CARMAGEDDON
1.4m expected on roads for Easter break
DRIVERS have been warned to expect long delays due to more than 14million Easter getaway trips planned in the UK.
The RAC said journeys on popular routes could take twice as long as normal as the bank holiday weekend coincides with the start of a two-week holiday for many schools, leading to a surge in traffic.
RAC breakdown’s Alice Simpson said: “With easter falling earlier than usual at the start of the school holidays, it could be carmageddon for holidaymakers.
“Anyone who can delay leaving on Thursday until much later in the evening or set off as early as possible on
Good Friday is likely to have a better journey than those who travel during the peak periods.”
Rail travel will also be disrupted as Network Rail carries out engineering work, with the southern section of the West coast main line closed between Good Friday and easter monday affecting journeys to and from Glasgow.
The RAC and transport analysis company Inrix commissioned a survey which suggested 2.6million leisure journeys by car will be made on Good Friday. Some 2.3million getaways are planned for each of easter Saturday and easter Sunday, with two million expected to take place on each of maundy Thursday and easter monday.
Roads exepected to see higher traffic volumes include those to the West coast and Highlands, as well as routes leading to popular destinations, including the east Neuk of Fife.
Scots were warned the worst congestion on Thursday will be between 2pm and 7pm.
Inrix transportation analyst bob Pishue said: “To avoid the longest delays, we advise adjusting departure times so you’re not travelling in peak commuter hours.” On the trains, Network Rail’s most expensive easter engineering works schedule since 2019 will see £90million spent.
Almost 500 projects include the West coast main line to england, with services cut from Glasgow from easter Saturday to easter monday.
ScotRail will use buses between Glasgow central and edinburgh, Shotts, lanark and motherwell.
Just one Avanti West coast service every two hours will run to and from england on easter Sunday, with one an hour on Saturday and monday.