29 July 2023 , 19:20
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Thousands of people had a miserable start to their summer getaways, with port traffic jams and rail strikes leaving parts of the country gridlocked. Holidaymakers may have been expecting some delays on main roads, but the knock-on impact of rail strikes worsened the situation.
Hundreds of people struggled to make it to The Oval in South London for the exciting third day of the fifth Ashes test match. And there were delays of up to two hours at the Port of Dover as people tried to cross the Channel. At nearby Folkestone, there was a five-mile tailback that extended into the town itself.
Port officials said, shortly before 11am, that there would be a 150-minute wait. Many drivers vented their frustration by honking their horns. Some 35,000 people made the crossing on what is likely to be one of the busiest weekends of the year.
French police said it had mobilised all its border control staff and they were sleeping in hotels on British soil to avoid any gaps in shifts. They also said there would be seven lines for coaches instead of four. There is an increased potential of 11 lines for light vehicles, with a “buffer” car park capable of holding 70 coaches for those arriving early.
Meanwhile, the M6 near Stoke, Staffs, was blocked for 45 minutes as drivers waited for a herd of cows to wander off the carriageway. The latest train strike by the RMT union only added to travellers’ misery. Platforms at normally busy stations, such as London’s King’s Cross, were empty as up to 20,000 rail workers walked out in protest over working conditions and pay.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
About half of the usual services were cancelled throughout the day, with some finishing earlier than usual. RMT’s demonstration follows the train operating companies’ controversial plan to permanently close down nearly 1,000 ticket offices. The union has warned it is prepared to continue with strikes if the Government refuses to come to the negotiating table.