As per reports, significant travel disruption is expected across the United Kingdom in the days leading up to and immediately following New Year’s Day, driven by extensive Network Rail engineering works, staff shortages, adverse winter weather, and seasonal traffic peaks from Thursday (01 January 2026).

• Rail services have partially resumed following the Christmas shutdown, however, widespread cancellations and curtailments persist, particularly on CrossCountry routes linking England, Wales, and Scotland via Birmingham New Street.
• Multiple services between Cardiff-Nottingham, Manchester, and southwest England-Scotland have been affected, with disruptions exacerbated by driver shortages and infrastructure faults.
• London Liverpool Street will remain closed to mainline services until Friday (02 January 2026) while the West Coast Main Line is shut between Milton Keynes and Rugby until Sunday (04 January 2026) and further north between Preston and Carlisle from New Year’s Eve until 15 January 2026.
• Additional road disruption is anticipated from the temporary closure of the M27 (Hampshire) between junctions until Sunday (04 January 2026).
• Ferry services in western Scotland are also affected, with Caledonian MacBrayne cancelling multiple sailings due to technical issues. No CalMac ferries will operate on Thursday (01 January 2026).
• Airports such as Toronto Pearson and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport are experiencing severe delays and cancellations.