Do trains run on boxing day? Are services still operating on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Day - are there train strikes?
There will be rail disruption over the Christmas period including limited services and cancellations.
According to National Rail there will be no National Rail services on Christmas Day as usual this year. It adds: “On Boxing Day most train operators will have no service - however, there will be a very limited train service operated by a small number of train operators (Chiltern Railways, London Overground, Merseyrail, ScotRail, Southern and Stansted Express).
“Please continue to check your journey until you are due to set off – this will give you a chance to adjust your journey plans in advance if necessary, and avoid any last-minute disappointment.” CrossCountry had called for a strike over the Christmas period, but it has now been called off.
On Boxing Day the general rule is to expect no trains or very limited services, as it's a major shutdown day. Trains do run on Christmas Eve but services finish much earlier than usual. Trains generally run on New Year's Day (January 1st) in the UK, but with a significantly reduced service.
Here are some of the changes to rail travel:
- Amended service between Preston and Carlisle between December 31 and January 15 due to a bridge replacement over the M6
- Rail replacement buses between Carlisle and Lockerbie between January 1 and January 7 while new signalling is installed
- Amended schedule between Leeds and York between December 27 and January 2
- No trains between Cambridge, Cambridge North, Bury St Edmunds and Stansted Airport between December 27 and January 4 due to new signalling system tests in the area
Listed below is more of the train disruption to be aware of over the Christmas period.
London Liverpool Street
The UK’s busiest station will be closed between December 27 and January 1, meaning there are no trains to and from the station. The good news is that the Elizabeth line and Tube will run as scheduled because they have their own platform.
Greater Anglia and London Overground trains are affected because of engineering works in the Bishopsgate tunnel and refurbishment works to the station roof, and will terminate at Stratford and London Field respectively.
London Waterloo station
London Waterloo and Vauxhall stations will have no trains running on Saturday and Sunday after Christmas. Instead, trains will start and terminate at Clapham Junction or other stations, so it is worth checking before travelling.
Waterloo will also have a limited train service between Monday, December 29 and Friday, January 2, because of track and points renewal works.
London Euston
Passengers face slower journeys than usual when buses replace trains on the West Coast Main Line between Saturday, December 27 and Sunday, January 4, between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby and Northampton.
This is the route used by trains to and from Euston. Trips from the station to the Midlands, the North West like Manchester and Liverpool, and Scotland will be ‘significantly disrupted,’ National Rail warned.
London Underground
TfL services like the Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line and buses will not run on Christmas Day and services will wrap up early on Wednesday. Some limited services are running on Boxing Day on a Sunday service timetable. Routes like the Elizabeth line will be closed.
There is no Night Tube or Night Overground service on Boxing Day, Friday December 26. Those driving in central London over Christmas and New Year could save £15 a day as the Congestion Charge will not apply between Thursday, December 25 and Thursday, January 1. Meanwhile, the ULEZ charge doesn’t apply on Christmas Day. Driving through Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels will be free on Christmas Day only, but the fees apply at all other times.