Snow & travel chaos ..it’s a Bank Helliday
Get set for Easter weekend misery
THE Easter getaway will be hell for thousands of families with travel chaos and more snow forecast.
Strikes, engineering works and a new battering by the Beast from the East will combine to hit the holiday.
At least 18 million cars are expected on Britain’s roads over the Easter weekend, with warnings of big traffic jams.
Trips on the M25 could take 90 minutes longer than usual, said traffic information firm Inrix. Arctic conditions will make it worse, with wet and windy weather – and temperatures down to freezing point for many on Wednesday night.
It may stay warmer in the South, but Met Office forecaster Becky Mitchell said there would be a “battle between air from the south and colder air from the north” by the end of the week.
She added: “We will start to see some snowfall in Scotland and later to northern and central parts of Britain.” Engineering shutdowns will hit three major rail routes – the West Coast mainline, Great Western and Great Anglia – and London Euston is set to close on Easter Sunday. Another busy station, Bristol Temple Meads, will also be shut for five days from Good Friday. And those hoping for an early Easter break face delays caused by 24-hour walkouts today and Thursday by members of Rail, Maritime and Transport union over driver-controlled trains at Arriva Rail North. Talks will be held today to avert a 48-hour walkout by RMT members on London’s Docklands Light Railway from Wednesday. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Every single effort that RMT has made to reach a settlement over safe operation and safe staffing has been kicked back in our faces.” Arriva said most of its services would run between 7am and 7pm.