Millions of Britons embarking on their Christmas getaways faced significant disruption on Wednesday 24 December 2025, as a combination of rail staff shortages and a major motorway closure created a perfect storm of festive travel chaos.
Rail Services Disrupted by Staffing Crisis
Passengers travelling with Great Western Railway (GWR) on Christmas Eve were hit by cancellations and delays. Services on the key route between Reading and Gatwick Airport were severely disrupted due to an acute shortage of onboard train staff.
The operator confirmed the problems began in the morning and were expected to persist until at least 5pm on 24 December, leaving many scrambling to find alternative transport to reach airports and family gatherings.
Major Motorway Shut for Over a Week
Meanwhile, drivers in the South of England were contending with a far more prolonged closure. The M27 motorway was completely closed in both directions between Junction 9 and Junction 11 from 8pm on Christmas Eve.
This critical route, linking Southampton and Portsmouth, will remain shut until 4 January, causing a major headache for holiday traffic. A signed diversion has been established via the A27, but Highways England has warned drivers to anticipate daily delays, particularly between 10am and 4pm.
Heavy Traffic Predicted on Key Routes
The road closures and rail issues came on one of the busiest travel days of the year. The RAC had predicted that a staggering 4.2 million separate leisure journeys by car would be made across the UK on Christmas Eve.
They forecast that traffic would be heaviest on major arteries like the M25 and the M5 during the peak window of 1pm to 7pm. With over 22 million cars estimated to be on the roads nationwide, motoring organisations urged caution.
Both the RAC and the AA issued clear advice to motorists planning festive trips:
- Set off as early as possible to avoid the worst of the congestion.
- Conduct essential vehicle checks before departing (tyres, fuel, oil, coolant).
- Prepare for lengthy delays by packing water, snacks, and entertainment.
The combination of infrastructure closures and record festive traffic volumes created a challenging end to the year for transport networks, underscoring the fragility of travel plans during the peak holiday period.
