Good Friday travel LIVE UK traffic updates as Easter bank holiday weekend begins (2025)

Metrolink works

If you're in town today, a reminder that the tram line between Victoria and Piccadilly is still closed for repairs. If you're trying to between the two station you need to change at St Peters Square.

Until Wednesday 23 April, tram track renewal works are taking place in the city centre, between Market Street and Shudehill.

As a result, no trams will operate via Market Street or Shudehill.

Use our walking map to get between city centre stops: https://t.co/c5ujWAsFiF pic.twitter.com/ZSBHt3UqTz

— Bee Network (@BeeNetwork) April 18, 2025

When is London Euston closed?

Lines to and from London Euston will be closed from Saturday 19 to Monday 21 April causing major disruption in and out of the city.

Renewal of overhead lines, switches and crossings (that allow trains to move from one track to another) and drainage work will be taking place to improve reliability. Alternative ways of getting to and from central London will be available from the north west, Birmingham, and Milton Keynes

Amanda Webster-Uz, Network Rail’s head of Euston station operations, said: "There’s a significant amount of work happening over the Easter bank holiday to improve the reliability of the railway for both passengers and freight.

"Whilst the railway to Euston is closed, we’re also taking the opportunity to improve the station itself, which will include improving our signage and upgrading our toilet facilities for customers.

"We’re encouraging passengers to check their journeys in advance and, where possible, travel before or after the Easter weekend."

Current state of play on Greater Manchester's roads

The motorways around the region are thankfully looking pretty clear at the moment. There's a bit of congestion at the northern end of the M61 where it meets the M65 and the M6. The M6 heading in both directions is also looking pretty busy around that junction.

Elsewhere there's slow traffic on the M60 in both directions near junction 12 for the M602.

M61 fire

There are queues on the M61 northbound following a vehicle fire this afternoon.

Traffic is slow between junction eight at Chorley and nine for the M65.

Avanti delays

Avanti West Coast services near Manchester have been hit by disruption due to a broken down in Cheshire.

National Rail says services have been hit by delays of up to 30 minutes.

M1 crash

A crash on the M1 in Hertfordshire led to delays of up to an hour and five miles of congestion shortly before lunchtime.

Two of four lanes have ben closed on the motorway northbound between junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead and junction 9 at Redbourn.

Police, the fire service and ambulance service all attended the scene.

Queues are starting to ease this afternoon.

M6 queues

Queues remain on the M6 southbound through Cheshire between junctions 19 and 18, following the earlier collision.

There are also delays on the A57 Mottram Moor, affecting traffic heading between Manchester and Sheffield.

Millions to jet off

Not all travellers will stay in the UK this weekend.

Some 2.2 million people are expected to head abroad over the ban holiday, according to travel association Abta.

Good Friday is expected to be the busiest day for outbound travel over the Easter period.

A total of 11,282 flights are scheduled to leave UK airports over the four-day period, with popular destinations including Dublin, Amsterdam, Malaga, Alicante and Mallorca, aviation analytics firm Cirium says.

Motorway delays

Traffic is slow on the M6 southbound between junctions 19 and 18 in Cheshire, due to a collision.

One lane of traffic has been closed and queues are building in the area.

A lane has also closed on the M62 eastbound between junctions 11 and 12, approaching the M60, due to a broken down vehicle.

Gatwick strike

More than 100 members of the Unite union who work for ground handling firm Red Handling are on strike this weekend in a dispute over pensions and pay.

Staff involved include baggage handlers, check-in staff and flight dispatchers, with strike action beginning today.

It is understood to affect six airlines flying from the airport - Air Mauritius, Air Peace, Delta, Ethiopian Airlines, Norwegian and TAP.

A London Gatwick spokesperson said:

“We are aware of the recent ballot results and the planned industrial action by Red Handling UK which will impact thousands of passengers during one of our busiest times of year.

“We are supporting the airlines impacted, who hold the contracts directly with Red Handling, with their contingency plans.

“Passengers are advised to contact their airlines directly for latest information.”

North East trains stopped

Lines have been closed between Newcastle and Hartlepool while emergency services deal with an incident.

Passengers are warned to expect delays and cancellations uintil midday on Northern and Grand Central services.

'Trespass' incident

Railway lines are blocked in east Lancashire due to a 'trespass' incident betweeen Blackburn and Clitheroe.

Due to trespassers on the railway between Blackburn and Clitheroe all lines are blocked.
Train services are unable to run between Blackburn and Clitheroe in both directions and will be affected as follows -
Rochdale to Clitheroe - Services will terminate at Blackburn and will…

— NORTHERN (@northernassist) April 18, 2025

Today's rail engineering works

Several engineering projects are affecting rail services at points over the bank holiday weekend.

On Good Friday, services are being reduced at Cambridge, London Paddington, London Victoria and Southampton.

Passengers are urged to check the latest delays, diversions and cancellations for their journeys before they travel.

Metrolink works

Engineering works are ongoing in Manchester city centre, affecting Metrolink trams.

Both Market Street and Shudehill stops remain closed until Wednesday, April 23.

Services are being diverted through Exchange Square.

Hull Trains statement

Hull Trains, disputing Aslef's claims, previously said it followed highly regulated industry standard agreements and procedures for safety.

On today's strike, a spokesperson for the company added:

"The safety of our customers and colleagues remains our number one priority.

"Aslef have declined two recent offers that we have made for constructive talks and Hull Trains remains open to dialogue.

"There are minor alterations to our timetable, with details published on our website.

"The majority of our services are still operating as planned."

Hull Trains strike

Drivers at Hull Trains are striking today in a dispute over the sacking of a colleague.

The Aslef train drivers' union says the driver was unfairly sacked after raising a safety issue at a meeting, which Hull Trains disputes.

The company operates services between Hull and London King’s Cross, with stops at stations including Selby, Doncaster, Retford and Grantham.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said:

"The company’s failure to act responsibly has enormous implications, not just for rail workers and passengers at Hull Trains, but for staff and passengers right across the wider rail network.

"This is a moral issue because we have a culture on the railway designed to keep everyone safe.

"Anyone who works on the railway should be able to report a safety concern without fearing they will be penalised, punished, or lose their livelihood.

"The company has behaved deplorably.”

When to travel by road

The RAC has revealed the best and worst times to hit the road over the bank holiday weekend.

Find out more here

Queues form at Dover

Images show huge queues at the Port of Dover this morning.

In a post on X, the port warned of 'extended processing times' at Border Control with around a 40-minute wait both before the border and at the P&O Ferries check-in.

Rail disruption

More than 300 engineering projects will be carried out by Network Rail across Britain between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

A reduced timetable is in operation for many key routes, with passengers urged to check before they travel.

Network Rail says £86 million will be invested in the rail network during engineering projects held over the weekend.

Helen Hamlin, Network Rail’s director of system operations, said:

"The vast majority of the rail network will be open as usual for people wanting to travel over the Easter bank holiday, but there will be changes to services in some areas so we’re asking passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel."

Easter getaway

Millions across the UK will be setting off on roads, railways and flights for the Easter getaway.

The AA and RAC have both issued warnings to expect congestion in key traffic hotspots, including the M6 and M25.

Engineering work is also expected to cause disruption on several railway lines across the country this weekend.

Strike action at Gatwick Airport and on Hull Trains has begun today, with passengers urged to check before they travel.

Follow the latest updates from roads, railways and runways on this blog.