Travel disruption during Christmas as motorways are closed and rail travellers experience delays
British travelers are experiencing disruptions in their holiday getaways due to long queues at ports, motorway closures, and train cancellations across the country.
The Port of Dover in Kent is facing 90-minute processing times for cars with pre-booked tickets.
The delays are attributed to a surge in demand for ferries after the Channel Tunnel rail link was closed due to unscheduled industrial action by French workers on Thursday, affecting tens of thousands of people’s travel plans.
Eurostar is operating two extra services per day between London and Paris up to and including Christmas Eve to help passengers whose trains were canceled on Thursday.
Vehicle-carrying train service Eurotunnel is running its usual timetable but is only accepting customers who have pre-booked.
The M20 motorway in Kent remains closed in the coastbound direction between junctions 8 and 9 due to Operation Brock, causing 45-minute delays, according to National Highways.
The M62 motorway was closed between junctions 21 and 22 overnight following a crash, and ScotRail services are suspended between Inverness and Wick, Tain, Ardgay, and Lairg.
The RAC has estimated 13.5 million leisure journeys by car across the UK between Friday and Sunday, up 20 percent from last year.
Drivers have been advised to travel before 11 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to reduce the chance of being stuck in long queues.
Likely traffic hotspots on the M25 and other motorways have been identified, with congestion expected to peak on Friday as drivers embark on leisure trips.
