Bank Holiday Getaway: Drivers and Rail Passengers Warned of Major Delays Across Britain

Published: 19 August 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

Millions of holidaymakers across Britain are being urged to prepare for significant disruption on roads and rail networks over the upcoming August bank holiday weekend, as transport organisations warn of unprecedented levels of congestion and widespread engineering works. With almost 18 million car journeys predicted between Friday and Monday, alongside more than 260 rail projects planned across the country, the long weekend could become one of the busiest and most challenging of the year for travellers in England and Wales.

According to the RAC, motorists heading for popular coastal regions and airports are likely to experience severe hold-ups, particularly across the south-east and south-west of England. The M5 between Bristol and Devon has been highlighted as one of the most problematic routes, with transport analytics firm Inrix predicting delays exceeding 40 minutes on Friday and Saturday between junction 15 north of Bristol and junction 23 for Bridgewater. Drivers travelling through Kent to cross the Channel at Dover or Folkestone have also been warned to expect queues of more than half an hour on the M20.

Experts are advising drivers to plan their journeys carefully and avoid peak times where possible. The quietest periods on the roads are expected to be after 7pm on Friday, before 9am on Saturday and before 11am on Monday, with Sunday forecast to bring comparatively lighter traffic. Even with careful planning, however, congestion is expected to be unavoidable on some of the UK’s busiest motorways and A-roads.

The RAC has also raised concerns about the impact of soaring traffic levels on vehicle reliability. Nick Mullender, the organisation’s repairs team leader, warned that breakdowns were likely to increase as drivers take to the roads in greater numbers, especially if warm weather encourages last-minute trips. “More traffic on the roads will inevitably lead to more vehicle breakdowns, especially if the sun makes an appearance and people decide on the day to visit popular destinations,” he said. “Anyone planning routes through these areas should set off as early as possible or be prepared to spend longer in traffic.”

Rail passengers, meanwhile, face their own set of challenges, with Network Rail announcing that 261 engineering projects will be carried out over the weekend. Long-distance travellers on some of the UK’s busiest lines will be worst affected. On Sunday, services on the east coast mainline between London King’s Cross and Peterborough will be suspended, disrupting routes operated by LNER and Lumo that connect to Scotland. Avanti West Coast has confirmed that trains to and from London Euston will be significantly reduced, with no services running between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International from Saturday through Monday. CrossCountry and Avanti services will be diverted, adding time to journeys, while London Northwestern will operate only to and from Birmingham International.

Network Rail has defended the disruption, stressing that while the majority of routes will remain open, some closures are unavoidable if long-term improvements are to be delivered. Helen Hamlin, the organisation’s chief network operator, explained: “While the vast majority of the railway will be running, works on some parts of the network are unfortunately unavoidable as we complete major work to support a better, more reliable railway that we wouldn’t be able to complete in a normal weekend. So we’re asking passengers to check their journeys in advance to ensure their route isn’t affected.”

With millions set to hit the roads and railways, authorities are urging the public to prepare for longer journey times and to stay updated with the latest travel information. For many, the August bank holiday represents one of the last opportunities to enjoy a summer break, but for those travelling, patience and planning may prove to be as essential as tickets and luggage.