Millions of Britons have been forced to take to the roads this Boxing Day, with a staggering 19.7 million car journeys forecast across the UK, as the annual Christmas rail shutdown continues to cause major disruption.
Festive Road Chaos Amidst Rail Standstill
The AA has issued a stark warning to drivers, predicting a significant surge in post-Christmas traffic as people head out for sales shopping or to visit family and friends. The pressure on the road network is being severely exacerbated by the near-total closure of the rail system, which will affect services for several more days.
As is traditional, the entire rail network shut down on Christmas Day, and the vast majority of operators are running no trains on Boxing Day. This has left millions dependent on car travel, with the AA estimating a further 22 million journeys will be made on Saturday, December 30th.
Why Are People Travelling?
According to a survey of more than 10,000 AA members, visiting loved ones is the primary reason for festive car travel, cited by roughly 60 per cent of respondents for the period up to January 5. This is closely followed by shopping trips, mentioned by around 50 per cent, while work commutes will account for approximately 30 per cent of journeys.
Specifically for Boxing Day, the survey revealed that 49 per cent of respondents plan a car journey of up to 50 miles, with a further 9 per cent intending to travel even farther.
Congestion Hotspots and Travel Advice
Traffic levels are anticipated to peak between 10am and 7pm, prompting urgent advice for motorists to travel outside these hours if possible. The RAC and transport analytics firm Inrix have identified several key motorway sections likely to experience severe delays over the coming days:
- The M25 clockwise from Junction 7 to Junction 16
- The M25 anti-clockwise from Junction 17 to Junction 12
- The M40 northbound from Junction 8A to Junction 10
- The M1 southbound from Junction 16 to Junction 6
- The M6 northbound from Junction 5 to Junction 10A
In the south, the continued closure of the M27 motorway in both directions between Junctions 9 and 11 until 4am on January 4 for major works is disrupting travel between Southampton and Portsmouth.
Shaun Jones, an AA patrol expert, commented on the festive pattern: 'Throughout the festive season we see a real mix of activity on the roads. Visiting family, picking up shopping and getting back into work all keep people moving locally.'
He noted that New Year's Day is expected to be the quietest, with an estimated 18 million trips, offering a brief respite from congestion. However, he warned: 'But the calm is short-lived. By January 2, traffic rebounds fast as work and school return, and breakdown call-outs rise sharply.' Traffic is forecast to hit 20.7 million on January 2 and 22 million on January 5.
Rail Disruption Details
The rail network will remain severely impacted. Network Rail engineering projects on multiple sections of the West Coast Main Line will affect journeys to and from London Euston until January 4, and travel between Scotland and north west England from New Year's Day to January 14.
Other significant disruptions include:
- No services between Stansted Airport and Cambridge North, or between Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge, until January 3.
- London Waterloo, one of the UK's busiest stations, closed to trains until the end of Sunday, December 31, with a reduced timetable until January 5.
- In Scotland, services between Dalmuir and Balloch/Helensburgh Central, and between Glasgow Queen Street and Crianlarich, will only resume on January 2.
Network Rail stated that some 95 per cent of Britain's railways will be unaffected by engineering work over the festive period, but the remaining 5 per cent includes critical arteries.
National Highways has attempted to ease road congestion by lifting over 90 per cent of roadworks on motorways and major A roads in England, with these not returning until early on January 2.
The AA advises drivers not using their cars over the festive break to perform essential checks on tyres, battery, screenwash and fuel levels to prepare for the new year return.
