'Snarl-up Saturday': Rail and road issues forecast

People are being warned not to travel on major routes across the north west of England to avoid the worst of the predicted Christmas holiday traffic.

Drivers have been urged to avoid the M53 from Chester to Liverpool for six hours on Friday and then again on Saturday, while signalling work at Crewe means rail users will see delays and cancellations on services through to the town to Liverpool, Manchester and the wider North-West.

The RAC and transport analytics company Inrix said roads were likely to be busiest between 13:00 and 19:00 GMT on both days.

RAC spokesperson Alice Simpson said: "While the getaway starts to ramp up from Friday, snarl-up Saturday looks particularly challenging, as does Christmas Eve."

The RAC said it commissioned a survey of 2,100 UK adults which suggested three million leisure trips by car were planned for 20 December, rising to 3.7m on 21 December.

Getaway traffic is expected to peak on Christmas Eve, with 3.8 million journeys.

An estimated total of 29.3 million festive journeys will be made between Wednesday and Christmas Eve, which is the most since the RAC began recording data in 2013.

Ms Simpson said travelling outside peak hours "might be the only way drivers miss the worst of the jams".

National Highways said more than 95% of roadworks on its network of England's motorways and major A roads would be lifted from 6:00 GMT on 20 December and would not be reinstated until 2 January.

Meanwhile, rail engineering work would lead to more pressure on the roads with several lines closed.

There will be no direct services between Crewe and Liverpool, and a reduced service between Crewe and Manchester from Saturday December 28 until Friday January 3.

There are also fears that staffing shortages at train operators will cause disruption.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected]