday, with gusts of 50-60 mph expected quite widely. Around some exposed coasts and hills, gusts of 60 to 70 mph are possible, especially in the north and west.
“In addition, squally showers are likely with some hail and thunder possible in places. A Yellow National Severe Weather Warning is in place, covering a large swathe of the UK.”
⚠️Yellow weather warnings UPDATED⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 20, 2024
Strong winds may bring disruption to many parts of the UK this weekend. Here's a look at the warnings in place on Saturday and Sunday 👇
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware⚠️ pic.twitter.com/8AaMwMs7VY
Kentish Town Tube station to re-open on 23 December just before Christmas after an 18-month closure
Friday 20 December 2024 13:00 , Amelia NeathAfter 18 months of closure, the Kentish Town Tube station is due to be up and running on 23 December.
While Thameslink services have been calling at the railway station, passengers have not been able to change for the London Underground there since its closure in June 2023.
Major upgrades have been carried out to the station, such as the replacement of the station’s 26-year-old escalators and replacing the ticket hall’s floor and ceiling.
The station won’t be open for long, however, as London’s public transport closes for Christmas Day.
There will be no service on the majority of public transport in London on Christmas Day and no services on some parts of the network on Boxing Day, including the Elizabeth line.
Train passengers in the west urged to check before they travel over Christmas
Friday 20 December 2024 12:30 , Amelia NeathNetwork Rail is using the festive period to carry out a series of improvements and enhancements to the railways, however, this will impact train services over Christmas.
No services will call at London Paddington between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 December inclusive. Some long-distance services will instead be diverted to/from London Euston, with the majority of trains starting/stopping at Reading and Ealing Broadway.
Those who are aiming for central London can change at Ealing Broadway and take a London Underground service into the city, using either the District or Central lines.
Services that run through Westbury will also be impacted. From Friday 27 December to Thursday 23 January inclusive, the railway through Westbury, as well as between Westbury and Salisbury, Wiltshire will be closed and trains will be diverted or replaced by buses.
South West Main Line engineering works to severely impact services over the Christmas period
Friday 20 December 2024 12:00 , Amelia Neath2From Monday 23 December 2024 until Monday 6 January 2025, train services will be revised while Network Rail carries out engineering works to the railway at Brookwood, between Farnborough and Woking.
A series of upgrades to the railways are being put in place, such as adding new track panels, upgrading track circuits and installing new switches, as well as carrying out work to strengthen the embankments.
As a result, South Western Railway services will be altered or diverted and some journeys will be significantly longer.
Rail replacement buses will be in place for various routes including Farnborough to Woking and journeys between London Waterloo and Southampton Central, Poole and Weymouth will be diverted via Guildford, taking approximately 45 minutes longer.
There will be no direct services between London Waterloo, Salisbury and Exeter St Davids. Services from Ascot to Aldershot will be changed to run earlier between Camberley and Aldershot between Monday 16 December and Saturday 21 December.
Services between London Waterloo and Alton, Guildford and Farnham, and London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour via Basingstoke will also be affected.
Christmas rail closedown – the details
Friday 20 December 2024 11:30 , Simon CalderTrains will start to go home to their depots for Christmas from late afternoon on 24 December onwards, with services on most routes shutting down early. Last direct trains on key intercity routes on Christmas Eve are as follows:
- London King’s Cross-Edinburgh: 5.30pm/Edinburgh-London King’s Cross: 4.13pm
- London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly: 5.55pm/Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston: 6.13pm
- London Paddington-Cardiff Central: 7.48pm/Cardiff Central-London Paddington: 8.18pm
- London Victoria-Gatwick Airport: 8.45pm/Gatwick Airport-London Victoria: 7.32pm
- Bristol Temple Meads-Leeds: 4.35pm/Leeds-Bristol Temple Meads: 4.11pm
- Glasgow Queen Street-Aberdeen: 6.41pm/Aberdeen-Glasgow Queen Street: 6.36pm
All Caledonian Sleeper services are cancelled until 27 December.
On Christmas Day, no passenger trains will run on any UK rail line.
