ROAD and rail routes in and out of Swindon are expected to bear the usual last-minute Christmas rush this weekend and train operator First Great Western has warned that some services are already fully booked.
No problems have yet been reported on the roads or at Bristol International Airport.
But Swindon-based First Great Western has urged customers to avoid disappointment by booking their seats in advance.
Managing director, Mike Carroll said: "To ensure the comfort of customers we may have to limit the number of people boarding some services. However, there are still hundreds of seats available on services in the evening and early morning. We would strongly urge customers to reserve a seat now on these services if they haven't already done so."
Boarding controls will be in operation at London Paddington during busy periods, starting tomorrow until Christmas Eve and customers who haven't reserved a seat may be directed on to alternative services.
Many services between Paddington and the west of England are already fully booked on Saturday and Sunday.
Some early morning services used largely by commuters have been cancelled from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day.
First Great Western services will end in the early evening on Christmas Eve and there will be no services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. A seasonal timetable is available from railway stations.
The AA has reported nothing unusual on roads in and out of Swindon but they have predicted that the usual last-minute Christmas will cause tailbacks around junctions 15 and 16 on the M4.
The Highways Agency has suspended the majority of its roadworks until the New Year to ease congestion on motorways and major trunk roads.
Across the South West all traffic management will be lifted over the holiday period but some hard-shoulder closures will remain for safety reasons.
Further afield, restrictions due to widening work on junction four of the M25 at Cobham, Surrey, remain in place with contraflow and 40-50mph speed limits.
Those flying out for some winter sun over Christmas can expect a busy time at Bristol International Airport.
They are expecting to handle 35,000 passengers from December 22-29, up 40 per cent on the same time last year. The Canary Islands are the most popular foreign destination.
Passengers are advised to book in one and a half hours before scheduled flight departures and two hours early for charter flights.
Wiltshire police have urged drivers to heed warnings not to drink and drive and to remember that alcohol can stay in the bloodstream well into the next day after a night of heavy drinking.
The minimum penalty for drink driving is a one-year ban.
National Rail Inquiries can be contacted on 08457 484950.
Calls cost local rate Traffic information is available from the AA on 09003 401100. Calls cost 60p a minute.
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