Britons are braced for a fresh wave of rail misery as key routes are closed for maintenance over the bank holiday weekend.

Motoring organisations are predicting gridlock on the roads as a result of the decision.

The news comes as the last train factory in Britain faces closure.

The Litchurch Lane factory, Derby, which opened in 1876, has no orders for the three years beyond the end of 2004.

All future trains needed for Britain's rail network, including 1,700 new carriages for the London Underground, are likely to be built outside Britain.