Boxing Day bargain hunters set to hit the high streets today have been warned that they could face severe traffic jams as a result of the ongoing rail strikes.
Today trains across Britain will be brought to a halt for the second day running, following a walkout by employees who are members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT).
The militant industrial action, which has already caused much disruption over the festive period, is now set to mare the post-Christmas sales.
The AA said it expects 15.2 million cars on the roads across the UK this Boxing Day, with football fans and eager shoppers among those most likely to travel.
The AA said it expects 15.2 million cars on the roads across the UK this Boxing Day, with football fans among those most likely to travel. Pictured: The Christmas rush on the M25
The RAC has warned that the M25 is expected to get clogged up.
Two hotspots for queues include junction 7 to 16 clockwise, and from junction four to one anti-clockwise.
A spokesman for the AA said: ‘Traffic is likely to build around shopping centres as lots of people seek a bargain in the sales, meanwhile football fans will travel to see their teams.
‘There is scope for localised traffic congestion and more short trips, but traffic should be dispersed throughout the day as people take their time after Christmas Day.’
This year’s shoppers are already expected to spend four per cent less on Boxing Day than in previous years as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.
Research by Barclaycard Payments found that the average shopper intends to buy £229 worth of items in the post-Christmas sales period, a reduction of £18 compared with 2021
Research by Barclaycard Payments found that the average shopper intends to buy £229 worth of items in the post-Christmas sales period, a reduction of £18 compared with 2021.
Industry insiders have said that retailers have been left with piles of unsold Christmas items as people continue to tighten their belts.
Rail passengers were warned about the impact of the train strikes a week ago, with Christmas Ever services finishing earlier than usual, as the Britain’s winter of discontent continues.
Network Rail had already told passengers to ‘only travel by train if absolutely necessary’ between the Christmas period to 8 January.
Boxing Day is usually an extremely popular day for airport transfers such as the Heathrow Express and Stansted Express.
This year, however, passengers will be forced to find other ways of getting to and from Britain’s airport.
Network Rail had already told passengers to ‘only travel by train if absolutely necessary’ between the Christmas period to 8 January
Other services across the country affected by the RMT strike include the Merseyrail, which was due to run a half-hourly service across Merseyside.
Chiltern Railways historically ran two trains an hour between London Marylebone and Oxford Parkway, calling at the Bicester Village outlet store.
ScotRail historically operated a Boxing Day service in the Strathclyde area with its first Boxing Day trains between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High in 2021.
Northern operated a service between Liverpool Lime Street and St Helens Central on Boxing Day last year.
Southern also served several routes on that day, connecting London Bridge with locations such as Brighton, Crystal Palace and East Croydon.
Meanwhile coach operators National Express and Megabus have experienced strong demand.
As many head to the airports, more than 1,000 Border Force staff are expected to walk out in the latest round of industrial action.
Border Force staff will be on strike, affecting passport control desks at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and Glasgow airports.
As a result military personnel have been drafted in to airports to keep passengers moving.
On Christmas Day passengers at Heathrow and Gatwick praised the ‘brilliant’ military for doing the job with ‘record’ efficiency today.
The Armed Forces have been deployed to six airports across the UK as Border Force staff strike
Throughout the winter months, Britain has seen union members from multiple different sectors striking over pay and working conditions over the last few months.
The Royal Mail walked out again on December 23 and stopped delivering letters and parcels – only prioritising special services.
Some 115,000 members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) went on strike for the then 17th day, having cost the organisation over £100million already.
It meant last minute cards and presents did not to make it in time for Christmas.
The Royal Mail said despite ‘well-developed contingency plans’ it ‘cannot fully replace the daily efforts of its frontline workforce’.
Members of the Royal College of Nursing also carried out industrial action last week on December 20, and the week before on December 15 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
As a result more than 40,000 patient appointments and procedures were rescheduled.
The union, who is battling with the Government to provide an above inflation pay rise, have called two more dates for strike action.
Unless a pay plan is negotiated, there will be two 12 hour walk outs on January 18 and 19.
Ambulance workers have also planned two more days of industrial action to commence on January 11 and 23, affecting London, Yorkshire, North West, North East and the South West.
Thousands of ambulance workers already walked out this week prompting ministers to warn people to be careful, ‘use common sense’ and avoid risks.
GMB had originally planned a second ambulance worker strike on December 28 but took the decision to cancel it to ‘allow people to enjoy Christmas’.
