Travellers face Easter getaway travel disruption

As the Easter holiday is set to begin, millions of Britons are getting ready to getaway but may find their travel plans subject to delays and disruptions.

With an estimated 15-16 million cars are expected to take to the road, many travellers hoping to get a headstart this morning found themselves held up anyway due to the part-closure of a major route to the West Country.

The A303 was shut between the junction of the M3 at North Waltham and the junction of the A34 at Bullington in Hampshire because of an overturned vehicle.

Those planning to travel by train have been advised to check their routes as some rail services face disruption due to engineering works, with the West Coast main line particularly badly affected.

The affected rail services include:

• Major work at Watford there will be no Virgin or London Midland trains in or out of London's Euston station between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

• Virgin trains will run no further south than Milton Keynes, Rugby or Northampton.

• There will be no direct London Midland services between Euston and Hemel Hempstead.

• Work on the West Coast line between Crewe and Warrington and between Carlisle and Glasgow will severely restrict Virgin services to northern England and Scotland.

• There will also be no Southeastern services to or from the London's Charing Cross, Waterloo East or Cannon Street.

Other areas affected due to engineering work include parts of Kent, lines running through Reading and some services from Paddington.

Virgin is "strongly recommending" that passengers do not travel between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Network Rail's route managing director Martin Frobisher said of the Watford project:

Meanwhile, as the promise of sunny weather and scenic surroundings lure many to reach for their passports and head abroad, air travellers are also being advised to set off in good time.