As the Easter holidays approach, UK travelers face widespread disruptions across multiple transport sectors, with severe delays anticipated on roads, railways, and flights.
The Easter break officially began for many schools on Friday, April 4, with most students enjoying time off through Easter Monday, April 21. However, the holiday period is set to bring significant travel challenges for commuters and holidaymakers alike, with delays expected on key intercity routes, rail services, and flights.
Road Traffic Chaos
The period from Friday, April 11, to Sunday, April 13, is expected to see the heaviest traffic of the holiday, particularly on routes leading to and from the Channel ports. Key congestion points include Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone. Motorways and main routes leading to popular destinations across the UK will also experience severe delays.
The M6, M5, A303, and M25 are anticipated to be the busiest roads. The M6, particularly north of Birmingham, will be clogged as travelers head to Blackpool and the Lake District. Meanwhile, the M5 from Birmingham to Bristol and Exeter, as well as the A303 through Wiltshire, are also expected to be heavily congested. Motorists traveling on the M25, especially between the M23 and M40 junctions and the Dartford Crossing, should brace for longer journeys.
RAC spokesperson Alice Simpson has advised drivers to ensure their vehicles are well-maintained to avoid breakdowns. “Long delays increase fuel consumption and strain vehicle components, which can lead to breakdowns and overheating,” she said.
Rail Services Disruptions
Train services are also set to be heavily affected during the Easter period, with multiple engineering works planned across the country. The weekend of April 12-13 will see Luton Airport cut off by rail, as no East Midlands Railway or Thameslink trains will operate between London St Pancras and Bedford. Replacement buses will be in service from Hitchin to Bedford.
Several major routes will be closed for Network Rail’s engineering works over Easter. The West Coast Main Line, connecting London Euston to destinations such as the West Midlands, northwest England, North Wales, and southern Scotland, will be severely impacted from April 19 to 21. Similarly, services from London to Milton Keynes will experience disruptions, with buses replacing trains.
Further north, track replacement work will close the West Coast Main Line from Carlisle to Scotland, impacting the Caledonian Sleeper service. The Chiltern Railways line between London Marylebone and Aylesbury will also be closed due to ongoing HS2 construction.
London Paddington will see reduced capacity, and journeys to Reading and beyond will be affected by closures on two of the four lines to the west. Meanwhile, London Victoria will see part of its station closed, particularly impacting Southeastern services to Kent.
Flight Delays Amid Staff Shortages
Airlines are warning travelers to brace for some of the most significant flight delays in 25 years. Shortages of air traffic control staff across Europe are expected to cause widespread congestion in the skies. Ryanair has already reported over 200,000 delayed flights in the past year, with France and Spain being the worst affected.
UK-based easyJet anticipates its busiest day of the Easter holiday on Good Friday, April 18, with more than 1,100 flights expected to carry up to 145,000 passengers. The airline’s busiest destinations are Dalaman, Turkey, and the Spanish islands of Mallorca and Tenerife.
Ferry Services: Delays Likely at Dover
Ferry travel from the UK to France, particularly through Dover, is expected to face significant delays due to high volumes of traffic. Passengers will experience passport checks before boarding, adding to the congestion.
Doug Bannister, CEO of the Port of Dover, stated that the port has implemented new measures to manage the flow of travelers, including a program to pre-register school trips to expedite border processing. Despite these efforts, congestion is expected, particularly during peak travel times such as April 12-13 and after Easter.
Additionally, visitors to the UK from the European Union will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) permit, which may lead to delays at UK Border Control in French ports, as passengers unfamiliar with the requirement seek to apply on the spot.
Rail Strikes in France
Travelers heading to France should also be aware of potential rail disruptions, as the SudRail union has threatened strike action from April 17 to June 2. The strike, focused on train conductors, could affect services across the SNCF network, particularly around the Easter holiday period.
Conclusion
With disruptions expected on multiple fronts, travelers are advised to plan ahead, monitor updates from transport authorities, and allow extra time for their journeys. Whether traveling by road, rail, air, or ferry, patience will be key as Easter holiday traffic and engineering works combine to create a challenging travel landscape.
