RAIL STRIKE: Traffic Congestion In Brighton Second Only To London

Millions of Britons were hit by severe travel disruption yesterday, with only a fifth of train services running, which had an impact on traffic in major cities - Brighton coming second to London for congestion.

Half of the lines were closed - affecting large swathes of the UK and most of Scotland and Wales - with limited hours of 7.30am to 6.30pm for those that were open.

The congestion level in the capital was 26 percentage points higher yesterday morning (June 21) than it was on previous Tuesdays, data from TomTom shows.

Congestion levels are the extra time drivers need to complete a journey compared to the time to travel the same distance with uncongested roads.

People travelling by car or buses in the capital between 6am and 10am needed an average of 72% more time compared to the 45% extra time needed on average during the past three Tuesdays.

Travel time almost doubled in London between 8am and 9am.

The last time the congestion level in the capital was that high was during the last RMT union strike on 1 March, when journey time doubled, reaching an unprecedented high of 119%, TomTom says.

Brighton, Manchester and Bristol's roads have also noticed the impact of the strike, with congestion levels during the morning increasing over 10 percentage points.

Usually busy train stations such as London Euston were nearly deserted save for picket lines by union members.

Commuter Louis Cartwright-Walls turned up at Cardiff Station, hoping to get a train to Newport for a "vital" work meeting.

But the departure boards were empty.

"I looked online and it said some trains were running, but I knew that wouldn't be true," he told Sky News.

"I rely on the trains - I don't drive, this is my only transport.

"I'm going to have to pay for an Uber if nothing turns up. That's going to cost in excess of £40. But they'll up their prices, I'm sure."

At Birmingham New Street station, a few would-be passengers and commuters were trying to work out their travel plans.

After a six-hour flight from Egypt, Carol Hutchinson arrived in the UK to find her direct train from Birmingham International station cancelled.

She made her way to New Street and was waiting to board what appeared to be one of the few trains still running.

"I think it's going to be standing room only... I'm not even sure I'll get on with my suitcase," she said.

Pupils and parents also said they had to deal with the stress of making alternative plans for getting to school for A-level and GCSE exams.

Some 40,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on Network Rail and 13 train operators are taking industrial action this week after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions.

Network Rail has warned that the strikes - also set for Thursday and Saturday - will cause six days of disruption because of the knock-on effect on services on the days in between.

On days between the strikes, 60% of services will run.

London Underground workers were also on strike yesterday, with most Transport for London services severely disrupted or not running until 8am today (June 22).