11 million drivers expected on the roads for Easter weekend

Widespread rail disruption will result in an expected 11 million drivers to be on the roads over the Easter weekend.

Those that are planning on getting away for the Easter break have been warned that they may encounter some of the busiest roads, as an estimated 11 million drivers will be taking to the roads after disruption to rail services across the country.

A comprehensive £60M programme of Easter railway engineering works will lead to more people choosing to drive, rather than catch a train. A total of 450 engineering projects will be taking place on mainline routes, 75 more than last year, affecting around 5% of rail routes over the next week.

Delays will hit all six of Britain’s main line routes, linking London with the West, the Midlands, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Norwich and Weymouth.

Network Rail is billing the disruption as “the biggest ever Easter investment programme.”

The investment is being made because school holidays are traditionally quieter.

The AA said it expected Easter to be busier than last year, after a survey of its members suggested 55% planned to go somewhere by car today (Thursday), compared with 47% in 2015.

The number is expected to fall to 50% on Good Friday.

Highways England said it planned to finish or lift 208 sets of roadworks, however 57 sets will stay in place due to large excavation or major structural projects which would make them unsafe to lift.

Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA said low petrol prices could encourage people to travel by road.

Airport travel will also be affected, with the Gatwick Express from London Victoria out of action for four days, and London Underground Piccadilly Line services to Heathrow hit by a strike on Maundy Thursday.

Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport is expected to see 850,000 people travel through it this weekend, including 200,000 more families than usual.

 

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