That time of year is fast approaching when it seems as if half of London is trying to travel at the same time to get home before Christmas.
In addition, there will be disruption on the network over Christmas as National Rail takes advantage of lower passenger numbers to get on with engineering works.
Passengers are being advised to plan ahead using Network Rail’s Journey Planner to make sure they are leaving themselves enough time to get to their destinations.
Here is what we know about travelling on Christmas Eve.
Are trains running on Christmas Eve?
The good news is yes, but not as usual.
Network Rail said: “There will be lots of planned essential engineering works and upgrades taking place as Network Rail works to improve the railway. In addition, some train companies will be making changes to their timetable, and to some train times, to match services to the number of customers travelling.”
Their slogan this festive season is “be in the know before you go!”
Are trains running on Christmas Day and Boxing Day?
There will be no National Rail services on Christmas Day. This is what usually happens. On Boxing Day most train operators will have no service but a few will offer a very limited service.
What are the last trains out of London?
National Rail has provided a list of when the last trains are leaving London and heading to the UK’s major destinations and where from.
It has advised that these are “subject to last minute changes” so it may be best to catch an earlier train if you can.
To: Aberdeen from Kings Cross – 14.00
To: Birmingham New Street – 18.40 and 18.56 from Euston
To: Birmingham Moor Street – 20.02 from Marylebone
To: Brighton – 19.45 from London Bridge and 19.29 from London Victoria
To: Bristol Temple Meads – 21.02 from Paddington
To: Cambridge – 20.28 from Liverpool Street and 20.09 from Kings Cross
To: Cardiff Central – 19.48 from Paddington
To: Cheltenham Spa – 19.36 from Paddington
To: Crewe – 18.46 from Euston
To: Dover Priory – 21.04 from Charing Cross
To: Edinburgh – 17.30 from Kings Cross
To: Exeter St Davids – 20.03 from Paddington
To: Gatwick Airport – 20.45 from London Bridge and 20.16 from London Victoria
To: Glasgow Central – 16.30 from Euston
To: Gloucester 20.34 from Paddington
To: Heathrow Airport – 23.25 and 23.08 on the Elizabeth line
To: Hull – 15.48 from Kings Cross
To: Ipswich – 21.00 from Liverpool Street
To: Leeds – 19.00 from Kings Cross
No direct trains to Leicester
To: Manchester Piccadilly – 18.13 from Euston
To: Newcastle – 18.30 from Kings Cross
To: Northampton – 19.56 from Euston
To: Norwich – 9pm from Liverpool Street
To: Oxford – 21.53 from Paddington and 20.06 from Marylebone
To: Peterborough – 19.47 from St Pancras International
To: Portsmouth Harbour – 20.30 from Waterloo
To: Preston – 16.30 from Euston
To: Reading – 22.48 from Paddington
To: Sevenoaks – 21.45 from Charing Cross
No direct services to Sheffield
To: Southampton – 20.23 from Waterloo
To: Southend Central 21.53 from Liverpool Street and 22.04 from Fenchurch Street
To: Stansted Airport – 23.25 from Liverpool Street
To: Sunderland – 16.48 from Kings Cross
To Swansea – 19.48 from Paddington
To: Windsor – 20.03 from Waterloo
To: Worcester – 20.52 from Paddington
To: York – 18.30 from Kings Cross
