Easter gridlock fears ease

Some of Britain busiest rail routes were reduced to weekend timetables amid a four-day £75 million engineering programme coinciding with the annual Easter getaway as well as wintry weather conditions.

But as pressure on the roads and railways from the annual exodus passed its peak, dire warnings of nationwide gridlock appeared to have been overblown.

Motoring groups reported heavy delays on some major roads as Britons took advantage of the Bank Holiday, but said most routes were flowing freely although busy.

Travellers on the M1, M4 and M5 were among those who were snarled up in jams with pressure particularly pronounced in parts of the South West, East Midlands and Wales.

Rail operators reported services running "smoothly" while conceding that forecasts of snow could yet have an effect.

With most travellers opting to join the getaway early to make the most of the four-day weekend, pressure on both roads and the railways was said to have peaked by mid-afternoon on Friday.

The next major pressure point is expected to be Easter Monday although rail operators hope the return home will be staggered, easing pressure to some extent.

Around 6,000 workers are involved in track-laying and bridge repair jobs affecting both the East and West Coast Main Lines among others. Some of the country's busiest stations, such as Clapham Junction in south London, were also involved.

A similar works programme over New Year over-ran by four days, crippling services between London and Scotland just as millions of people were returning from work after the long Christmas break. Network Rail was hit with a record £14 million by the Office of Rail Regulation because of the disruption.