Millions across the UK are anticipating travel disruptions this bank holiday weekend, facing challenges from congested roadways, scheduled rail strikes, and planned engineering work.
Significant disruptions are anticipated across the rail network, particularly affecting CrossCountry routes spanning from Aberdeen to Cornwall, due to industrial action by the RMT union concerning pay, safety protocols, and staffing levels.
The weather forecast suggests predominantly dry conditions throughout the three-day weekend, with large gatherings expected at various festivals nationwide.
Separately, ferry passengers at the Port of Dover experienced queuing times approaching two hours on Friday.
Ferry operator DFDS reported at 13:00 on Friday that check-in desk wait times were approximately 40 minutes, with border control clearance taking over an hour.
Earlier on Friday, a signalling fault caused disruptions to the Gatwick Express service.
The RAC has issued warnings regarding heavy road traffic on Friday, projecting three million getaway journeys, with especially dense congestion expected on the M5 between Bristol and Devon.
Large crowds are predicted at events including London’s Notting Hill Carnival, the Reading and Leeds festivals, the Emerge festival in Belfast, the Edinburgh Fringe closing weekend, the Creamfields festival in Cheshire, and the Women’s Rugby World Cup opening matches.
Monday marks a bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, representing the final long weekend before Christmas for these regions.
Network Rail advises all passengers to verify their travel plans before embarking on journeys this weekend due to strikes and rail maintenance activities.
There will be no CrossCountry services operating on Saturday due to strike action, with service alterations and cancellations anticipated on Sunday.
A second strike on Monday will limit services across all CrossCountry lines between 08:00 and 18:00.
Train services between Birmingham, Reading, and the south coast will be suspended, as will services connecting Leicester, Cambridge, and Stansted airport.
A significantly reduced service will operate to the south-west and north of York.
On the East Coast Main Line, LNER will suspend direct train services between London King’s Cross and Peterborough on Sunday owing to engineering works. A bus replacement service will also operate between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
In the West Midlands, bus replacement services will be in effect on certain routes from Birmingham New Street due to engineering works.
Avanti West Coast will operate a reduced service from London Euston, with trains diverted away from Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International.
London Northwestern services will operate exclusively to and from Birmingham International.
Network Rail stated that the “vast majority” of services will run, but some engineering works were “unfortunately unavoidable.”
The RAC projects approximately 17.6 million leisure trips will be undertaken by car across the UK between Friday and the bank holiday on Monday.
Peak driving times are forecast between 10:00 and 19:00 on Friday, 09:00 and 17:00 on Saturday, and 11:00 and 18:00 on Monday.
Transport analytics firm Inrix anticipates the M5 between Bristol and Devon will experience the heaviest traffic, with the segment from J15 north of Bristol to J23 for Bridgwater likely to see the most significant delays.
The M20 in Kent may also face afternoon hold-ups on Friday, from J7 near Maidstone to J3 westbound, and J1 at Swanley to J5 at Aylesford eastbound.
“We’re expecting major roads to airports and coastal destinations to be extremely busy, especially the south-east and south-west regions which could end up bearing the brunt of most holiday hold-ups,” noted Nick Mullender, the RAC’s mobile servicing and repairs team leader.
“Anyone planning routes through these areas should set off as early as possible or be prepared to spend longer in traffic.”
Saturday is expected to be dry but rather cloudy for many, with a few sunny intervals.
The best of the sunshine will be seen in the north of Scotland and the far south-west.
Northern Ireland and Wales will see a few showers develop, and later Northern Ireland and the Hebrides will experience patchy rain arriving from the west with light winds.
Sunday will be warmer, with sunny spells and patchy cloud cover. Most areas will remain dry, but light rain may affect the north and west of Scotland.
Bank Holiday Monday is forecast to be warmer still, even very warm for parts of England and Wales with highs of 27C.
Most areas will experience ample sunshine, but south-easterly winds will strengthen in the far west, with a chance of showery rain across Northern Ireland later in the day.
Major supermarkets will maintain operations throughout the bank holiday weekend, removing the need for urgent shopping trips.
Reduced hours are anticipated, particularly on Sunday, so it is advisable to verify the opening times of your local store, as hours will vary.
Businesses observing the Monday bank holiday closure will include banks, post offices, and select government services.
Benefit payments are scheduled to be disbursed on Friday ahead of the bank holiday weekend.
RMT members will strike on Saturday and Monday, with potential for Sunday train cancellations.
RMT union members are set to strike for seven days beginning Friday, September 5th.
Over 60 employees who entered the UK on skilled worker visas may be required to leave the transport authority.
The RMT reports that staff are routinely threatened and assaulted on Southern and Gatwick Express services.
Mick Lynch characterized the re-privatization of the service as a “betrayal of passengers.”