Bank holiday travel is shaping up to be quite a challenge, with transportation experts anticipating heavy traffic and crowded airports. It’s predicted that roads will be particularly busy, especially at major airports, as long-distance rail passengers navigate the start of extensive engineering work.
Friday is expected to have the worst traffic as many drivers seek to take advantage of an extended weekend, coinciding with schools across the UK and Wales breaking for half-term. The RAC estimates that around 3.4 million extra car journeys will be made for leisure on that day. Meanwhile, the AA forecasts that the total number of vehicles on the roads could reach 20 million. The M25 and routes southwest are likely to experience the worst congestion.
According to traffic analyst INRIX, significant delays are anticipated on the M25 during the evening rush hour, particularly near Dartford around lunchtime. For those traveling on Friday or Saturday, there might be a chance to avoid the heaviest traffic by starting their journeys early, as many drivers have reported planning early departures. However, delays are still expected on the A30, A303, and the M5 heading toward Devon and Cornwall.
The Met Office has warned of potentially unstable and rainy weather, which could further complicate traffic conditions over the bank holiday weekend. The RAC notes that an influx of traffic is expected on Friday, May 30, as holiday-makers mix with regular weekday commuters.
Rail passengers traveling on two key routes from London should brace for disruptions and delays over the bank holiday weekend. Several parts of the rail network will be closed to facilitate upgrades and the development of the HS2 high-speed rail line. Notably, there will be no trains operating between St. Pancras and Bedford on both Saturday and Sunday, impacting the East Midlands Railway and Thames Link services, including those to Luton Airport.
Additionally, services along the West Coast mainline, the UK’s busiest rail route, will face reductions as well, affecting Avanti InterCity trains from Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow from Saturday to Friday. Travelers may encounter fewer trains and longer wait times, with bus replacements needed for some routes around Coventry. West Midlands trains and cross-country services will also see disruptions.
“While most of the network will function normally, we advise passengers to check their journeys in advance,” said Helen Hamlin, director of System Operations for Network Rail.
On another note, UK airports anticipate their busiest day of the year on Friday, with over 3,200 flights scheduled to depart. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, roughly 12,185 flights are planned over the next four days, potentially serving as many as 2.2 million passengers.
This figure represents about a 4% increase compared to the bank holiday weekend in early May, with popular international destinations including Dublin, Amsterdam, Palma, Alicante, and Malaga.
The British Travel Association (ABTA) has encouraged the public to consider traveling abroad, particularly as a survey found that one in four individuals, including more than 40% of those aged 25 to 34, did not have travel insurance last year.
