GETAWAY GRIDLOCK
Motorway traffic nose to tail Massive queues at airports Railway network closes down
MILLIONS of holidaymakers faced an Easter travel nightmare on air, road and rail yesterday.
The traditional four-day getaway began 24 hours early with people keen to get a head start.
But the travel network suffered gridlock as crashes, strikes and engineering works all hit travellers’ plans.
More than 20million cars are expected to hit the roads over the Bank Holiday with the biggest delays on the M25, M4, M5 and M6.
Around 425,000 passengers are expected to jet off from Heathrow, 250,000 from Gatwick and 150,000 from Manchester.
Cars were bumper to bumper for 17 miles on Britain’s busiest motorway after a car smash on the M25 in Surrey.
And there were huge tailbacks when a lorry shed two giant blocks of concrete and closed two lanes on the southbound M6 in Cheshire.
Holidaymakers spending Easter in Portugal were warned of crippling strikes by the country’s security guards.
British Airways said departures from Lisbon Airport would be “particularly affected”. An easyJet spokesman added: “We strongly recommend you allow extra time for your journey to get to the gate on time.”
More than 200 engineering projects are planned on the railway network.
Trains to London, Manchester, Bath, Edinburgh and Glasgow are expected to be among those worst affected.
Cross-Channel rail operator Eurostar is expecting its busiest ever Easter weekend with 163,000 passengers, up 12% on last year.
Visit England said 6.6m Brits were planning an overnight stay, a boost from 6m last year.
Easter Sunday is expected to be the quietest day on the roads with 25% fewer journeys than an average Sunday.
However getting home will be chaotic on Monday, with schools back the following day.
Road safety officer Neil Worth said: “More big queues are likely from lunchtime on Easter Monday as families return from their breaks.”