We’re fast coming up to Christmas – and as usual, this is an important time for the rail network, as there are major closures throughout the period.
You won’t find many people at London Liverpool Street Station, as it’s closed over the festive period – Image, ORR/Network Rail.
Apart from services being busy in the run-up (remember, that trains normally end early on Christmas Eve, no services on Christmas Day and minimal services on Boxing Day), there are several major engineering works taking place across the network.
The main ones are:
- London Liverpool Street – There will be renewal work at Bishopsgate Tunnel and work to improve passenger experience at London Liverpool Street means the station will be closed from Wednesday 25 December with services resuming on Thursday 2 January. Greater Anglia services will be diverted via Stratford except Stansted Express services which will terminate at Tottenham Hale. London Overground services will terminate at London Fields. Passengers should use Victoria line services from Walthamstow Central and Seven Sisters or local bus services to complete their journeys during this closure.
- London St Pancras (Midland Main Line) – Several engineering projects will take place on the Midland Main Line between Saturday 21 and Sunday 29 December, meaning passenger services are severely disrupted. There will be no East Midlands Railway (EMR) services between London St Pancras and Bedford and Thameslink services will not run between London St Pancras and Harpenden. Passengers who usually take the train north from London St Pancras will need to use different London stations and connecting buses to reach their destinations. This will especially impact those who are heading to London Luton Airport.
- Paddington and Old Oak Common – Preparatory work for new signalling and track equipment for HS2 means that no services will call at London Paddington between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 December inclusive. Some services will instead be diverted to/from London Euston, with the majority of trains starting/stopping at Reading and Ealing Broadway. Passengers for London can change at Ealing Broadway and take a Transport for London service into the city, using either the District or Central lines. Heathrow passengers should use the Piccadilly Line.
- Crewe (North West England)—Services in the Crewe area will undergo significant changes between Wednesday, 25 December, and Thursday, 2 January, as resignalling work takes place. Changes to services will differ during this period. No trains will pass through Crewe on Friday, 27 December, and there will be no direct service to Liverpool and a reduced service to Manchester from Saturday, 28 December, until Friday, 3 January.
- Cambridge – Engineering work including track renewals, renewal of the Cambridge signalling system and construction work for the new Cambridge South station means there will be no services between both Royston/Audley End and Cambridge/Cambridge North from Wednesday 25 December to Sunday 5 January. Rail replacement bus services will be in place between affected stations except on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
- Farnborough and Woking – Engineers will be completing a wide range of critical upgrades for the continued safe and reliable running of the railway between Farnborough and Woking from Monday 23 December 2024 until Sunday 5 January 2025. South Western Railway services will be altered or diverted and some journey times will be significantly longer. Bus replacement services will also be in operation.
For those travelling to and from an Airport:
- Heathrow Airport – With the Great Western Line Closed at Old Oak Common, there are no services to Heathrow on the Heathrow Express. Use the Piccadilly Line, or Underground (District/Central Line) to Ealing Broadway, then change for TfL services to Heathrow stations. (TfL, Heathrow Express)
- Stansted Airport – The Stansted Express is operating between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale only. Change at Tottenham Hale for Victoria Line services to Central London. Details at Stansted Express
- Luton Airport – with the Midland Main Line shut between Bedford and London St Pancras, you will need to catch a bus service connecting Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin, then a train to London or use a Coach Link service between Luton Airport and London. Details at Thameslink.
- Gatwick Airport – No service on the 25th of December, but a limited service on the 26th by Southern Railway. Normal operations otherwise. SeeGatwick Express
There’s more happening on the network.
Whilst these are the big headline changes over the period there are plenty more with a lot of small and medium-sized changes that could put a wrench in your journeys.
Please check https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/status-and-disruptions/ before you travel. It could save you a bus replacement service when you least expect it.
Peak Travel dates
Network Rail anticipates services are expected to be very busy in the run-up to Christmas and the new year- from Saturday 21 December until Tuesday 24 December- as well as on Friday 27 December.
During those dates, allow extra time. Network Rail also advises you should only bring luggage that they can carry and be considerate of their fellow travellers when putting their luggage on a seat (in other words, don’t. Someone else needs to sit down).
In Quotes
Helen Hamlin, Network Rail’s director of system operations, said:
“There’s a major programme of improvement work taking place by Network Rail over the Christmas period which will mean significant changes to services in some areas. We’re also expecting trains and stations to be busy, particularly in the run up to Christmas and on Friday 27 December.
“Planning ahead is essential before travelling throughout Christmas and New Year, so please take the time to check your journey, using National Rail Enquiries or via your train operator’s website, and book ahead if you can.”
Daniel Mann, Director of Industry Operations at Rail Delivery Group, said:
“The railway is open for business this festive period. Train companies and Network Rail will be working tirelessly to make sure customers reach their destination so they can spend time with their families and loved ones. We also want to remind our customers to remember to treat our colleagues across the railway with respect during this busy time, we are all doing our best to make sure there is a safe and reliable service for everyone.
“With more people travelling this festive period compared to last year, please plan your journey in advance and check before you travel.”
Plan Ahead
With some major London terminals shut, along with some regional hubs having major engineering work, you’ll need to plan when you travel. Again, check with your train operating company or at https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/status-and-disruptions/.
And don’t leave it too late to travel on the 24th…
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