Christmas travellers warned of disruption as roads, rail and ports packed

Travellers are warned to be ready for disruption and “lengthy jams” as roads, rail and ports are packed ahead of Christmas.

A heady mix of industrial action, weather warnings and last-minute shoppers are set to make the great Christmas getaway a sometimes slow and painful process.

The AA issued an amber traffic warning for congestion for Saturday 23 December, with more than 16.4 million cars expected to travel over the course of the day causing “lengthy jams at traffic hotspots”.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “While Friday 22 December and Saturday 23 December look set to be the busiest travelling days, the unsettled weather forecast could lead to additional delays so drivers should drive to the conditions and slow down where necessary.”

A survey of 12,197 AA members revealed more than a fifth of drivers (23 per cent) planned to use their car for Christmas shopping on Saturday 23 December.

Christmas Eve looked set to be even busier with 30 per cent expecting to use the car and head for the shops.

The RAC advised motorists to travel before 11am or after 6pm if possible to reduce the chance of being stuck in long queues.

The Port of Dover warned those hoping to get across the Channel from Dover to Calais for Christmas that waiting times were between 60 to 90 minutes.

It tweeted: “There is currently a 60-minute wait time ahead of French border controls upon entry to the Port as we help passengers get away for Christmas.

“Please check with your chosen ferry operator for further travel updates.”

P&O Ferries said: “There are still large queues at border control in the Port, after check-in.

“We advise that you plan for a prolonged wait of approx. 90 mins. we recommend stopping en route for toilet facilities.

“Please come prepared with refreshments to make your wait more comfortable.”

It came after a surge in demand for ferry crossings, according to the Port of Dover, in the wake of surprise industrial action by French staff at the Channel Tunnel, which forced it to close temporarily on Thursday. Thousands of travellers hoping to use the Eurostar were left stranded.

Eurostar is operating two extra trains per day between London and Paris, including on Christmas Eve, to help those affected by Thursday’s strike.

National Rail said there would be “disruption to services” during the Christmas period due to “a number of reasons such as a shortage of train crew, residual disruption following the recent severe weather and increased passenger volumes as people travel for Christmas”.

Major engineering work is also taking place during the holiday period.

At London Kings Cross, journeys will be affected by improvement work taking place on Christmas Eve, which means there will be no long-distance services into or out of the station affecting journeys on the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh, Leeds, Newcastle, York and Peterborough.

London Paddington will also be affected by engineering works between 24 and 27 December.

This will affect journeys to and from South Wales, Bristol, the West Country and the Thames Valley. In addition, Heathrow Airport will have no direct services to or from central London during the same period.

And London Victoria station will have no Southeastern services between Saturday 23 December and Monday 1 January 2024, the rial firm will be using alternative London terminal stations.

The Met Office has weather warnings in place for both Saturday and Sunday, which forecasters say is likely to impact travel.

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued for much of Wales from 10pm on Saturday until 6pm on Christmas Eve.

A second yellow weather warning for rain is in place for the whole of Saturday for a large swathe of north and west Scotland.

And a snow and ice yellow weather warning runs until 3pm Saturday for north east Scotland.

Christmas Eve travel plans also be blighted by heavy winds set to batter parts of the country ahead of a rain-soaked December 25.

Gusts as high as 70mph are due to hit the north of Scotland and northern and central areas of England.

The good news is it is unlikely to affect any sleigh traffic across the night sky.