UK Faces Perfect Storm of Easter Travel Disasters as Strikes Rail Closures Flood Warnings and Airport Chaos Disrupt Millions

Published on April 18, 2025

UK Easter holiday hit by major travel chaos as rail closures, airport strikes, road gridlock, and flood risks disrupt plans for millions across the long weekend.

Millions of travelers across the UK are bracing for a chaotic Easter weekend, as a wave of transport disruptions threatens to derail holiday plans. With a mix of rail engineering works, industrial action, flooding concerns, and road congestion, the long weekend is shaping up to be one of the most challenging getaways in years.

Network Rail has confirmed that over 300 engineering projects will take place from Good Friday through Easter Monday. London Euston will be among the hardest-hit, with services to and from Milton Keynes suspended on Saturday and Sunday due to critical overhead line renewals and drainage upgrades. Limited trains will operate on Friday and Monday, while long-distance services on the West Coast Main Line will terminate at Carlisle. Northern stations will depend heavily on rail replacement buses.

In London, platforms 1 to 8 at Victoria station will be closed, prompting Southeastern to divert services to Cannon Street and London Bridge. Key routes through Southampton and Brockenhurst will also see closures. Network Rail’s Tim Hamlin explained that the Easter period provides a strategic window for essential works, thanks to lower ridership and the extended public holiday.

Despite the disruptions, a significant £86 million investment in rail infrastructure is being deployed over the weekend.

Air travel will not be spared either. More than 100 workers employed by Red Handling at Gatwick Airport—handling ground services for airlines such as Norwegian and Delta—will walk off the job throughout the holiday. The strike, led by Unite, stems from unresolved disputes over pay and pensions and involves essential personnel like baggage handlers and check-in agents.

Roads are expected to be gridlocked as an estimated 20 million drivers take to the highways on Good Friday alone. In anticipation, National Highways has lifted roadworks across 1,100 miles of motorways and A roads to reduce delays, but heavy traffic is still anticipated.

ABTA estimates that around 2.2 million UK residents will travel abroad during the Easter break, with the busiest outbound traffic expected on Good Friday.

Aviation analytics firm Cirium projects over 11,280 flight departures from UK airports over the four-day stretch, with top international destinations including Dublin, Amsterdam, Malaga, Alicante, and Mallorca.

As the Easter weekend approaches, travelers are strongly advised to plan ahead, check transport schedules, and prepare for potential delays across all modes of travel.