South East braced for busy festive getaway

Roads, railways, ferries and airports across south-east England are bracing themselves for one of the busiest periods of the year as the Christmas getaway reaches its peak.

More than 25,000 cars are expected to travel out through the Port of Dover with peak times expected between 06:00 and 13:00 GMT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Gatwick Airport is expecting its "busiest festive getaway since the pandemic", according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Meanwhile, National Highways said it had completed more than 300 miles (482.8km) of roadworks on motorways and main roads in Kent, Sussex and Surrey to facilitate a seasonal increase in traffic.

A traffic-holding system for lorries queueing to cross the English Channel is in place again in the run up to Christmas until 06:00 on Monday.

The Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) has deployed Operation Brock on the M20 between junctions eight (Maidstone) and nine (Ashford).

Operation Brock sees lorries heading to Dover queue on one side of the M20, with the other carriageway operating as a contraflow, with traffic travelling in both directions.

Elsewhere, National Highways has removed roadworks on key roads including 48 miles on the M3 in Surrey (junctions 1-4), 75 miles on the M20, 55 miles on the A2 and 74 miles on the A21.

Andrew Butterfield, National Highways customer service director, said: "With more people expected to travel during the festive period and recent storms causing widespread disruption, it's crucial for drivers to plan ahead and exercise extra caution on the roads."

The Port of Dover is advising those sailing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday not to arrive earlier than the two hours requested.

It said with the completion of infrastructure works for the EU's new entry/exit system it would have "much more capacity available at the port this December in order to offer a swifter travel experience".

Doug Bannister, chief executive, said: "We do appreciate our customers' support if they do experience a longer wait time due to the amount of traffic, but rest assured you will get away on the next available crossing."

Many train services across Kent, Sussex and Surrey will be altered during the festive period, rail operators say.

From Saturday, fewer services than usual will run as the rail network gets ready for the Christmas and New Year period.

Network Rail often uses holiday periods to do major engineering works, when fewer people are commuting to and from work.

There will be no National Rail services on Christmas Day as usual this year.

On Boxing Day most train operators will have no service.

Last December almost 11 million passengers jetted off from UK airports for the festive season, according to the UK CAA.

Gatwick was one of the busiest of those airports.

A total of 1,635,732 passengers travelled through it in December 2023.

The CAA launched a seasonal campaign at Gatwick on Wednesday urging people to pack safely and know their consumer rights.

Andrew McConnell, deputy director of communications, said: "If you're jetting off on a Christmas getaway, it's important to know your passenger rights before you travel."

A Gatwick spokesperson offered some festive tips: "Passengers can take up to two boxes of unopened crackers in hand luggage as well as mince pies, Christmas puddings and even frozen turkeys.

"But travellers are not allowed wrapped presents in any plane's cabin."

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