Christmas Eve travel: Drivers and train passengers warned of delays on motorways and rail network

Half of all UK motorists expected to be on roads at some point on Christmas Eve, while engineering works and reduced timetables will hit train journeys

Drivers embarking on the festive getaway have been warned to expect severe delays on Christmas Eve as millions of people take to the roads.

Half of all UK motorists will be on the country’s major highways and motorways on Monday, according to AA research.

Major tailbacks and jams have been forecast for the M1, M25, M5, M6 and M40.

Analysis by the RAC predicted the roads would be busiest between 11am and 1pm.

The breakdown service urged all those making a journey to ensure they were prepared.

“It’s vitally important every driver planning a trip gives their car a once over to make sure it’s up to the job, as a single breakdown can bring some roads to a grinding halt, slowing down the Christmas getaway for all of us,” said Mark Souster from the service.

“A few moments spent checking things like fuel, oil, coolant and screen-wash levels and the condition and pressure of tyres could make the difference between a stress-free journey and one plagued by a breakdown.”

To add to motorists’ frustrations, they are also being hit with fuel costs at a five-year Christmas high.

Forecourts are charging an average of £1.21 per litre of petrol and £1.31 for diesel, according to government data.

The last time prices were this high in the run-up to the holidays was 2013.

Simon Williams, of the RAC, said: “Drivers filling up for their Christmas journeys will be right to exclaim ‘bah humbug’ to the retailers as it’s much costlier than last year.

“The frustrating thing is that it shouldn’t be this way.

“The wholesale price of petrol now is no more than last year, suggesting it has been anything but a season of goodwill for fuel retailers.”

Anyone hoping to escape motoring misery by catching a train could also face difficulties.

As usual, there will be no trains on Christmas Day and a limited service on Boxing Day.

But some of Network Rail‘s 330 festive engineering projects have already started forcing a number of lines – many in the London area – to be closed.

There are no services between London Victoria – the UK’s second busiest station – and Clapham Junction until January 2 due to track renewal; while Crossrail work means there are no trains operating to or from London Paddington on Sunday, Monday or December 30.

Liverpool Lime Street will have an amended service from Monday until New Year’s Day, affecting nation-wide train services including those run by Virgin Trains, East Midlands Trains, London Northwestern Railway and Northern.

Andy Thomas, Network Rail’s managing director of strategic operations, said: “We know that our railway is up to 50 per cent quieter than usual during the festive period so taking on and delivering these huge transformational schemes at this time of year minimises our impact on passengers.

“While most of the network is open for business as usual, some routes are heavily affected and so we strongly advise passengers to plan ahead.”