With the rail network paralysed for millions due to strike and maintenance work, many hoping to get away will have no alternative but to drive or fly – but “carnage” has already been reported
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M5: Motorists suffer traffic delays ahead of May Bank Holiday
Bank Holiday travel chaos is already well underway as hundreds of thousands of Brits plot their weekend getaway escapes amid rail mayhem and packed roads.
Huge airport queues have been forming with demoralising train and motorway warnings issued as many look to make the most of their extra day off with the M5 has been closed in both directions due a lorry crash.
It comes after “Carnage” has been reported at Manchester and Gatwick airports already, with passengers suffering long delays at Birmingham as keen holidaymakers were caught in long lines trying to board their flights.
But it is not just a case of flyer beware – around 17million motorists are expected to be on the roads.
Some have been pushed into their cars with £70million-worth of rail engineering works and strikes crippling the already reduced rail network.
Have you experienced travel chaos this May Bank Holiday? Email [email protected]
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Drivers on the M5 are facing serious delayed after the collision between junction 22 and junction 21, the seaside down on Weston-super-Mare.
Avon and Somerset Police are at the scene and a diversion route is in place.
The airport problems started early and pictures of the mayhem have circulated widely on social media with one report of passengers being ‘stuck’ on a runway.
Some travellers claimed they had been left on a plane at Birmingham Airport with ground staff nowhere to be seen.
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Twitter users claimed they were stranded after arriving on a LoganAir flight from Inverness.
One posted this morning: “This is a new one. Arrived on LoganAir flight at Birmingham and at the gate.
“But no ground staff to even put chocks on wheels, or open doors to the terminal.
“Pilot has got off the plane to ‘see if he can flag someone to help’.”
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Manchester Airport was in disarray this morning as massive queues at check-in, due to staffing shortages.
But it’s not just airports where people are reporting issues – rail and roads are also expected to pose a big problem until Tuesday.
Passengers travelling between London Euston and Scotland were urged to travel either side of the long weekend.
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Rail customers in the North East are also being advised to avoid travel by train ahead of strike action.
Track and signal upgrades also mean 550 routes will be closed over the three-day weekend – with many trains from the north only making it as far as Milton Keynes.
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines urged everyone to pre-plan trips.
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He said: “While the majority of our network will be open for business as usual, we’re asking passengers who are planning to use the railway over the Early May bank holiday to check their journey in advance.
“Teams across Network Rail will be delivering £70 million worth of upgrades, helping to make the railway more reliable and fit for the future.”
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That means many hoping to get away will have no alternative but to drive.
RAC traffic spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Easter might only have been a couple of weeks ago, but it looks as though plenty of drivers are still looking to make the most of this May Day bank holiday.
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“We expect routes to classic tourist hotspots – especially the coasts – to clog up on Friday afternoon and through Saturday morning, although according to our research Monday could turn out to be the busiest day of the long weekend.
“Preparation is paramount though to avoid an inconvenient breakdown at the side of the road – it’s a fact that the majority of the jobs our patrols will attend this weekend will be avoidable if drivers spend just a little time checking their vehicles are ‘road-ready'”.
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Passengers spoke of the issues at Birmingham Airport.
Michael Sutcliffe, from Scotland, had been waiting to board his delayed flight. It took him 90 minutes to get through security.
He claimed there was “chaos” at security today with queues “right through both terminals”.
He said: “Many folk at risk of missing flights. One poor staff member trying to deal with customer frustrations. Where is the management?”
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A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: “We had a busy start today with around 16,500 customers booked to fly out. Queues were long but managed and moving. We thank customers for their patience and understanding.
“Once people cleared our boarding pass gate, wait times for security ranged from 15 minutes to just over half an hour.
“As always, our message to departing customers is: please arrive at the airport at the time your airline advises, and help us help you keep queues moving by presenting compliant hand luggage – removing all liquids, gels, pastes and electrical items – before the security x-ray scanners.”
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