Holidaymakers heading for the Easter weekend are dealing with 20-mile traffic jams, two-hour delays in Dover and train chaos on Friday afternoon.
The holiday traffic caused “pretty terrible” queues of 20 miles at the M4 and M5 junction near Bristol, adding 45 minutes to journey times as around 2.6 million car journeys were expected to be made on Good Friday.
There was also significant traffic congestion on the M25, with traffic particularly poor on the western side, with queues of 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, drivers approaching the Channel crossing had to wait two hours for processing, the Port of Dover warned.
While 175,000 people were due to depart from Stansted this weekend, Stansted Express train services from London were disrupted all day on Friday.
The disruption – which will affect trains between Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport and Cambridge North – is expected to last until 3pm.
Due to construction work, there will be no trains running to or from London Euston during the Easter weekend – with the exception of London Overground.
The Elizabeth Line, London Overground and DLR are all partially closed for maintenance work from Friday to Monday. There are also serious delays on the Central Line.
The South Western Railway, Southern, Thameslink and Southeastern routes will also be disrupted this weekend.
Network Rail has advised travelers to avoid the west coast mainline over the bank holiday, adding that work will also impact southern routes to and from London.
For more details and the latest travel updates, scroll down.
‘Pretty horrendous’ 20 mile queues on major motorways
14:47 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Holiday traffic has led to “pretty terrible” queues of 20 miles on major motorways, increasing journey times by 45 minutes.
Around 2.6 million car journeys would be made today, with “significant” congestion around the M25 and roads in the south-west and south-east by lunchtime.
The RAC said holidaymakers heading south were responsible for much of the traffic congestion, after forecasters predicted sunnier spells there in the coming days.
Queues of 15 to 20 miles were seen at the M4 and M5 junction near Bristol, adding 45 minutes to journey time.
Meanwhile, the western side of the M25 was described as “pretty bad” and “much worse than normal”, with queues of 40 minutes.
It was also busy at the top of the M20, with traffic jams towards Folkestone.
Traffic as a stalled truck blocks the A1261 in Blackwall
12:59 , Will Mata
Traffic has come to a standstill on one lane of the A1261 after a lorry came to a halt in Blackwall.
There are currently queues of around 8km on the northern route.
Disruption at Kensington Olympia is now expected until the end of the day
12:40 pm , Will Mata
Disruption is expected to continue on the overground route to Kensington Olympia until the end of the day.
The signaling error reported this morning has not been resolved on the route and the problem will persist, National Rail said.
Lines are now reopening after storm damage, but delays are still expected
12:33 , Will Mata
National Rail has said the problems with the overhead wires at Stanstead Mountfitchet have now been resolved.
The line north from London to Essex has now reopened, but a knock-on effect is causing disruption.
The latest reports show that this will be the case until 2 p.m.
Pictures show crowds of passengers at King’s Cross St Pancras as the Easter holidays continue
10:51 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Severe delays on Central Line
09:47 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks
TfL says there are serious delays between Epping and Loughton on the Central Line while it fixes a signal fault at Debden.
There are also minor delays on the rest of the line due to train cancellations.
No northbound trains calling at Kensington Olympia after a signal fault
09:34 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks
A fault in the signaling system means northbound services cannot call at Kensington Olympia.
Northern surface and southern rail services will run non-stop between West Brompton and Shepherds Bush, National Rail says.
This disruption is expected until midnight.
Storm damage cancels major train services to and from Liverpool Street
08:52 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks
🌳⚡️‼️ #StanstedMountfitchet – Last night a strong wind toppled trees and damaged overhead electricity wires. As a result, there are no trains running between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport/Cambridge.
đźš„A limited train service may operate between London…
— National Railways (@nationalrailenq) March 29, 2024
Major disruption to Liverpool Street trains, including Stansted Express, is expected until 10.30am
08:47 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Trains will not run between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport and Cambridge due to problems with the overhead wires, National Rail said.
A ‘do not travel’ warning has been issued to customers wishing to use these services.
The disruption is expected to last until 10:30 am. Services affected:
“Due to problems with the overhead lines at Stansted Mountfitchet, some lines are blocked,” the National Rail website says.
“Train services passing through this station may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised.
“Major disruption is expected until 10:30 am.
“Customers are asked NOT TO TRAVEL between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport and Cambridge.
“Due to issues with the overhead line between Harlow Town and Stansted Mountfichet, there are currently no trains running between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport and Cambridge.”
DLR partially closed all weekend
07:48 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks
The DLR is partially closed from Good Friday to Easter Monday and there is no service between Tower Gateway and Shadwell.
There will also be no service between Westferry/Canary Wharf and Stratford/Canning Town.
Only Bank-bound trains will serve West India Quay. Replacement buses will run between Westferry and Canning Town.
Elizabeth line disruption
07:20 , Matt Watts
TfL has said that a limited service will run between Paddington and Maidenhead/Heathrow between Good Friday and Saturday. All trains start and end at Paddington National Rail station. Heathrow Terminal 4, West Drayton, Langley, Slough, Burnham and Maidenhead are served by two trains per hour. West Ealing will be served by four trains per hour. Ealing Broadway, Southall and Hayes & Harlington are served by six trains per hour. There is no service between Abbey Wood / Stratford and Paddington from Good Friday to Easter Monday. Trains run between Shenfield and Liverpool Street National Rail station (not to Whitechapel) and between Paddington National Rail station and Heathrow/Reading.
London Overground affected
07:18 , Matt Watts
Transport for London warns that there will be no service between Highbury & Islington and New Cross / New Cross Gate / Clapham Junction between Good Friday and Easter Monday due to planned works.