On Boxing Day, almost all UK routes will have no rail service. Rare exceptions include:
- London Victoria-Gatwick Airport-Brighton: hourly services from 8.30am to 8.30pm.
- Tottenham Hale-Stansted Airport: half-hourly services from 6.45am to 11.15pm. Tottenham Hale is on the Victoria Line of the London Underground, which will be running.
- Merseyrail (local network around Liverpool): 9am-6pm, not all lines/stations. “Additional services will be available between Liverpool and Aintree to support those attending the Boxing Day races,” the train operator says.
Eurostar will run a full service from London St Pancras International to Paris (15 trains each way) and Brussels (eight trains each way).
Traffic expected to peak today
Friday 20 December 2024 11:00 , Simon CalderAs Christmas falls mid-week this year, the RAC predicts there will be an extended period of “pre-Christmas panic” on the roads.
Friday 20 December is set to be the busiest day of the winter on motorways and trunk roads according to rival motoring organisation the AA, which predicts a record 23.7 million car journeys. The AA warns Saturday 21 and Monday 23 December will also be extremely busy, with 22.7 million on each day. The RAC, meanwhile, predicts 1-6pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Monday will be the busiest times.
The AA has issued amber warnings for 20, 21 and 23 December, “due to the volume of congestion predicted”.
While most of those journeys are expected to be under 50 miles, The Independent has analysed AA figures to calculate that one in seven motorists plans to drive more than 100 miles on “frantic Friday”.
The AA predicts the heaviest traffic on Friday 20 December to be on these roads:
- M25 western section, particularly between the M3 and M4 interchanges, including Heathrow Airport; The RAC warns of congestion on the stretch all the way from the M1 to the M23 (Gatwick and Brighton).
- M4 heading west from London towards Bristol, as well as around Newport and Cardiff.
- A34 between Newbury and Oxford.
- M27 in Hampshire from Southampton to Portsmouth.
- M6 in the West Midlands between junction 4 (M42) and junction 11 (Wolverhampton), especially at the M5 interchange.
- A38 in Somerset, with particular pressure around Bristol airport.
In addition, the RAC warns the M53 from Chester to Liverpool will be particularly hard hit on Friday during the evening rush hour.
Lane closures on motorways caused by accidents and vehicle fires
Friday 20 December 2024 10:59 , Amelia NeathAs of 10.50am Friday morning, there are three of four lanes closed on the M25 clockwise between J2 and J3 near Swanley due to an accident, causing congestion on the road.
On the M5 southbound between J30 near Exeter / Topsham and J31 near Matford / Exminster lanes have also been closed due to a vehicle fire.
There is also a lane closure on the M62 J33 eastbound near Pontefract and Knottingley due to a broken-down vehicle.
Congestion is also hitting other areas of the network, such as M42 northbound between J6 near Birmingham Airport.
Lane closures start on busiest Christmas travel day
Friday 20 December 2024 10:01 , Amelia Neath2Today, Friday December 20 is expected to see the most cars on the road, with an estimated 23.7 million drivers planning a trip.
As of 10am, there are lane closures on M3 westbound within J2, M40 northbound between J8A and J9, M62 J36 westbound exist, M62 J21 westbound exit and M65 eastbound within J3.
There is also a hard shoulder closed on M6 southbound between J7 and J6.
Accidents, broken down vehicles, vehicle recovers and lane management are among the causes of lane closures.
Rail strikes on the horizon
Friday 20 December 2024 10:00 , Simon CalderLooking ahead to New Year’s Eve, Rail strikes are back with a vengeance. Passengers on Avanti West Coast face months of disruption, starting on 31 December and continuing until the late May bank holiday weekend.
Train managers working for the West Coast main line operator and who belong to the RMT union will walk out on New Year’s Eve, Thursday 2 January and then every Sunday between 12 January and 25 May.
The plan is to strike on a total of 21 days, disrupting the plans of up to 100,000 passengers for each of the chosen dates.
The network covers around 700 miles of track. It centres on the West Coast main line to and from London Euston.
