If you’re hitting the road or catching a train this August bank holiday, brace yourself, it’s going to be busy.
The RAC is warning that drivers should either set off super early or be ready to sit in traffic for a while. Around 17.6 million trips are expected between Friday and Monday, with Friday and Saturday looking the heaviest.
Roads most likely to be jammed
According to transport experts Inrix, the M5 between Bristol and Devon will be one of the worst spots, with delays of 40 minutes or more expected on Friday and Saturday.
Other hotspots include the M20 in Kent, especially near Dover and Folkestone, as loads of drivers head for Channel crossings. Expect half-hour-plus delays between Maidstone and Swanley.
If you’re taking the train, things won’t be much easier. Network Rail is carrying out 261 projects across the UK, which means:
- No long-distance trains between London King’s Cross and Peterborough on Saturday, hitting LNER and Lumo services to Scotland
- Avanti West Coast will run fewer trains to and from London Euston
- No trains between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International from Saturday to Monday, with services diverted and taking longer
- London Northwestern will only run to and from Birmingham International
In short, whether you’re driving to the coast, crossing the Channel, or hopping on a train, expect delays and plan ahead.
