Coronavirus: Suspend peak rail fares over Christmas, says Labour

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plans are being prepared to reduce disruption on roads and railways, including 500 miles of roadworks being cleared and extended train timetables.

Labour has warned that more than two million people travelled by train between Christmas and New Year in previous years, plus millions more by car.

It said suspended peak fares between 23 and 27 December would reduce the risk of overcrowding on trains either side of peak hours.

Train staff, bus drivers and highway personnel should also be mass tested, Labour said.

Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: "This is too important for the government to ignore or leave until to the last minute. This is about protecting lives and livelihoods."

The Department for Transport said it will publish measures aimed at easing travel disruption next week, and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has urged people to plan their journeys "very carefully".