A challenging Good Friday awaits UK drivers and rail passengers as the Easter weekend coincides with the start of school holidays, major engineering works, and unpredictable weather.
With over 14 million leisure trips planned, drivers should brace for significant delays. The influx of vehicles may worsen due to major railway closures and strikes affecting return train journeys next week. The RAC warns that some car trips could take twice as long as usual, given the school breaks and increased holiday traffic.
Train services from London Euston to cities such as Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, and Glasgow will be suspended from Friday to Monday.
Passengers will be diverted to rail replacement buses heading to Milton Keynes. The peak of traffic congestion is anticipated to start on Thursday afternoon, especially in the south-east after 2 pm, when many schools close early.
Railway closures and weather disruptions add to the travel challenges this Easter weekend.The RAC and Inrix predict the worst traffic jams will occur between 4 pm and 5 pm on the western M25, potentially extending travel times from one hour to over two hours. Good Friday is expected to see the heaviest car travel, with delays peaking between 11 am and 3 pm. Popular routes like the M5 southbound and the M3 could experience doubled journey times.
The weather could complicate travel plans further, with the Met Office forecasting strong winds and heavy rain on Thursday afternoon, particularly affecting southern England. RAC’s Alice Simpson advises drivers to adjust speeds and maintain extra stopping distances, suggesting those who travel later on Thursday or early on Good Friday might face fewer delays.
Network Rail warns of disruptions due to £90 million in engineering works affecting the west coast mainline, as well as areas around Glasgow and Huddersfield. Additionally, rolling rail strikes from April 5-8 by the Aslef union will disrupt long-distance trains, impacting companies like Avanti West Coast and GWR.
Despite travel challenges, VisitEngland reports about 11 million people planning overnight Easter trips, boosting the economy by approximately £3.2 billion.
Meanwhile, 2 million travelers are heading abroad, with popular destinations including the Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, and Turkey. The Port of Dover anticipates delays due to increased French border checks, with around 20,000 cars expected to pass through this weekend.