Due to strikes at rail stations, disruptions at airports and forecasts of some of the most busy roads in recent years, millions will be caught up in travel chaos during Christmas and New Year.
CrossCountry was one of the main railway operators in the country. They warned that trains will not be running on New Year’s Eve and tomorrow as the RMT Union presses forward with its industrial action.
Meanwhile up to 5.3million drivers are expected to get behind the wheel tomorrow, according to the RAC – in what’s been dubbed ‘frantic festive Friday’.
And travellers using Heathrow – Britain’s busiest airport – on Boxing Day also face issues as it will be cut off from Tube and train links due to engineering works.
RAC’s research, conducted alongside data firm INRIX, also forecast that 4.1 million leisure trips will be made on Thursday.
AA expects 18 million vehicles to be on the roads in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
The RAC’s breakdown spokesperson Rod Dennis said: ‘Despite the increasing prevalence of the Omicron Covid variant, our research shows that the vast majority of drivers are still determined to do Christmas properly this year – in sharp contrast to 12 months ago.’
The cancellations were due to Covid staff absences.
According to the RCA, more than 5.3 million motorists will be behind the wheel of a car tomorrow. This is what the RAC calls ‘frantic Christmas Friday’. (file photo).
Heathrow Airport (file photo), will be disconnected from the Tube and rail networks for 2 days during the Christmas period. Network Rail (TfL), and Transport for London(Network Rail) simultaneously work, so travellers may face problems after landing in the UK.
TfL will also suspend the Piccadilly Line between Heathrow & Acton until December Eve. This means that Heathrow passengers won’t be able to use tube networks to get around.
One in twenty trains had to be cancelled Monday. Eight operators spoke yesterday about possible last-minute cancellations.
Some 370 engineering projects are also being carried out on the railways in the coming days – leaving Leeds with a reduced service between December 27 and January 3.
CrossCountry strikes, which were caused by an employee training dispute, won’t see any trains running between Leicester and Stansted Airports, Cheltenham Spa or Cardiff Central. They will also not be available on certain routes in Devon, Cornwall, and other destinations.
Some businesses have advised travellers that they should take early trains to avoid disruptions.
International families arriving from overseas may find themselves cut off trains from Heathrow on one of its busiest days and Tubes for the rest of the week because of engineering works.
Network Rail stated that it will conduct signalling, track, and HS2 work on Paddington and Slough over Christmas Day and Boxing Day. This means no trains can serve Heathrow.
TfL will suspend the Piccadilly Line between Heathrow & Acton Town until December Eve.
TfL and Network Rai have combined their efforts to ensure that no Tube or rail services operate between the UK’s busy airports on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
It comes as the rail firm LNER, which operates services between London and cities such as Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, revealed it had taken out 16 trains a day until December 24 due to ‘an increased level of absence in drivers and train managers due to coronavirus’.
A rail operator stated that it might have to cancel additional cancellations in short notice because of staffing concerns.
Britons are being advised to leave the country as quickly as possible during this festive season due to growing disruption.
The UK Rail Delivery Group has said that around one in 20 services were cancelled in the past week – up from an average of one in 40 – with passengers urged to check their train is running before they leave home.
Because of staff shortages and reduced timelines passengers will be forced into cars in coming days. This raises concerns about an increase in virus transmission.
Almost ten per cent of railway staff are off sick or isolating, up one per cent in a month, while Transport for London says around 500 of its frontline staff are currently off work due to ‘Covid-related illness’.
LNER is a rail company that operates between London and major cities like Leeds, York, Newcastle, and Edinburgh. It revealed that it pulled out 16 trains per night from December 24th to 25th due to an ‘increased level of absenteeism in train drivers and train manager due to coronavirus.
Omicron is causing staff shortages in all areas of the UK, with hospitals in parts of England with the highest infection rates predicting that one-third of NHS staff could be off sick by January.
The Guardian reported that the NHS might set up field hospitals in carparks of hospitals. These would be staffed with Army medics. This raises further questions over the decision to close Nightingale Hospitals.
In the meantime, bin collections were disrupted and Heathrow staffing shortfalls led to pre-Christmas travel chaos including delays at check-ins, passport controls, baggage reclaim and delay at check-in.
Royal Mail officials are warning about delays in postal services for Christmas. Amazon is stepping up to deliver lateral flow test results.
Train companies blamed cancellations in the transportation sector on employee sicknesses and isolation needs. Nearly 9 percent of employees were absent during the week. 13% of UK train services were cancelled Monday or delayed on Monday.
In the 7 days preceding Monday, more than 1 in 20 trains was cancelled, compared to the 2.9% annual average.
Operators appealed Tuesday to travellers to make reservations for earlier services while advising them of possible cancellations at the last minute in the coming days.
The train companies claim they will take extra precautions to help people reach their destinations. They may run longer trains or cancel non-safety critical training so that they can prioritise service.
CrossCountry customers who use CrossCountry services will be affected on Christmas Eve/New Year’s Eve by the strike of RMT union workers.
Mick Lynch, General Secretary of Cross Country said Wednesday that Cross Country had made a deliberate effort to subvert the senior conductors’ and train managers’ roles by recruiting other employees to perform their duties.
