Expect Travel Disruption in UK This Weekend

As the bank holiday weekend approaches, travelers are bracing for significant disruptions across roads, railways, and airports, with over 2 million people anticipated to travel. According to transport analytics firm Inrix, the heaviest road traffic is expected on Friday from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. The RAC estimates that 19.2 million people will embark on leisure trips, marking the highest figure since 2015. Areas surrounding the Creamfields festival in Cheshire are predicted to experience severe congestion, alongside heavy traffic for the Leeds and Reading festivals. In an effort to alleviate congestion, National Highways has lifted over 500 miles of roadworks from Friday to Tuesday. The Port of Dover is preparing for a busy weekend, expecting more than 20,000 cars, although delays may occur due to reduced processing areas linked to new EU entry regulations. Doug Bannister, the port's CEO, cautioned that waiting times could be longer than usual. Rail travelers heading north from London King’s Cross will face disruptions, with no long-distance services operating from Saturday night to Monday morning due to engineering works. A reduced timetable will also affect services between Euston and Milton Keynes, while track repairs will impact the Stoke-on-Trent area. Train bookings have surged by 182% compared to last August bank holiday, with popular routes including London to Manchester and Edinburgh. Airports are on high alert to avoid a repeat of last year’s travel chaos, which saw over 700,000 passengers affected by a flight planning system glitch. The travel organization Abta estimates that more than 2 million people will travel abroad from Friday to Monday, with Friday being the peak day for departures.