The European Union is being urged to delay the implementation of new border checks to prevent travel chaos this autumn. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to replace the current 'wet stamping' of passports, requiring passengers to register their details at kiosks and then proceed to staffed border points. Concerns have been raised about long queues and bottlenecks at the Channel Tunnel in Kent and the Port of Dover, with estimates that car processing times could increase significantly. Getlink is constructing a new processing area at its Kent site to handle the changes, which will cost £67 million and process 500 cars an hour. The EES will apply to all EU nations except Cyprus and Ireland, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

In the United Kingdom, there has been a noticeable increase in retail footfall and traffic congestion around shopping centres as people leave work for last-minute Christmas shopping. Retail footfall saw a 12.1% increase on Tuesday compared to the previous week, with retail parks and shopping centres experiencing even higher surges. Jenni Matthews of MRI Software highlighted the significant week-on-week rise in consumer activity, particularly in shopping centres, retail parks, and high streets.

An official Department for Transport social media post has been criticized for announcing that funds originally intended for transport improvements in the north will be used for road repairs in London. The £235 million allocated to the Network North project is a result of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to cancel the northern leg of HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester, with the savings directed to over 100 regional transport projects. However, this funding will only be available between 2029 and 2040.

Ryanair has implemented a policy change that requires passengers to pay for a reserved seat in order to download a mobile boarding pass or print one at home. Those not paying for seat reservation will have to queue at airport check-in desks. This has led to passenger complaints about long queues and has been labeled as 'scandalous'.

Rail union bosses from Aslef held a festive party at the Earl of Doncaster Hotel with Labour MPs and union members on the eve of a new round of strikes affecting travel. Kate Osborne, along with MPs Grahame Morris, Ian Mearns, and Ian Lavery, attended the event where Osborne was presented with gifts by Mick Whelan, the union's general secretary.

Following the expansion of London's ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), there was a significant increase in charges, with motorists paying over £5.3 million in the first week. The expansion, implemented by Mayor Sadiq Khan, resulted in 425,814 charges paid between August 29 and September 4, a rise from 141,029 the previous week. The Ulez now requires drivers of older, non-compliant vehicles in outer London to pay a £12.50 daily fee.

Over 2,500 homes in Cumbria lost power and numerous cars were stranded following heavy snowfall that transformed towns into landscapes resembling ski resorts. Cumbria Police declared a major incident and advised against travel to the area. The Met Office reported the coldest night since the previous winter, with temperatures dropping to minus 12.5C in the Scottish Highlands. Forecaster Tom Morgan noted snow depths exceeding 30cm in Windermere and Coniston. Local Harrison Ward described the scene as akin to walking through a ski resort, with vehicles abandoned and towns experiencing gridlock.

Train drivers represented by Aslef will participate in a series of walkouts over a six-day period as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, job security, and working conditions. The strike action, which includes a refusal to work overtime from December 1 to December 9, is set to escalate tensions in a conflict that has seen frequent strikes since June of the previous year.

Motorists in the UK face significant disparities in petrol prices, with potential savings of up to £25 on a tank of fuel by traveling to a cheaper station. This information has been made public for the first time following an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority, which led to the recommendation of a 'fuel finder' scheme. The government has agreed to a voluntary scheme that is currently being implemented.

The UK government is experiencing a revolt from Conservative MPs, including former Home Secretary Priti Patel, over plans to close 870 railway ticket offices across key stations. Patel expressed shock and anger at the proposals and criticized the handling of the consultation process. Rail Minister Huw Merriman faced heckling from backbench Tory MPs, while rail sources have accused the government of dishonesty regarding the proposals, suggesting that ministers are shifting the blame onto Rail Delivery.