The main cities served are:
- Birmingham
- Manchester
- Liverpool
- Glasgow
Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent, Preston, Carlisle and Edinburgh are among the other cities on the network.
In addition, Avanti West Coast runs along the North Wales coast, connecting Crewe with the port of Holyhead. The dispute is about payments to train managers for working on their rest days.
Train managers have been offered around £250 for each eight-hour shift worked on a rest day, or £300 at weekends. The union says Avanti senior managers working as stand-in train managers earn upwards of £300. Train drivers employed by Avanti earn a flat £600 for working on a day off.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, said: “Our members have had enough, and this strike action demonstrates their determination to win a fair deal.
“It’s time for Avanti to put forward serious proposals that reflect the vital contribution of our train managers to the railway.”
Avanti West Coast says: “This strike action will cause significant disruption to our customers making journeys on the West Coast Main Line over an extended period.
“We’re disappointed our train managers who are RMT members have voted to decline the very reasonable, revised offer made to them to resolve the rest day working dispute and avoid inconveniencing our customers.
“We remain open to working with the RMT to resolve the dispute.”
Read more here:
When are the next train strikes? How industrial action will affect passengers
Frantic Friday in the skies
Friday 20 December 2024 09:30 , Simon CalderFriday 20 December is projected to be the busiest day overall this season for UK flight departures, with 2,807 departures alone – equating to over 500,000 departing seats, according to the aviation data service Cirium.
The most popular international destinations for UK departures are Amsterdam, Dublin, Geneva, Paris CDG and Tenerife South. To Amsterdam there will be more than 100 flights a day on average between 20 December and 2 January.
Heathrow airport is scheduled to see the largest number of departures over the festive period (8,741), followed by Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted and Edinburgh.
Piccadilly line partly closed on Friday morning during London rush hour
Friday 20 December 2024 09:23 , Amelia NeathAs London commuters make their way into work in the final days before Christmas, some were hit with closures on the Piccadilly line impacting their journeys.
There is no service between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge on Friday morning due to a shortage of Piccadilly line trains. The lack of trains is the result of damage caused by leaf fall, which Transport for London (TfL) staff are working to fix.
TfL advises passengers to use the Metropolitan line to complete their journeys
Wind warnings of up to 85mph as Met Office cautions Christmas holiday drivers
Friday 20 December 2024 09:00 , Amelia Neath2The UK is set to see rain and disruptive winds of up to 85mph this weekend as the Met Office issues weather warnings for Christmas holiday drivers.
Yellow wind warnings have been released for the weekend, with one covering Scotland, much of Northern Ireland, north Wales and north-west England between 7am and midnight on Saturday.
Another warning is in place between midnight and 9pm on Sunday, covering Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and all of western England.
Winds of up to 85mph could hit coastal areas across northern Scotland on Saturday afternoon and evening, with more widespread gusts of 50 to 60mph on Sunday.
Jabed Ahmed has more:
Met Office issues weather warnings across UK as Christmas holidays begin
RAC urges drivers to avoid roads today 2pm-7pm
Friday 20 December 2024 08:30 , Annabel GrossmanNearly 3 million trips are predicted to take place on the roads today December 20, with a “gridlock period” expected in late afternoon and early evening.
The RAC recommends festive commuters avoid major routes during these hours. Queues of more than 45 minutes are expected on the M3 between Surrey and Hampshire, on the M25 in west London, and the M1 near Watford.
Further north, the M53 northbound from Chester to Liverpool will be worst affected by delays during home-time traffic.
Amber traffic warnings have been issued by the AA for today through to Sunday.
Simon Calder offers last-minute escapes
Friday 20 December 2024 08:00 , Simon CalderYou can still get away at a reasonable price this side of Christmas. The cheapest flight-plus-accommodation deal I have found for a week, flying away on 24 December, is just £180 per person in a four-star hotel. Per hour, that’s basically one guinea (ask an elderly relative). Spoiler alert: the deal, from easyJet Holidays, may not be the trip of your dreams. You fly on 24 December from Birmingham all the way to, er, Glasgow, and check in at the Doubletree by Hilton on the northern edge of the city centre. That’s about 200 miles closer to the North Pole than the West Midlands. And you will be flying back just as Scotland’s Hogmanay celebrations get under way on 31 December.
