Warning issued over Christmas travel amid record traffic, strikes and airport chaos
This Christmas could be a nightmare across British motorways, train lines and airports.
Drivers planning holiday getaways have been warned to expect long traffic jams because of record levels, with December 20 expected to be the busiest day on the roads.
The AA said an estimated 23.7 million drivers are planning a trip – more than the busiest day on record in 2010.
The joint second-worst days for traffic jams over the 2024 festive period are expected to be Saturday, December 21, and Monday, December 23, each with 22.7 million drivers on the road.
Amber traffic warnings have already been issued ahead of December 20, 21 and 23.
What roads have been identified as traffic hotspots this Christmas?
– The M4/M5 interchange near Bristol
– The M25 near Heathrow airport, west London
– The M5/M6 interchange near Birmingham
– The M60 near the Trafford Centre, Manchester
– The M1 near Meadowhall, Sheffield
The AA said Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday may help spread festive journeys this year, but could also mean more days of long delays as many people will embark on a getaway from work on Friday, December 20 followed by last-minute shopping trips and visits to friends and family.
Drivers are being advised to pack essentials such as warm clothing, food, water and a fully-charged phone in case their journey takes longer than expected.
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are expected to be the quietest days on the roads.
Although December 25 usually has the fewest breakdowns on any day in a year, the AA said it will still have patrols available nationwide.
It came to the aid of 2,400 members on Christmas Day 2023.
What train strikes are there in December 2024?
London Liverpool Street station will be closed from Christmas Day until January 2, and no trains will call at London Paddington between Friday, December 27 and Sunday, December 29.
There will be no direct services between Crewe and Liverpool – and a reduced service between Crewe and Manchester – from Saturday, December 28 until Friday, January 3.
Services in the Cambridge area will be disrupted between Friday, December 27 and Sunday, January 5, affecting CrossCountry, Greater Anglia, Great Northern and Thameslink.
What UK airport is the busiest over Christmas?
Heathrow Airport said it is preparing for its busiest Christmas Day of travel, with the number of passengers travelling through its terminals on December 25 expected to be 21% higher than last year.
It also predicts that passenger numbers for the month as a whole will exceed the previous record of 6.7 million in 2023.
The airport made the forecast after confirming it served 6.5 million passengers last month.
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