Britain is bracing for the most congested Christmas getaway on record, with millions of families hitting the roads and major rail disruption set to cause festive travel chaos over the coming days.
Peak Traffic and Motorway Hotspots
The AA predicts that traffic in the run-up to December 25 will reach its peak on Friday, with a staggering 24.4 million cars expected on UK roads. Meanwhile, the RAC forecasts that a record 37.5 million leisure trips by car are planned between today and Christmas Eve, the highest number since it began recording this data in 2013.
Analytics firm Inrix warns of long delays on major routes this Friday, as drivers leaving urban areas for the holidays compete with commuters for road space. The worst hold-ups are expected between 3pm and 8pm later this week, shifting to between 12pm and 7pm over the weekend and into next week.
Key motorway hotspots identified for severe congestion include:
- M25 clockwise from Junction 15 to 19, and Junction 23 to 28.
- M4 eastbound from Junction 29.
- M6 northbound from Junction 5 to 10A, and Junction 18 to 24.
- M1 northbound from Junction 22 to 26.
- M60 clockwise from Junction 7 to 18.
Changing Travel Trends and Road Closures
Travel patterns are shifting, with most drivers staying local for the second consecutive year. The AA's survey indicates the majority do not intend to travel more than 50 miles, a trend experts believe will increase congestion around retail hotspots and motorway interchanges. Long-haul Christmas drives are described as 'fading fast', with fewer than 5% of respondents planning a journey over 100 miles.
Adding to the challenges, the M27 motorway will be closed in both directions between Junctions 9 and 11 from 8pm on Christmas Eve until 4am on January 4 for major works, severely affecting journeys between Southampton and Portsmouth.
Shaun Jones, an AA expert patrol, advised: "With more than 24 million cars forecast, it's beginning to look a lot like traffic. Our advice is simple: plan ahead, check your route, and allow extra time. Patience will be your best present this year."
Rail Disruption Adds to Travel Woes
Engineering work by Network Rail will place further pressure on the roads, particularly after Christmas Day. Significant projects will disrupt several of the UK's busiest railway lines.
Key rail disruptions include:
- No trains between London Euston and Milton Keynes/Rugby from December 27 to January 4.
- No services between Leeds and York from Christmas Day until January 2.
- London Waterloo will be closed from Christmas Day to December 28, with a reduced service until January 4.
- No trains between Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds and Stansted Airport from Christmas Day to January 5.
While Network Rail states 95% of the network will be unaffected, the entire system shuts down on Christmas Day, with most operators running no trains on Boxing Day.
Nick Mullender, RAC mobile servicing team leader, warned: "With record numbers predicted, journeys have the potential to be Grinch-worthy without careful planning. The week before Christmas is one of the few times of year when most of the UK hits the road simultaneously."
National Highways has pledged to remove as many roadworks as possible and has 530 gritters on standby. Colin Stevenson, their road safety lead, urged drivers to spend a few minutes checking their vehicle's tyres, lights, and fuel before setting out.
As the festive exodus begins, the combined impact of record road traffic and widespread rail engineering works is set to make this one of the most challenging Christmas travel periods in living memory.