If a southbound trip is more enticing, British Airways Holidays has a three-night Yuletide break on the Côte d’Azur, out on Christmas Eve and back on 27 December, for £191 per person. This includes flights from London Heathrow to Nice and a stay at the three-star So’Co boutique property (which describes itself as “a subtle blend of vintage and contemporary”) and 63kg of baggage (physical, not emotional). When you arrive you will also discover the UK is an outlier in locking down on 25 December. Plenty of trains shuttle up and down the Riviera, allowing you to visit Antibes and Cannes on Christmas Day should whim or appetite take you there.
The best airfare bargain for the last week of the year, though, is Jet2 from Edinburgh to Lanzarote for an absurdly low £92 return, flying out on Christmas Eve and back to the Scottish capital on New Year’s Eve (probably crossing flightpaths with those folks who opted for the Birmingham to Glasgow adventure). How can a 3,900-mile round trip on a quality airline be so darned cheap? Because accommodation on the islands is in short supply, and therefore demand for seat-only deals is weak. This could be the year for Christmas camping in the Canaries.
How to ensure you Christmas flight goes smoothly
Friday 20 December 2024 05:30 , Annabel GrossmanThe last thing anyone wants is to miss a flight just before Christmas – so The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder has pulled together some advice for stress-free travel during the festive period.
His key points are:
- Sort out your holiday money in advance
- Research the customs rules for your destination
- Check that you can reach the airport
- Allow for long security queues
- Wrap presents after security
- Leave Christmas crackers out
- Avoid too much celebratory booze
Read Simon Calder’s full guide on stress-free festive travel:
Will train strikes affect the Christmas period?
Friday 20 December 2024 03:30 , Annabel GrossmanThis week Avanti West Coast announced fresh strikes that will take place in the final hours of 2024 continuing until the late May bank holiday weekend.
The first will take place towards the end of the festive period on December 31 meaning New Year’s Eve revellers may need to seek alternative forms of transport. Further strikes are then planned for Thursday 2 January and then every Sunday between 12 January and 25 May.
Avanti West Coast centres on the West Coast main line to and from London Euston, and serves a number of main cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow.
On most strike days, the company operates a skeleton service. On the core routes linking London with Birmingham and Manchester, typically one train an hour will run – compared with the normal three-per-hour schedule.
Hourly trains will also run to Liverpool via Crewe (except on 2 January, when the line through Crewe is closed), with less frequent services via Preston and Carlisle to Glasgow.
Read Simon Calder’s full breakdown of the train strikes here:
When are the next train strikes? How industrial action will affect passengers
An extended period of ‘pre-Christmas panic’ expected this year
Friday 20 December 2024 01:30 , Amelia NeathAs Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year, the RAC predicts there will be an extended period of “pre-Christmas panic” on the roads as people travel up and down the motorways and roads ahead of the festive celebrations.
5.7m extra trips are expected to be taken this Wednesday and Thursday alone. The peak times are 1pm-6pm on 18 December and 8am-6pm the following day, the RAC says.
Around 29.3 million Christmas journeys will take place between Wednesday and 24 December, the RAC has estimated, with nearly half taking place on the pre-Christmas weekend alone.
Read more from Albert Toth:
Christmas travel: Worst times for driving during ‘record getaway’ revealed
This December to be busiest for air travel since the pandemic
Thursday 19 December 2024 23:30 , Amelia NeathThe UK Civil Aviation Authority says that regulator data trends suggest airports will be even busier this month than the almost 11 million passengers who jetted off in December 2023, with the demand for flights expected to get back to pre-pandemic levels.
The Independent predicts these will be the busiest days:
- Heathrow: Friday 20 December (outbound); Friday, Saturday and Sunday 3/4/5 January (inbound).
- Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted: Saturday and Sunday 21/22 December (outbound); Saturday and Sunday 4/5 January (inbound). The intermediate weekend, 28/29 December, will be very busy.
- Luton: Friday 20 December (outbound); Fridays 27 December and 3 January (inbound).
Expect spray on the roads and blustery winds during Friday traffic, Met Office says
Thursday 19 December 2024 21:30 , Amelia NeathFriday, 20 December, especially the evening rush hour, is expected to be one of the busiest times for Christmas travel on the UK’s roads and motorways.
The AA predicts that Friday will see a record 23.7 million car journeys on motorways and trunk roads.
The Met Office said that drivers should prepare for spray on the roads at times with some blustery winds in places too.
Millions of journeys will take place over the coming days according to @TheRAC_UK as the #Christmas getaway begins 🚗
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 19, 2024
One of the busiest travel periods will be through Friday evening's rush hour. Prepare for spray on the roads at times with some blustery winds in places too. pic.twitter.com/y23r2zgZYp
How busy will the roads be this Christmas?
Thursday 19 December 2024 17:30 , Amelia NeathThe RAC predicts there will be an extended period of “pre-Christmas panic” on the roads, with 5.7m extra trips being taken this Wednesday and Thursday alone.
The peak times are 1pm-6pm on 18 December and 8am-6pm the following day.
However, Friday 20 December is set to be the busiest day of the winter on motorways and trunk roads according to rival motoring organisation the AA, which predicts a record 23.7 million car journeys.
The organisation warns Saturday 21 and Monday 23 December will also be extremely busy, with 22.7 million on each day. The RAC, meanwhile, predicts 1-6pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm on Monday will be the busiest times.
The Independent has analysed AA figures to calculate that one in seven motorists plans to drive more than 100 miles on “frantic Friday”, 20 December.
Find out more about Christmas road congestion here:
How to avoid travel chaos on road and rail this Christmas and New Year
Rail industry warns passengers to plan ahead over the Christmas period
Thursday 19 December 2024 17:00 , Amelia NeathPassengers have been warned to plan their journeys in advance as stations and services are likely to be busy in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year, with engineering work also affecting trains.
National Rail says there could be some changes to the advertised timetables, so passengers are strongly advised to check journey planners before travel and book tickets in advance wherever possible.
Due to engineering works and projects, some services will be disrupted:
- London Liverpool Street will be closed from Wednesday 25 December with services resuming on Thursday 2 January, causing various services to be redirected or terminated elsewhere.
- London Paddington also will close for three days from 27 to 29 December.
- There will be no East Midlands trains running between St Pancras and Bedford and no Thameslink services between St Pancras and Harpenden between 21 and 29 December.
- No trains will pass through Crewe on 27 December. There will be no direct service to Liverpool and there will be a reduced service to Manchester from 28 December until 3 January.
- There will be no services between both Royston/Audley End and Cambridge/Cambridge North from Wednesday 25 December to Sunday 5 January
- South Western Railway services will be altered or diverted due to engineering between Farnborough and Woking from 23 December until 5 January.
More information can be found on the Network Rail website.
As usual, train services throughout the UK will finish earlier than normal on 24 December, and there will be no National Rail services on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day, most train operators will not be running any trains, but a small number of operators will be running limited services.
Wild weather predicted for most of UK over coming weekend
Thursday 19 December 2024 16:30 , Simon Calder
On Saturday 21 December from 7am to midnight, the Met Office has yellow weather warnings for strong winds in place for much of the northern UK.
The warnings cover all of Scotland (apart from Shetland), northern England west of the Pennines (including Manchester airport), the North Wales coast and the northern half of Northern Ireland.
The Met Office says for western Scotland: “Very strong westerly winds are expected to develop through the course of Saturday in association with a deep area of low pressure, with gusts of 65-75 mph expected.
There is a small chance that gusts in excess of 80 mph could occur across this region.
“Dangerous coastal conditions can be expected too, with large waves an additional hazard, especially in respect to causeways.”
On Sunday, the warning changes to cover the whole of the west of the UK – west of a line through Leeds, Birmingham and Southampton.
