Roads Feel the Strain As Rail Network Takes a 58-Hour Christmas Holiday

By ANDY DOLAN

A 58- HOUR nationwide shutdown of the rail network over Christmas could cause traffic chaos by forcing millions of cars on to the roads, it was warned yesterday.

All but a handful of train services will halt at 8pm tomorrow and not resume until 6am on December 27.

Only those linking London to Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports will run as normal.

Britain has the fastest-growing rail network in Europe with over a billion journeys made this year, the highest years the number of services on Boxing Day increasingly a working day for many has dwindled.

This contrasts sharply with the Continent, where most countries run a near-normal service with only a few rush-hour cancellations.

Critics of the shutdown say it will cause travellers huge inconvenience.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of the Rail Passengers’ Council, said: ‘Millions depend on the them the opportunity of travelling over Christmas.’

The AA warned it will add to traffic congestion, with 18million cars expected to hit the roads.

Spokesman Pete Barnao said: ‘On Boxing Day, the rail shutdown will mean people who would ordinarily get the train to go shopping will have to drive into their nearest town if they are planning to hit the sales causing more congestion.’ Day, other than airport services. But it is only recently that the number of Boxing Day services has declined, with just a few running this year in London and Scotland.

Under British Rail, drivers were contracted to work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day if requested, but many train companies abolished this with privatisation.

A spokesman for Network Rail, which owns the track, said the decision to shut down was train operators, who say there is insufficient demand to justify running services. He said: ‘We target maintenance work for the Christmas period because significantly fewer people travel by train then.’

Motorists can take comfort, however, from the fact that the roads should be clear of snow.

Temperatures of between 46f (8c) and 52f (11c) are forecast for much of the country, falling to between 41f (5c) and 46f (8c) over Christmas.

London’s Tube network could be shut from noon on New Year’s Eve after employees voted for a 24-hour walkout in protest at working hours and staff levels. A second 24-hour stoppage is scheduled for January 8.

Comment Page 14

RAIL DISRUPTION

Christmas Day

No rail services except Heathrow Express (runs until 14.20, then bus replacement service). Gatwick Express will operate bus service. No services on London Underground or buses.

Boxing Day

Limited routes on South Southern, Thameslink and First Scotrail. Heathrow Express as normal, Gatwick and Stansted Express both running replacement buses.

Engineering works

Sheffield to Doncaster

Bridgwater to Taunton and Castle Cary to Taunton

Services to and from Birmingham New Street Birmingham International Bristol to Newport

Newport (Gwent) to Services passing through Woking, including London Waterloo to Weymouth

North Wembley to Watford Eastern,

Strikes London Underground station staff have voted to strike from noon on New Year’s Eve until noon on New Year’s Day over safety issues.

Central Trains guards to strike on December 27 and January 2 pay dispute.

Cancellations inevitable.

Virgin Cross Country train managers to strike on January 1. resulting in ‘modified’ train times.

London

Congestion charge between Dec 24 and Jan 2.

Tube: Normal Saturday service on Christmas Eve, but with trains after 19.00 and Sunday closing times. No services on Christmas Day. Reduced service on Boxing Day starting at 08.30, finishing at Sunday times.

Bus: Saturday service on Christmas Eve, but no night No regular services Christmas Day. Sunday service on Boxing day from 08.30.

suspended bus.

HOPES OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS DRIFT AWAY

Tomorrow’s weather Rather cloudy but dry across most of England and Wales.

Some sunshine elsewhere. Showers and wind are expected across eastern Scotland and northeast England early in the day.

Sunday’s forecast

A frosty start in places with variable cloud cover. Some spells in most areas. Any overnight fog patches will soon clear. Possibility light showers in southeastern coastal areas.

ROADWORKS

M1 Tinsley Viaduct jct 34

M3 Winchester, jct 8-9

M4 Maidenhead, jct 8-9

M4 Bristol jct 20-19

M32 Bristol jct 2M4

M5/M4 junction

M60 Sale jct 5-8

M271 Southampton, jct 2, Upton Lane

M3 Basingstoke jct 6-7, Hackwood Rd

M53 Wirral, Bidston Moss Viaduct

M62 Rochdale jct 21

M62/A1M junction

M57/M58 junction

M2 Sheerness Docks jct 5

A3M Portsmouth jct 5

A34 Peartree to Weston, near Oxford

A14 Spittals interchange at Huntingdon

A14 jct 34-33

A14 Rookery Crossroads, Bury St Edmunds

A1 Black Cat roundabout (St Neots, Beds)

A12 Ingatestone bypass jct 12-15

A500 Stoke between

A50 and A53 A5 Walkmill Lane, Cannock

A483 Llanymynech

A30 Lanivet, Innis Downs Roundabout

A63 Gibson Lane Junction at Melton/North Ferriby

A69 Brampton

A1(M) Durham, jct 61-63 southbound and northbound

A5 Glyn Bends

A40 Llandovery

M4 Bridgend jct 36-37

A92 at B946 Dundee

A76 Kirkonnel to North Cumnock

M90 jct 1

A90 toll booths at Echline