Drivers face bank holiday gridlock amid rail shutdown

COMMUTERS can expect major delays on their return home after the long weekend as the biggest ever rail shutdown on an August bank holiday forces families to drive.

A number of rail operators have warned passengers not to use trains this weekend, leading to severe tailbacks on some motorways and A-roads.

Around five million motorists are expected to use Britain’s roads on Monday, a million more than last year, with the AA estimating 84 per cent of its members plan to travel by car.

Motorways were gridlocked yesterday, with millions of drivers pictured crawling along the M25 near the junction for the M3. The worst hotspots are likely to include the M25, M6, M5, M4, M3 and A303, as the railways experience their biggest shutdown of any August bank holiday as Network Rail carries out upgrades to lines and stations.

Meanwhile, the railways are expected to face extra pressures with the Reading and Leeds music festivals taking place and the end of the Edinburgh Festival. A number of major London stations were closed for engineering work yesterday as part of an £130million upgrade project.

A Virgin spokesman said: “We expect our services on both routes to be very busy from Friday to Monday, and are advising customers to avoid travel- ling on our west coast route on Saturday or Sunday unless necessary.”

National Express, the UK’s largest coach operator, is putting on an extra 4,000 seats over the weekend to destinations affected by London rail station closures.

The capital’s transport network is also likely to be busy today and tomorrow with people making their way to London’s Notting Hill Carnival.

John Snowling, from the AA, said: “August bank holiday weekend is always a busy one on the roads.

“Traffic will be busy again for the return [home] on Monday afternoon – so allow plenty of extra time if you’re travelling then.”