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As it happenedended

UK travel news: Millions passengers face disruption amid heavy floods

Millions of travellers are expected to travel for Christmas today

Friday 20 December 2019 04:26 EST
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UK weather: Flooded railway tracks lead to major travel disruption in south east England

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For the next two weeks, millions of rail passengers will find journeys across Britain difficult. They will be hit by a combination of Network Rail engineering work, strikes and nature.

UK airports will also be busy over the festive period, with millions of passengers expected to pass through on midwinter trips.

Eurostar trains are still being impacted by the ongoing French strike:

helen.coffey23 December 2019 16:58

All lines in and out of Paddington station are shut from Christmas Eve until Friday 27 December inclusive due to track and overhead wiring work in the Southall area, close to Heathrow.

Cathy Adams24 December 2019 08:33

On Christmas Eve and 27 December, GWR long-distance services to Exeter, Plymouth, Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea will start and end at Reading.

The train operator, which runs services to the West of England, Cotswolds and South Wales, usually operates out of London Paddington.

Cathy Adams24 December 2019 08:36

If you're planning on using a South Western Railway service today, here is everything you need to know about the month-long stoppage.

Around half of scheduled services are due to run today.

Cathy Adams24 December 2019 08:37

London Euston station is ready to welcome passengers for a busy Christmas Eve, following yesterday's brief evacuation.

Has anyone ever seen the station concourse look this quiet...?

Cathy Adams24 December 2019 08:39

Disruption is expected between Three Bridges and Brighton in Sussex until 10.30 due to a fault on a train. Some lines are blocked.

Customers heading from the South Coast to Gatwick airport for a festive getaway should check before they travel.

Cathy Adams24 December 2019 08:43

The first Grand Central train of the day from Bradford to London ended its journey at Doncaster “due to short notice staff sickness”.

The converse train from London King's Cross to Bradford will not be running between the capital and Doncaster.

Cathy Adams24 December 2019 08:46

In the east of England, 20 trains have been cancelled by Greater Anglia so far, mainly connecting Norwich with Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, and Ipswich with Peterborough.

The main cause is said to be train faults.

Cathy Adams24 December 2019 08:54

Heading home for Christmas tonight?

As the Christmas shutdown approaches, last trains will generally run much earlier than usual. The last London train on the East Coast main line leaves Edinburgh at 3.30pm, while from London Euston the final departures to Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow are at 8.51pm, 8pm and 4.57pm respectively.

Cathy Adams24 December 2019 09:02

Transport for Wales has cancelled 37 trains so far, mainly local services in the Cardiff area. Some longer-distance trains are curtailed, with the Holyhead-Birmingham International service going no further than Chester.

“Resource availability” is blamed.

Cathy Adams24 December 2019 09:06

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