Bank holiday travel news – LIVE: Chaos on roads and trains expected amid traffic and engineering works

Today is the busiest-ever day for UK aviation, with 9,000 flights expected to take off and land

Almost all Canadian-UK routes are overnight with morning arrivals (AFP/Getty)

This end of May bank holiday is set to be a disruptive one for motorists, rail and air passengers.

The RAC is predicting the busiest end of May bank holiday on the roads for six years. It's also set to be the busiest day for UK aviation ever.

Meanwhile, key London stations are running amended services over the weekend.

There is also an ongoing security staff strike at Luton Airport.

Key Points

Around 22 million leisure trips planned for bank holiday weekend

[24 May 2019 12:29 · Cathy Adams]

There is engineering work happening this spring bank holiday that will affect rail travel.

Travellers should check their journey before setting off, warns National Rail.

[24 May 2019 13:11 · helen.coffey]

Rail passengers travelling on the West Coast main line south of Preston are facing cancellations and long delays due to damage to the overhead electric wires near Leyland.

National Rail says: “Trains are currently unable to run between Bolton or Wigan North Western and Preston.

“We anticipate disruption will continue until 3.30pm.”

Road transport is being arranged for passengers on Northern. Travellers on TransPennine Express can travel on the East Coast main line between York and Scotland, with connections to and from Manchester.

Tickets are being accepted on CrossCountry and LNER from York to Edinburgh and Glasgow Central.

[24 May 2019 13:27 · helen.coffey]

National Rail is advising customers affected by the Preston train cancellations that, if they experience a delay because of the disruption to their journey, they "may be entitled to compensation."

[24 May 2019 14:02 · Cathy Adams]

For passengers affected by the cancellations at Preston, National Rail is advising that they can use other operators on "all reasonable routes".

[24 May 2019 14:39 · Cathy Adams]

As there is no Piccadilly Line service from London to Heathrow airport this weekend, there will be a non-stop coach from Hammersmith instead.

[24 May 2019 14:44 · Cathy Adams]

This weekend there will be closures and amended services on the Piccadilly Line, District Line, London Overground, London Trams and TfL Rail services in East London.

People travelling this weekend in London should check their journey on the Transport for London website. 

[24 May 2019 15:32 · Cathy Adams]

If you're heading off this weekend in the car, here is some advice from the RAC.

“Our research suggests a lot of drivers are planning on taking to the road over this weekend, with routes leading to the coasts, national parks and highlands like the Lake District likely to see significant volumes of traffic – and some extensive jams," says Manchester-based RAC patrol of the year Ben Aldous.

“No-one wants a breakdown to interrupt their enjoyment of the weekend, and it’s a fact that a little TLC of a vehicle can go a long way towards preventing one. At this time of year, when warmer weather coincides with traffic jams, it’s particularly important that every driver is confident their car can ‘keep its cool’ to avoid a breakdown. So we strongly recommend lifting the bonnet to check the coolant is at the right level, and if it’s not to either top up or visit a good local garage to get it checked out.

“We also continue to see drivers running into a lot of problems caused by under-inflated tyres, and those in poor condition. It’s crucial to check tyre tread and pressure before every long journey – it takes just minutes, and with many people likely to cover considerable distances this weekend it really can make the difference between being safe and being sorry.”

[24 May 2019 16:54 · Cathy Adams]

It's been a busy day for European aviation.

Eurocontrol, which monitors Europe's air traffic control, tweeted a map of the flight hotspots earlier today, with the skies over the South of France looking particularly busy.