(Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
If only you could hitch a ride on Santa’s sleigh to fly above the 2,500 trains disrupted by a 32-day rail shutdown this Christmas.
Some journey times are expected to treble due to Network Rail’s £130 million works spree during the festive period.
More than 20,000 rail workers have been drafted in to carry out the work.
The planned works will consist of ‘vital improvements and routine maintenance’ that ‘will give you a better and more reliable railway for the long term,’ according to Network Rail’s website.
Speaking on behalf of Network Rail and South Western Railway, Mark Goodall, Wessex route director said: ‘We are giving passengers early notice that there will be changes to train services for those travelling to and from central London over the festive period.
‘We are advising passengers to plan ahead and use alternative routes into the capital.
‘We are sorry for the disruption this closure between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction will cause however these works will provide a more reliable journey for everyone who travels on one of the country’s busiest railways.’
Full list of UK train stations closed over Christmas
London Liverpool Street
Will be closed from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day for journeys to the East.
If you areplanning a journey to or from central London, you may havebetter results by using Stratford (London) as your station.
London Waterloo
No trains will run to or from London Waterloo station or Vauxhall on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December.
Trains will start from/terminate at Clapham Junction or other stations.
A limited service will run to and from London Waterloo from Monday 29 December to Friday 2 January.
Trains between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby/Northampton
Buses will replace trains between these locations from Saturday 27 December to Sunday 4 January.
Journeys on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and the Midlands/North West England/Scotland will be significantly disrupted.
Between Preston and Carlisle
From Wednesday 31 December to Thursday 15 January, there will be an amended service between Preston and Carlisle, with train diversions and replacement buses.
Between Carlisle and Lockerbie
Buses will replace trains between Carlisle and Lockerbie from Thursday 1 January to Wednesday 7 January.
Journeys on the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Glasgow/Edinburgh will be disrupted.
Between Leeds and York
From Saturday 27 December to Friday 2 January, there will be an amended service between Leeds and York.
Between Cambridge and Cambridge North, Bury St Edmunds and Stanstead Airport
From Saturday 27 December to Sunday 4 January, no trains will run beyween these locations due to significant changes to Cambridge station.
Between Dalmuir and Balloch/Helensburgh
From Saturday 27 December to Wednesday 31 December, buses will replace trains between these locations.
Source: National Rail
Customers have been advised to follow #ChristmasRailWorks on X for more updates.
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