Travel chaos LIVE: Summer getaways hit by delays and Dover ferry facing huge queues
Brits have been warned to brace for huge queues, massive delays and road closures as they head on their family holidays.
It comes as summer getaways have begun as more than two million people are expected to travel[1] overseas.
National Highways has shut down part of the Dartford Crossing following a crash which has sparked three miles of congestion.
This could cause cause further delays, due to the incident being placed on the M25, which is the UK’s biggest motorway.
It has been reported that the crash has forced the closure of one of the crossing’s two tunnels.
The RAC confirmed an estimate of 12.6million car journeys to be made as part of a day trip or holiday between Friday and Monday as families celebrate the start of the school holidays.
The Port of Dover said it was taking about 90 minutes for departing passengers to pass through border checks on Friday morning.
Follow our live blog below for the latest updates…
10:01Monica Charsley
Travellers urged to make backup plans
Gatwick Airport has urged travellers to double check their routes to the airport following the announcement of train strikes.
The airport confirmed the car park will be more busier than usual.
They posted on Twitter: “This weekend, industrial rail action may impact your journey to the airport. There will be a reduced train service & we expect our car parks to be busier.
“Please plan your trip an advance and check our website for alternative travel options.”
⚠ This weekend, industrial rail action may impact your journey to the airport. There will be a reduced train service & we expect our car parks to be busier.Please plan your trip an advance and check our website for alternative travel options: https://t.co/nU9nyR0U5s pic.twitter.com/VbiJwmGkmx[2][3]
— London Gatwick LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) July 21, 2023[4]
09:55Monica Charsley
Huge influx at airports
Holidaymakers heading abroad were met with huge secuirity lines this morning.
It comes as hundreds of thousands of passengers are travelling through Heathrow and Gatwick airports over the coming days.
Abta said around 200,000 people will depart from Manchester airport and 71,000 from Bristol.
Spain remains the top destination for families, in particular the Costa del Sol and the Balearic and Canary Islands.
However, Abta members are also reporting strong demand for Bulgaria, Portugal, Turkey, Morocco and Greece.
Much of Europe will continue to see temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s.
Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: “Thousands of families will be jetting off this weekend as the majority of schools in the UK start their summer break.
“Many of these will be taking their first overseas summer holiday since the pandemic, returning to much-loved destinations, and will have a fantastic experience in store.
“We’re encouraging people to have a fun and safe holiday by taking sensible precautions if you’re heading to an area with exceptionally high temperatures and taking particular care when in the water and on balconies.”
09:37Monica Charsley
Travellers reminded of train delays
Rail passengers could also be hit with delays on Saturday, as members of the RMT union strike again following a long-running dispute.
Members of Aslef at 15 train operating companies will refuse to work overtime[5] from Monday July 31 to Saturday August 5 in the long-running dispute over pay.
Drivers launched a week-long overtime ban on Monday which the union warned will “seriously” affect services, amid complains from the union that train companies have not employed enough drivers, meaning they are dependent on rest day working.
The action will affect Avanti West Coast; Chiltern Railways; Cross Country; East Midlands Railway; Greater Anglia; Great Western Railway; GTR Great Northern Thameslink; Island Line; LNER; Northern Trains; Southeastern; Southern/Gatwick Express; South Western Railway main line; TransPennine Express; and West Midlands Trains.
09:35Monica Charsley
Traffic hotspots to watch out for
Transport analysis company Inrix has revealed traffic hotspots to watch out for which will include the M5 south from near Bristol (junction 15) to Bridgwater (junction 23).
Another is the M25 clockwise between junction 10 for the A3 to Kingston and junction 6 for the A22 to East Grinstead.
Enhanced post-Brexit passport checks by French border officials Police Aux Frontieres have significantly increased processing times at the Kent port.
Ferry operator DFDS said it is operating additional sailings to meet demand this weekend.
Schools in Scotland are already well into their summer holidays but many people will still be flying from Scottish airports this weekend, with more than 100,000 from Glasgow alone.
References
- ^ travel (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ https://t.co/nU9nyR0U5s (t.co)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/VbiJwmGkmx (t.co)
- ^ July 21, 2023 (twitter.com)
- ^ Members of Aslef at 15 train operating companies will refuse to work overtime (www.mirror.co.uk)