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Easter travellers set for delays
Parts of Britain's rail network have been crippled as a "huge" engineering work programme planned for the Easter weekend got under way.
Timetables on some of the country's busiest routes were slashed to one train per hour or fewer as operators ran weekend services to make way for major track-laying and bridge repair jobs.
But amid fears that the disruption would drive millions on to the roads, motoring groups said the expected pressure on traffic appeared to have already peaked.
After gridlock in some areas on Thursday night, as predicted, the RAC said major routes across the country were flowing relatively freely - on a day without the usual commuter rush.
The organisation said the four-day holiday appeared to have forced families to try to get away early. Many of those who set off early were caught in delays on the M1, M3, M11, A1 or M26 on Thursday night and there was misery for drivers south of London when a stretch of the M25 was closed for several hours.
However, holidaymakers staying in Britain are facing a bitterly cold start to the long weekend, with forecasters warning that the wintry conditions are unlikely to improve.
An unsettled mix of sunshine and showers across much of the UK marred the start of Good Friday, while a "significant" wind chill kept temperatures feeling icy.
With Easter falling just one day off the earliest it can possibly be, forecasters are predicting snow in Scotland and some parts of north eastern and eastern England over the holiday period.
Rob Hutchinson, forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said temperatures could drop enough to bring hail, sleet and snow.
He warned motorists to beware of icy stretches on untreated roads early on Saturday, with temperatures throughout the day remaining "unseasonably cold". Easter Sunday temperatures could drop even lower, with a band of snow and sleet forecast to move down from the North.
For travel information from your local area click here.
3:04pm Friday 21st March 2008
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