Monday morning rush hour on Britain’s highways and motorways ground to a stop as commuters stayed home or camped overnight to witness the Queen’s burial.
After a wave of road closures were imposed by the Met Police, London’s roadways were nearly deserted. Tourists and locals wishing to drive around the capital were encouraged to check road closures before traveling.
Few large buses with blacked-out windows crisscrossed the streets surrounding Westminster Abbey for the majority of trips within and around the city.
As about 9:30 a.m., buses in the vicinity of Parliament Square and Birdcage Walk looked to have been conveying military officers in ceremonial attire.
In the North, the M62 connecting Manchester and Liverpool was nearly empty, and the normally congested contraflow system on Birmingham’s Aston Expressway was nearly devoid of traffic.
A variety of businesses, including shops, restaurants, and taverns, will be closed today in observance of the bank holiday, which was established by King Charles and approved by the accession council.
As commuters remained home or camped out in advance of the Queen’s burial at 11 a.m., the M62 from Manchester to Liverpool was barren and nearly empty.
As the nation mourned the death of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch on Monday morning, the A1M/A14 junction was similarly deserted.
Another photograph of the M62, which is typically jam-packed with vehicles traveling between Manchester and Liverpool. Several companies, including retail, hospitality, and entertainment, have closed their doors today in London in preparation for the state burial.
This morning, the streets in the center of Liverpool were empty. In the following week, a number of roadways in and around the city are scheduled to close.
This morning, the M60, the ring road that surrounds the great northern city of Manchester, was nearly empty.
On Bank Holiday Monday, sections of the M60, which connects Liverpool, Salford, Irlam, and portions of Trafford, were devoid of traffic. The news comes as the country came to a standstill due to the cancellation of bin collections, driving exams, and a number of hospital appointments.
This morning, the majority of stores in Manchester were closed in observance of the Queen’s burial.
Despite the empty roads in the North, massive numbers converged on central London for the funeral service this morning, prompting City Hall officials to issue a warning at 7.30am.
In and around the City of London, only a few huge buses with blacked-out windows crisscross the streets surrounding Westminster Abbey.
At times, no vehicles were observed on the M62 between Liverpool and Manchester. Several of the city’s largest retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, Lidl, and Aldi, have closed their supermarkets for the day.
A normally congested contraflow system on Birmingham’s Aston Expressway from Spaghetti Junction into the city is nearly empty as people remain home to witness The Queen’s state funeral.
Meanwhile, trains from Newcastle to London were empty amid concerns that more carriages might be required for the funeral.
Major rail companies expanded their services so that more mourners could go to the capital.
Additionally, night trains were provided to allow mourners to return home, but they may no longer be necessary.
According to reports, Durham station was crowded yesterday, with many people opting to travel down for the weekend a day in advance.
A traveller who boarded a train from Newcastle at 4:00 a.m. was welcomed by an empty Central Station, with more passengers returning from a night out than traveling to London.
He stated, “It is currently forty minutes till the first train to London departs and the station is currently quiet.
“I’m astounded by how peaceful this train is. More individuals return home from nights out than travel to London. Potential mourners who wished to avoid the crowds have already arrived in the capital.
Additionally, rubbish collections, driving tests, and a number of medical appointments have been eliminated, and English Heritage and National Trust sites have been closed.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, Lidl, and Aldi are among the supermarkets that are closing their doors for the day.