Bank holiday road delays threaten to compound UK’s travel woes
Britain’s holidaymakers face further road travel woes as the four-day bank holiday gets under way, adding to the ongoing disruption at airports and some railway stations.
More than 19 million drivers are expected to take to the roads over the platinum jubilee weekend, according to a survey by the AA.
Andy Marchant, traffic expert at location technology firm TomTom, warned that motorists could expect “high levels of congestion” as people ttook to the roads amid celebrations for the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
City of London police warned of road closures in the capital from Thursday evening until Friday afternoon due to the royals attending a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral. Meanwhile jubilee street parties, the majority of which are expected to take place on Sunday, will see many routes closed.
The pressure on the roads comes as the UK’s airports have struggled to cope with a spike in demand during half-term, with tourists hit by lengthy queues and flight cancellations.
On Wednesday, British Airways and easyJet cancelled more than 150 flights to and from the UK, while passengers have also faced long waits at transport hubs in Europe and the US.
The Eurostar, which has suffered from severe delays this week, warned on Thursday morning that customers could expect further disruption after a fatality on the tracks in northern France.
In a statement on social media, the rail operator wrote: “Please arrive at the station at the time stated on your ticket. If you miss your onward connection please speak to a member of our staff. We apologise for the impact this may have on your plans.”
The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, met aviation industry bosses on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the travel chaos and had what
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