As millions across the UK prepare to embark on their festive journeys, a wave of planned engineering works and industrial action threatens to cause significant travel disruption. The period from late December into early January will see major railway lines closed, key London stations shut, and airport strikes causing potential flight cancellations.
Major Railway Station Closures and Rail Works
Passengers are urged to plan ahead as Network Rail carries out essential engineering projects during the holiday period when passenger numbers are traditionally lower. Several critical London terminals will be partially or fully closed.
London Liverpool Street, the nation's busiest station, will be completely shut from December 27 to January 1. All Greater Anglia and London Overground services will be affected due to works in the Bishopsgate tunnel and station roof refurbishment. Trains will terminate at Stratford or London Fields instead, though the Elizabeth line and London Underground will run from their separate platforms.
At London Waterloo, no trains will run on Saturday, December 27 or Sunday, December 28. Services will start and terminate at Clapham Junction or other stations. A limited service will also operate from December 29 to January 2 due to track renewal works. South Western Railway services face further changes on January 4 due to engineering work between Basingstoke and Andover/Winchester.
Journeys from London Euston will be slower, with buses replacing trains on the West Coast Main Line from December 27 to January 4 between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby/Northampton. National Rail warns trips to the Midlands, North West, and Scotland will be 'significantly disrupted'.
Other Key Rail Disruptions Nationwide
Further significant engineering works are scheduled across the country:
- Amended services between Preston and Carlisle from December 31 to January 15 for a bridge replacement over the M6.
- Rail replacement buses between Carlisle and Lockerbie from January 1 to 7 for new signalling.
- An amended schedule between Leeds and York from December 27 to January 2.
- No trains between Cambridge, Cambridge North, Bury St Edmunds and Stansted Airport from December 27 to January 4 due to signalling tests.
Airport Strikes and Aviation Disruption
While most UK airports expect normal operations, Luton Airport faces 'festive travel turmoil' due to strike action. Check-in and baggage handling staff, employed by DHL for easyJet, will walk out from December 19-22 and again from December 26-29. Around 200 workers are involved in the pay dispute, affecting flights to Spain, Germany, Italy, and Czechia.
At Heathrow Airport, over 130 Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) cabin crew will strike on December 22, 23, 24, and 26, threatening flights to and from Scandinavia. Heathrow, which saw its busiest November on record with 6.6 million passengers, expects its busiest Christmas ever. Travellers should note there is no Tube service on Christmas Day and no Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express service on Boxing Day.
London Transport Over the Festive Break
Transport for London (TfL) services will not run on Christmas Day, with early finishes on Christmas Eve. A limited Sunday service will operate on Boxing Day, but the Elizabeth line will be closed, and there will be no Night Tube or Night Overground services. Santander and Lime bikes will be available as usual.
Road Travel and Congestion Warnings
With rail and air disruption, many will turn to the roads. Drivers in central London will get a reprieve as the Congestion Charge is suspended from December 25 to January 1, saving £15 daily. The ULEZ charge is also waived on Christmas Day, and the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels will be free that day only.
However, the RAC predicts severe congestion. They forecast the main getaway wave began on Friday, December 19. Saturday, December 20 is expected to be the busiest Saturday of the festive period since 2013, with 4.1 million car journeys. Christmas Eve could see the highest traffic volumes since the pandemic, with 4.2 million trips anticipated.
To avoid the worst jams, drivers are advised to travel at off-peak times:
- Saturday, December 20 – before 12pm
- Sunday, December 21 – before 10am
- Monday, December 22 – after 5pm
- Tuesday, December 23 – before 11am
- Wednesday, December 24 – before 11am
After Christmas, 4.6 million trips are expected on Boxing Day and 4.1 million on December 27 as people return home. All travellers are strongly advised to check the latest status with their transport operator before setting out.
