Brits set for ‘worst ever Christmas’ as rail community shuts down for 32 days
EXCLUSIVE: Brits face crippling Christmas commuter hell with journey times expected to treble as 15 million of us take the train over the festive period, when engineering works are scheduled
Passengers face one of the worst ever Christmas rail engineering shutdowns – as an unprecedented 32 days of works close main lines and hit 2,500 trains.
It means some journey times will treble as 15 million Brits take the train over the Yuletide fortnight to visit family and friends.
Hundreds of schemes will take place, with Network Rail’s £130 million works spree one of the highest amounts ever spent over a festive season, as over 20,000 rail engineers are called in.
The London-Glasgow west coast main line, the busiest route in Britain, will be part-shut for 22 days from December 24 to January 15, spelling misery not just for Christmas but also the New Year.
The line will be severed in four places during the month – near Milton Keynes, Preston, Carlisle and Oxenholme. Preston to Edinburgh, usually 2hr 30min direct, will take 7hr 2min via three trains plus a bus from January 1.
The line between Leeds and York will be barred for 32 days, from Christmas Day to January 26. Buses will run to January 2, with diverted trains afterwards. The two busiest stations in Britain will also be shut.
London Liverpool Street will be closed from December 25 to New Year’s Day for journeys to the East, while all services from London Waterloo to the South-West are axed for the after-Christmas rush until December 29, with a reduced service to January 2. Alternative routes face overcrowding.
Airport travellers will be delayed with no Heathrow or Gatwick Express services on Boxing Day, and no trains between Stansted Airport and Cambridge from Christmas Day until January 5. Scores of other projects will also take place around the country.
Around 2,500 trains will be delayed, cancelled or not run their full route over the Christmas period, Network Rail data shows.
Bruce Williamson, a spokesman for passenger campaign group Railfuture, said: “This Christmas looks like one of the biggest works packages there has been on the railways.
“The scale of the work shows how much investment is going on. And some jobs are so big, they have to be tackled all in one go.
“Inevitably, there will be some disruption to journeys. But inconvenience is the price you pay for getting a better railway. I hope passengers understand the investment is necessary.”
Natasha Grice, of independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: “It’s important engineering works minimise the impact on passengers travelling. Passengers want staff to be on hand to help, as well as clear and effective communication at all times.”
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, said on its National Rail website: “There will be lots of essential engineering projects taking place. Plan and check your journey before you travel.”
Daniel Mann, director of industry operations at the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We ask you to allow extra time for journeys. The industry is working hard to run as many services as possible.”
Network Rail said: “Over 95 per cent of the railway network will be open for business this Christmas and New Year.”
Network Rail’s chief network operator Helen Hamlin said: “The period between Christmas and New Year is the quietest on the railway, so is the best time to do major projects.
“We work with train operators to organise diversions and rail replacement buses. Its so important to plan ahead, especially this Christmas as we have very big plans for improving the railway. Thank you to everyone for your patience.”
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