Travel disruption is beginning to be felt as millions journey across the UK before the four-day Easter weekend.
Delays were recorded across the National Rail network on Wednesday, affecting Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink services.
They come before anticipated delays and disruptions to flights, roads and railways during the Easter bank holidays.
The AA said more than 19 million car trips are anticipated on Good Friday alone, meaning traffic jams on major routes are likely.
Easter falls three weeks later than in 2024, so car trips are expected to be higher because better weather is expected. The motoring association predicts this rise will be about 15 per cent.
There will be some disruptions to flights via Gatwick Airport in addition to the shutdown of London Euston station.
We’ve compiled the main problems that could cause travel disruptions for Easter so you can avoid them.
Full list of Easter weekend travel disruptions
Motorways
The AA has warned drivers to expect heavy traffic on major roads, in town and city centres, and around retail parks.
The south and western portion of the M25 between the M23 and M40; the M5 at Bristol; the A303 in Wiltshire; and the M6 near Birmingham and the Blackpool area are predicted to be hotspots.
National Highways has implemented the traffic control system Operation Brock in Kent before Easter. It is intended to control traffic flows on the M20 in the event of delays at Channel ports, which are in heavy demand from holidaymakers. Operation Brock includes narrow lanes and a lowered 50 mph speed limit.
Operation Brock covers a 13-mile motorway section between junctions 8 for Maidstone and 9 for Ashford. At junction 8, lorries bound for the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel are instructed to enter a designated lane.
Roadworks are also planned on the M25 every night from April 22 to 25 between 10pm and 5.30am — with some lanes closed at various points.
Trains
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Engineering work will disrupt thousands of Easter train journeys. London Euston, the 10th busiest train station in the UK, will be worst affected. All lines to and from London Euston will be closed between Saturday, April 19 and Monday, April 21.
The Elizabeth line will operate a reduced service between Heathrow Terminal 4 and Paddington and Maidenhead between Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21. Meanwhile, Acton main line, West Ealing and Hanwell stations are closed.
Disruptive works will occur at Paddington during the Easter weekend.
Southern and Gatwick Express will operate a lighter schedule to and from Victoria over the Easter weekend, while Southeastern services will be unavailable in Victoria due to train diversions.
The Caledonian Sleeper will be diverted to King's Cross in London via the East Coast main line.
The line between London Marylebone and Aylesbury is closed because of an HS2 bridge along the Chiltern Railways line.
No East Midlands Railway or Thameslink trains operated between London St Pancras and Bedford on April 12 and 13.
Key travel disruptions
- Lines to and from London Euston and the station will be closed between Saturday, April 19, and Monday, April 21
- National Highways has implemented Operation Brock, a traffic control system, in Kent
- Disruptions are anticipated at Gatwick Airport following the announcement of a strike
- The Elizabeth line will operate a reduced service between Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21
- Southern and Gatwick Express will operate a lighter schedule to and from Victoria over the Easter weekend
Hitchin will be served by rail replacement buses on the East Coast main line to Bedford.
Lines between Norwich, Colchester, Ipswich and London Liverpool Street will be closed on Sunday and Monday. Rail replacement buses will run between Billericay and Colchester.
Services from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport and Brighton will be restricted because of construction on the Clapham Junction line.
Additionally, timetable modifications and train disruptions will be in place at Manchester/Stockport, the Leeds and Huddersfield region, and Cambridge and Southampton.
Trains between Carlisle and Edinburgh and Glasgow are being replaced by buses because of track renewal works.
Train driver union Aslef is planning strike action on the Hull trains network on Easter Saturday and Sunday.
Aslef's general secretary, Mick Whelan, said: “The company's failure to act responsibly has impacts not just for rail workers and passengers at Hull Trains but right across the wider rail industry.
“We have a culture on the railway designed to keep everyone safe. Anyone who works on the railway should be able to report a safety concern without fearing they will be penalised, punished, or lose their livelihood.”
Flights
Those hoping to catch a flight or land at Gatwick Airport should prepare for disruptions following the announcement of a strike.
Unite members will strike at the second-busiest airport in the UK over the Easter weekend in a pension dispute. The action involves aircraft dispatchers, baggage handlers and check-in employees who work for Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace.
According to aviation expert Cirium, 11,282 aircraft are scheduled to take off from UK airports between Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Other large airports, such as Heathrow and Stansted, will probably be busier.
