Early holiday promises an easier time on the roads

With London's state schools not breaking up until after the long weekend and predictions of icy conditions across much of Britain discouraging travel, the AA believes the traditional mass getaway will not materialise tomorrow evening.

It estimates that only about 6.5 million cars will take to the roads over the weekend, compared with nearly 18 million last year. An AA spokesman said: "There will be peaks but we believe it will be quieter than usual because the late holidays at many schools have caught people out."

But he added: "People should not underestimate traffic levels - there will still be people going away for the weekend."

The RAC forecasts that one in five motorists will travel at some point over the break, causing periods of congestion on many roads out of London.

Meanwhile, large sections of the railway network and London Underground will be closed over Easter, causing major disruption for passengers.

George Muir, director general of the Association of Train Operating Companies-said up to three million people would travel tomorrow and Good Friday would also be busy.

Network Rail, which is facing its first big test since it was fined £14million for disruption to travel after New Year, said it had chosen the Easter holiday to carry out major engineering work because fewer passengers than normal-would be travelling. A spokesman said: "Some of the engineering projects are so big that we require more than the usual two-day weekend."

Brian Cooke, chairman of London TravelWatch, said: "The companies have consulted us over the Easter closures. There is need for the work to be done. Passengers will accept this provided-they are given adequate warning of changes to service and, most importantly, the service reopens on time."

Anthony Smith of watchdog body Passenger Focus said: "As long as passengers are able to easily access information and plan their journeys, they will be more understanding of the short-term inconvenience."

RAIL AND TUBE PASSENGERS FACE SEVERE DELAYS

RAIL

* West Coast Main Line: closed from Friday to Monday between Coventry, Rugby and Northampton and from Euston on Saturday and Monday. No inter-city services from Euston on Friday. Local train services will operate between Euston and Northampton. Buses replace trains at other times. * East Coast Main Line: from 2pm on Saturday until 2pm on Sunday, services between King's Cross and the North-East and Scotland will be diverted via Leeds because of engineering work between Doncaster and York.
* Great Western: services between Didcot Parkway, Swindon and Chippenham disrupted for all four days. Trains diverted or replaced by buses.
* South West: services from Waterloo subject to changes and diversions due to engineering work at Clapham Junction over all four days.
* East Anglia and Essex coast: services to and from Liverpool Street will suffer disruption over all four days. Buses replace trains between Gidea Park, Billericay and Ingatestone. On Sunday and Monday other services to and from London will operate to an alternative timetable.

ROADS

The Highways Agency has suspended two-thirds of roadworks on motorways and major A-roads during the break. But 43 sets of roadworks will remain in place, including those from junctions 1-3 on the M25 near Dartford, on the A3 near Hindhead and Liphook, the M4 near Slough and Chieveley, the A2 at Broughton Hill and the M11 near Theydon Bois as well as those near Gravesend.

TUBE

The following closures will apply over all four days:
* Circle line: no service due to engineering work at Sloane Square.
* District: no service between Earl's Court and Whitechapel; buses replace trains between South Kensington and Aldgate East but late night only. * Metropolitan: closed between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Aldgate; buses replace trains between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Willesden Green.
* Jubilee: no service between Neasden and Kingsbury with buses replacing trains.
* Waterloo & City: No service on Saturday; line normally closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
* Hammersmith & City: more trains than usual between Hammersmith and Barking to offset the closure of Circle and disruption to District line. The following stations will be closed on Friday and Monday: Borough, Cannon Street, Chancery Lane, Mornington Crescent, Shoreditch and Temple.

STATE SCHOOLS AND EASTER

London state schools will not break up until 4 April. They normally incorporate Easter into their holidays but with it falling so early this year, heads believe it is better to bring pupils back after Bank Holiday Monday than to have a short term between Christmas and Easter and an unusually long term from Easter until the summer break.