Today’s figures by UKHSA show that Omicron confirmed cases increased in England by 69% compared to the previous day. The numbers rose from 9,427 up to 23,168
Cross Country must understand they have competent and trained guards who are ready and available to help.
“They must stop using subterfugel measures to train other employees for the job of guard. If people could just do their jobs and stopped worrying about the safety of others, this strike would be over.
“Our members are not going to tolerate these attacks and this is why they’re taking actions over Christmas and the New Year.
“We are currently in discussions with the company, which allows them to prioritize safety and resolve this issue.”
Tuesday night saw the seven-day self-isolation limit reduced from ten to seven. That means hundreds of thousands of individuals who have been stuck at home for many months will be able see loved ones by Christmas Day. Officials reduced the quarantine period for confirmed cases of virus if they tested negative two consecutive days with lateral flow.
This decision also aims to stop Omicron’s staffing crisis, which has seen huge absences in the NHS, public sector and businesses.
As millions of Britons prepare to travel to their families for the winter holidays, rail firms have announced a raft of cancellations and delays between now and Christmas Day.
As Omicron outbreaks are on the rise, rail travelers should ensure they check their train service before traveling to Christmas.
Seb Gordon (director of External Communications at the Rail Delivery Group), stated that 19 of the 20 trains still ran over the past week, and that operators were running as many trains possible.
He explained that “We believe that at this moment in time, when people try to get away, fewer people than normal, but many people still trying to make it away, we think it’s essential to prioritize running as many trains possible even if we have to cancel a few times.”
“But, obviously as we move further into the wave of the pandemic (which we hope won’t materialise the way people anticipate), it might be that we realize that we must prepare for a lower staffing level over a longer time period and that the timeline will need to be reduced.
“Obviously, today’s Government announcement of a reduced isolation period will really help,”
The most affected are long distance railway services.
CrossCountry stated that it expects widespread disruption in its services this week. Services are likely to begin later than usual and end earlier. Some trains may have fewer cars.
Positive Covid cases are now isolated for 10 to 7 days. This allows up to 280,000 people to celebrate Christmas, as well as easing the burden of the NHS’s crippling absentee problem. However, unvaccinated contact must be quarantined for 10 days
Today’s announcement by health officials was that anyone who tests positive for Covid may be released within seven days instead of 10, provided they complete two lateral flow testing at the end.
After a modification in isolation rules, more than 280,000 coronavirus-infected people can enjoy Christmas with their families.
Today’s announcement by health officials was that anyone who tests positive for Covid may be released within seven days instead of 10, provided they complete two lateral flow testing at the end.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, (UKHSA), infected patients may take tests at 24 hours intervals on days six and seven of their isolation periods. If negative, they can cease quarantining.
The new rules will allow the people who were positive for the virus to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones.
This has been also hailed as a significant boost to NHS. Sajid Javid, Health Secretary was reported to be concerned by how many staff have been absent from work due the virus.
Unvaccinated individuals who come in contact with Covid-infected persons must remain isolated for at least 10 days.
Rail Delivery Group’s spokeswoman stated that while staff may be vulnerable, it is not uncommon for them to contract the virus. But, like last year, when the pandemic hit, she will work to ensure key workers get the support they require.
“We don’t have the ability to operate every train according to plan at this time, but people still want to feel confident that they will get their train on schedule. Therefore we are going to work hard to make sure people know what to expect and how to verify before they go.
Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of Independent Watchdog Transport Focus said: “It is better to temporarily withdraw some services on a plan basis rather than have chaos last-minute cancellations.
These are more difficult for passengers and can lead to congestion.
“Passengers require clear and reliable information in order to plan their travels. Anybody who purchased tickets should be informed and given alternatives, or money back.
Christmas Day is traditionally the day that public transport in the UK closes. However, services usually operate on Boxing Day to Heathrow, which happens to be one of the busiest days at the airport.
Heathrow introduced a £5 fee for cars dropping off passengers at terminal forecourts on November 1.
This has been confirmed by the airport.
Long-stay parking will allow passengers to be dropped off at no cost. However, shuttles to main terminals are available every 15 minutes. The journey can also take up to 5 minutes so it is worth allowing extra time.
The following routes were also affected by Network Rail’s holiday engineering works:
Southern’s Gatwick Airport trains to London Bridge will replace London Victoria from December Day through January 3.
Leeds will be offering a reduced service, including one on January 2, and a “very limited” service on December 27, 2013.
No service between London King’s Cross Station and Finsbury Park during Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Between December 27 and 31, CrossCountry trains won’t call Bristol Parkway. There will also be disruptions to Great Western Railway services from and to Bristol Temple Meads.
You can check with your train operator to find out how affected you are.
Network Rail stated that the 370 projects it will be carrying out this Christmas were planned months, and sometimes years in advance.
In addition, it stated that 95 percent of Britain’s rail network would be open.
Andrew Haines (CEO Network Rail) stated: “While there is some critical work being done to improve our railway, but we have worked closely with train operators in order to minimise the impact on passenger so they can spend their Christmas with their family and friends.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the many rail workers that will continue to work to maintain services, as well as those who are delivering improvements to our railway to make it more reliable and safer for passengers.