Traffic chaos to hit Christmas getaway weekend as 80mph wind weather warnings issued

Weather warnings will kick in for parts of the UK on Saturday morning as millions more people get away for Christmas.

Roads and public transport could be disrupted by strong winds as the Met Office forecast a wet and windy weekend for many.

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.

Sunday’s warning will also include London, the South East, the South West, the East Midlands, the 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.

KEY POINTS

• 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?

Where will the worst traffic jams be?

00:01 , Barney Davis

The 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 Neath

Heathrow 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 Ross

Weather 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 Neath

As 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 Neath

Travel 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 Calder

Passengers 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 Neath

As 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:

Everything to remember if you’re flying this Christmas

Northern Rail announce Cgristmas cancellations

Friday 20 December 2024 17:26 , Simon Calder

The 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 Davis

The 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.

• 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.

• Turn right to merge onto Devon Expy/A38 towards Plymouth.

Accident on M4 has shut two lanes

Friday 20 December 2024 17:20 , Barney Davis

Traffic 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 Calder

The 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 Davis

Trespasser at Northampton station causing cancellations

Friday 20 December 2024 16:37 , Barney Davis

London 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 Neath

Buses 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 Davis

Congestion 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 Davis

Haybales 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 Calder

The 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 Neath

The 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:

Shortage of station staff see Southern trains not serving Beckenham Junction

Friday 20 December 2024 15:00 , Amelia Neath

A 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 Neath

A 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 Neath2

The 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 Neath

The 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 Neath

The 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.

Severe congestion and lane closures across multiple motorways ahead of Friday rush hour

Friday 20 December 2024 13:38 , Amelia Neath

With 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 Neath

Rain 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.”

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 Neath

After 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 Neath

Network 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 Neath2

From 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 Calder

Trains 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 Calder

As 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 Neath

As 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 Neath2

Today, 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 Calder

Looking 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:

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 Calder

Friday 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 Neath

As 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 Neath2

The 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 Grossman

Nearly 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 Calder

You 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 Grossman

The 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:

Everything to remember if you’re flying this Christmas

Will train strikes affect the Christmas period?

Friday 20 December 2024 03:30 , Annabel Grossman

This 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 Neath

As 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 Neath

The 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 Neath

Friday, 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.

How busy will the roads be this Christmas?

Thursday 19 December 2024 17:30 , Amelia Neath

The 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 Neath

Passengers 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 Calder

Many 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:

Flights grounded as toxic smog blankets European capital

Air fares to Dublin soar with ferry option closed

Thursday 19 December 2024 15:30 , Simon Calder

With 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 Calder

The 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 Calder

The 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