A BUSY motorway has been closed after a lorry crash, causing chaos for motorists – as trains are also delayed and stations hit the line to get home for Christmas.
A heavy vehicle overturned on the M40 in Oxfordshire – causing all lanes to close between junctions J8A and J6.
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The accident happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning between junctions 7 and 6 of the M40Credit: National Highways
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A lorry overturned on the M40, causing road chaos Credit: National Highways
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Christmas Eve commuters on the M3 near Winchester in HampshireCredit: PA
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Passengers pack up from London Euston station on Christmas EveCredit: LNP
The lorry was left hanging over a safety barrier in the path of a public footpath – while staff tried to get it out safely.
Work will also be required to repair the damaged safety barrier.
National Highways say the only way to do this is to close the road completely.
Motorists have been told to expect delays of 45 minutes – with queues up to Junction 9.
Craig Sowden, National Highways Eastern Region Operations Manager, said: “This collision has left the HGV balancing precariously over the footpath used by members of the public below.
“We have considered all possible options, but the only way to resolve this situation is to close the carriageway.”
It comes on the busiest day for a getaway, according to the RAC, with 3.8 car journeys expected today.
This is almost 800,000 more than yesterday, when it was estimated that around 3 million people took to the roads.
Queues were seen on the M3 near Winchester, Hampshire this morning – as shoppers flooded into the town to do their shopping.
To add to the chaos, traffic on the M62 near Rochdale came to a standstill after the horses escaped from a nearby field onto the motorway.
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Today is the busiest Christmas getaway of the year, according to RACCredit: PA
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Network Rail has warned that many train services into London Euston and beyond will face disruption due to planned engineering worksCredit: LNP
Public transport is also packed with holiday commuters, with disruptions to some train services threatening to further disrupt Christmas plans.
Passengers boarding South Western Rail trains between London Waterloo and Guildford have been warned of delays due to construction work – as all lines at Clandon are blocked for the day.
A shortage of signaling staff also caused disruption between York and Leeds via Knaresborough this morning – with some trains canceled and others delayed by up to 20 minutes.
And those traveling by train from Rugby to London were told their trains would be diverted 30 minutes via Northampton.
This was caused by a train breakdown between Rugby and Milton Keynes.
Meanwhile in Scotland, trains between Edinburgh and Tweedbank are delayed due to a signaling fault.
The network also warned that many train services in and out of London Euston will face disruption due to planned building work today – with crowds earlier seen building up next to the notice boards.
As well as train stations and motorways, high streets today are also packed with last-minute Christmas shoppers – with social media users reporting “absolute carnage”.
The Christmas chaos began last week, with severe weather causing problems for fliers and rail passengers.
In Scotland, travelers were warned of disruption to trains, flights and ferries yesterday – due to 82mph winds.
And the same fierce storms left hundreds of Britons stranded in Portugal on Sunday after their flights were cancelled.
A canceled EasyJet flight from Madeira to Gatwick has left passengers scrambling for alternative routes.
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Source: HIS Education