Britons urged to drive home for Christmas amid growing threat of UK-wide train cancellations

Motorists are being advised to consider driving home for Christmas, rather than getting a train, to avoid major delays across the network.

National Rail has already announced a "considerable number" of engineering projects taking place in and around Christmas, with more set to be announced soon.

No trains will run to or from London Liverpool Street, the UK's busiest station, from December 27 until January 4, 2026, except the Elizabeth line.

London Waterloo will also see a suspension of services on December 27 and 28, while a limited timetable will be in place between December 29 and January 2.

Further delays are expected to be seen by travellers in the Midlands, North West England and Scotland.

It has also already been confirmed that bus replacement services will be common between Milton Keynes Central, Rugby, and Northampton from December 27 and January 4.

National Rail services will not be active on Christmas Day, followed by a very limited service on Boxing Day.

Darryl Bowman, temporary insurance expert at Cuvva, said: "With so many rail routes affected, thousands of people will find it much harder to get where they want to be this Christmas.

"Driving makes it so much easier to get from A to B. And with temporary car insurance, you don't need to own a car to drive one."

He noted that driving was an "easy, affordable option" for Britons who could see their festive travel plans disrupted by delays and cancellations.

Despite this, motorists could face delays on the road when travelling back, unless they heed advice from experts on how to avoid car battery issues.

Data from Green Flag suggests that 472,000 car battery failures are expected between November and January as a result of cold weather over the autumn and winter.

November was the second busiest month of the year for failed battery breakdowns after January, while June saw the lowest number of accidents.

Cold temperatures reduce the battery's ability to hold its charge, which can cause serious issues since the engine requires more power to start in low temperatures.

Most car batteries last between three and four years, with drivers being warned that they could face issues with their vehicles if they are older.

Katie Lomas, managing director at Green Flag, said: "Winter conditions demand more from our cars, and a breakdown on a cold morning will more often than not be caused by a flat battery.

"Even one that performed well in warmer months can be susceptible to faltering in low temperatures.

"We encourage drivers to get their car batteries checked before frosty weather really takes hold and replace them if necessary - particularly if the battery is getting past the five-year mark."