May Bank holiday travellers face disruption on trains, roads and flights

It will be busiest May bank holiday on the roads since 2016

Simon Calder: Bank holiday rail chaos set to plague London's Euston

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

The RAC is predicting the busiest May bank holiday on the roads since 2016.

Meanwhile, key London stations are shutting this weekend for engineering work.

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

Key Points

Euston station is shut all weekend

[3 May 2019 14:52 · Cathy Adams]

If you're flying from Aberdeen airport this weekend, it's not just other passengers you'll bump into.

From tomorrow, the airport is introducing 14 therapy dogs, including three golden retrievers, two German Shepherds, two beagles, a Leonberger and a pug, to help soothe anxious fliers. 

Dubbed “the Canine Crew” and dressed in high-vis jackets and bandanas, the dogs will be available both landside and airside for passengers and staff.

Therapy dogs, which have been specially trained to provide comfort in stressful situations, have long been used in hospitals and schools; but Aberdeen airport said this project marks the first time that dogs have been used in a UK airport.

[3 May 2019 15:02 · Cathy Adams]

Trespassers on the line between London Bridge and Crystal Palace mean services between the two stations could be delayed or cancelled.

The lines have reopened, but disruption is expected until 4pm, says National Rail.

[3 May 2019 15:31 · Cathy Adams]

The RAC predicts that British roads will be busiest between 4-7pm tonight, and motorists should be prepared for any delays.

More than 13 million leisure trips will be taken this weekend, making it the busiest May bank holiday weekend for three years.

“Despite it looking like the weather will take an usually cold turn for the start of May – certainly after the recent Easter heatwave – our figures suggest drivers are still keen to make the most of the long weekend, with significantly more saying they are planning a leisure trip by car this year than in recent years," says RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis. 

“However, there is a risk that drivers will suffer their own ‘motoring mayday’ if they are not careful, since the colder nights we’re about to experience could be enough to cause some older car batteries to finally give up the ghost – seriously disrupting plans for a getaway. Luckily, temperatures will rise during the day and it isn’t due to be a wash-out.

“The advice is again to try to use the roads when they are quieter, which primarily means avoiding Friday afternoon and evening if possible, and setting off earlier on Saturday, especially if travelling any great distance.”

[3 May 2019 15:54 · Cathy Adams]

Data from Waze has revealed the best and worst times to drive in different cities across this UK during the bank holiday weekend.

Saturday, 4 May

•    London: Best: before 8am. Worst: 11-12pm

•    Bristol: Best: before 7am. Worst: 10-11am

•    Birmingham: Best: before 7am. Worst: 10-11am

•    Leeds & Bradford: Best: before 9am. Worst: 2-4pm

•    Manchester: Best: before 7am. Worst: 8-9pm

Sunday, 5 May

•    London: Best: before 8am. Worst: 10-11am

•    Bristol: Best: after 5pm. Worst: 10-11am

•    Birmingham: Best: before 7am. Worst: 8-9am

•    Leeds & Bradford: Best: before 9am. Worst: 10-12am

•    Manchester: Best: before 8am. Worst: 11-12pm

Monday, 6 May

•    London: Best: before 6am. Worst: 10-12pm

•    Bristol: Best: before 8am. Worst: 9-10am

•    Birmingham: Best: before 6am. Worst: 10-12pm

•    Leeds & Bradford: Best: before 7am. Worst: 12-1pm

•    Manchester: Best: before 8am. Worst: 9-11am