Christmas getaway to begin as millions take to roads

The Christmas getaway is set to begin, with millions travelling home for Christmas over the coming days.

A total of 37 million cars will hit the UK's roads, according to the RAC, starting after work on Friday, with Saturday set to be the busiest day since records began.

Those using trains to and from Wales will face some disruption over the festive period - engineering works on lines to Bristol and London will last from 27 December until New Year's Day.

It is also positive news for those using ferries. The busiest sea route between Britain and Ireland - Holyhead port on Anglesey - was shut last year because of damage caused by Storm Darragh, but is fully operational this Christmas.

However, as schedules are still being affected by Storm Bram earlier this month, Irish Ferries asked passengers between Holyhead and Dublin and Pembroke and Rosslaire to ensure they have a confirmed booking, and check the status of their sailing before travelling.

With the getaway likely to gather pace after work on Friday, there will be lengthy delays at peak times, according to transport analytics experts INRIX.

Delays of more than half an hour are expected from as early as 07:30 GMT, on the M4 eastbound from Newport and the Brynglas Tunnels towards the Prince of Wales Bridge into England.

Outside Wales, queues of more than half an hour are expected on the M25 clockwise around London, as well as on the M60 around Manchester, and the M62 for Leeds.

On the two busiest days over the getaway period – Saturday and Christmas Eve – the RAC and INRIX are advising drivers to expect lengthy delays on major roads between 11:00 and 19:00, when most journeys will be made.

Motoring organisation RAC forecasts that Friday, Saturday and Wednesday will see the most cars on the road.

The organisation predicts 3.6m trips in the UK on Friday, 4.1m on Saturday - the busiest since records began- and 3.5m on Sunday.

There could be a slower period on Monday and Tuesday - only 3.1 and 3m journeys planned.

But volumes of traffic could be the highest since Covid on Christmas Eve, with 4.2m journeys planned.

As with previous years, services on most routes will finish at 21:00 on Christmas Eve before shutting down for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Transport for Wales warned some services may be re-timed or changed between 24th to 31st of December due to essential engineering works.

Further works will cause disruption to Bristol and London lines from Cardiff between 27 December and New Year's Day, which may mean replacement bus services and terminated lines.

From 29 December to 1 January 2026, engineering work will take place between Whitland, Carmarthenshire and Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.

From Sunday 4 January to Saturday 24 January 2026, the Aberdare line to Pontypridd will be closed due to works in Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf..

Full details can be found online for Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales.

Holyhead port on Anglesey is the busiest between Britain and Ireland - with about two million passengers using it each year, and 1,200 lorries and trailers make the crossing every day.

Last year, many families described how they were struggling to get home for Christmas after it closed because of damage caused by Storm Darragh.

But there are not any disruptions currently expected over the festive period this year.

A spokesperson for the Port of Dover said it expects nearly 30,000 cars heading to Europe over the period, with Friday and Saturday looking the busiest.

They urged motorists to not arrive more than two hours in advance and to stick to main roads.