As we barrel head-first into the long Easter Weekend, here is a reminder that if you’re planning to access airports in the London area by rail there are major changes due to engineering work.
It goes without saying if you’re planning to head to Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted, you will need to allow extra time for your journey.
Good luck this weekend – you’re going to need it.
Let us break down what is operating, what’s not and when you’re going to catch a bus.
London Heathrow
Heathrow Express
The Heathrow Express is planning to operate normal services throughout the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend.
TfL Rail (Slow Services between Paddington and Heathrow)
TfL Rail plans to operate on all four days, with Good Friday and Easter Monday operating a Saturday service level.
London Underground
The Piccadilly Line is set to be closed between Acton Town and Heathrow terminals from Good Friday to Easter Monday.
A bus replacement service is planned between Acton Town and London Heathrow. See TfL for alternative routes. Those travelling to/from Central London might want to consider taking TfL Rail and changing at Paddington as needed – it will be a lot quicker than travelling by bus.
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Express/Southern services from London Victoria
The Gatwick Express is closed between Friday and Monday as London Victoria station will be unavailable to the train operator. The slower services operated by Southern will also not operate.
If you need to get to Gatwick, you will need to use Southern or Thameslink services between London Bridge and Gatwick Airport and change at London Bridge or Blackfriars to complete your journey.
Stansted Airport
The Stansted Express will not be operating between Friday and Monday. You can take the train between London Liverpool Street and Waltham Cross, but you will need to change and catch a bus between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross.
Luton Airport
East Midlands Railway is planning to run a near near-normal between Luton Airport Parkway Station and London St Pancras. It should be noted some services will be busy due to the West Coast Main Line being shut for the weekend.
Thameslink is planning to operate amended services this weekend between Luton Airport Parkway Station and stations within the Thameslink core, including London Kings Cross-St Pancras, Farringdon, City Thameslink (Closed Sundays) and Blackfriars.
And there’s a lot more engineering work on the rest of the network
Whilst Network Rail claims that 95% of the UK Rail network will be open to traffic, the reality is there is some major work happening over the four-day weekend. Highlights (or lowlights)
- Euston Station – No services, replaced by buses to Milton Keynes Central
- Victora Station – No services on services operated by Southern or Gatwick Express
- Closures on the West Coast Mainline from Cumbria onwards
- Closures on the Midland Main Line
I’ve documented some of the bigger changes in a post here. However, you should keep a close eye on the National Rail Enquiries Easter Weekend page as well as their regular service disruption page over the weekend.
Allow Extra Time for Your Journey
With the number of service disruptions planned for the weekend, if you are planning to travel to a London airport over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend (or planning to take a rail journey check what is happening on your planned route and allow extra time for your journey.
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