From midnight to 9pm on Sunday, prospective travellers are warned: “A prolonged period of strong winds will likely lead to some disruption over the weekend, especially to travel.
“Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely.
“It’s likely that some coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves.
“Probably some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer.”
Latest dimension of Christmas getaway disruption: smog in Sarajevo
Thursday 19 December 2024 16:00 , Simon CalderMany flights have been grounded in Bosnia‘s capital, Sarajevo, as toxic air engulfed the city.
The public were told to stay indoors as protection against a thick blanket of smog.
Sarajevo and other major cities in the Balkans are traditionally very polluted during winter months as they rely on coal and wood for heating.
Some flights to Sarajevo diverted, eg to Banja Luka, and many others were cancelled, but Wizz Air got in from Luton this morning.
Read the latest here:
Air fares to Dublin soar with ferry option closed
Thursday 19 December 2024 15:30 , Simon CalderWith daily eight superferry departures from Holyhead to Dublin because of damage at the Welsh port, pressure on other forms of transport is leading to soaring fares.
Friday’s early evening departure on Ryanair from London Gatwick to Dublin, leaving at 5.45pm is currently priced at £501 one-way without baggage.
On Friday’s 6.30pm British Airways departure from Heathrow to the Irish capital, one seat remains at £660. This is for business class, and includes 64kg of checked baggage.
From Bristol to Dublin on Aer Lingus, tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday are all priced at around £200 for a 206-mile hop.
Main ferry link between Ireland and Britain suspended over Christmas period
Thursday 19 December 2024 15:00 , Simon CalderThe main ferry link between Great Britain and Ireland, from Holyhead to Dublin, will remain suspended throughout the festive season and into the new year.
The closure began on 8 December after the port of Holyhead suffered damage during Storm Darragh.
The weeks-long shutdown of the link between Holyhead and Dublin will wreck the plans of tens of thousands of Christmas travellers hoping to cross the Irish Sea by ferry, as well as disrupting the supply chain of goods across the Irish Sea.
A spokesperson for Holyhead Port said: “We understand the closure of the ferry terminals has had a significant impact on trade, passengers and port customers. We are sorry for the disruption this has caused. The safety of our colleagues and customers is our first priority and we will only permit ferry services to recommence once we are sure it is safe to do so.”
Normally Stena Line and Irish Ferries have four daily ferries each way between the Anglesey and the Irish capital. Hundreds of motorists and foot passengers use the link each day.
Air fares from the UK to Dublin have soared, with Ryanair’s hour-long hop from London Gatwick to the Irish capital currently selling at £501 for the 5.45pm departure on Friday 20 December.
Read more here:
Holyhead ferry port linking UK to Ireland to remain closed until mid-January
Christmas travel begins in chaos as Stansted Express shuts down due to cable theft
Thursday 19 December 2024 14:30 , Simon CalderThe great Christmas getaway descended into chaos for thousands of passengers hoping to fly from London Stansted airport on Thursday.
In the early hours, thieves stole signalling and power cables from the Stansted Express rail line in Hertfordshire. The tracks were closed to trains.
While Network Rail engineers worked to repair the damage, the first 17 departures of the airport express train were cancelled.
Stansted airport is expecting around 40,000 departing passengers on Thursday, of whom about a quarter would plan to use the train.
Network Rail says: “Cable theft costs us millions of pounds each year. The total cost to the economy – taking into account the impact of freight delays to power stations and supermarkets, and on passengers who miss appointments or have their day ruined – is even higher.”
A spokesperson for Ryanair, Stansted’s biggest airline, said: “It is each passenger’s responsibility to ensure they present at the boarding gate on time for their flight.”If not: “They can pay a Missed Departure Fee [£100] to move onto the next available flight.”
Travel insurance may cover extra costs.
Passengers travelling between London and Gatwick airport also encountered problems on Thursday morning due to what National Rail called “a fault with the signalling system”.
All southbound trains to the Sussex airport until around 9.30am were delayed.
Read more here:
Chaotic start to Christmas getaway as Stansted Express shuts
