Rail passengers across Britain are being warned of severe crowding and significant disruption on key routes during the festive season, according to a new analysis of travel demand.
The Peak Travel Days to Sidestep
The busiest days for pre-Christmas travel are expected to be Saturday 20 and Monday 22 December, which have received the lowest crowd-avoidance ratings. Tuesday 23 December is also predicted to be highly crowded as last-minute commuters and travellers head home for the holidays.
For those seeking quieter journeys, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day are forecast to be the least busy. However, travellers should note that services will begin to wind down early on Christmas Eve, limiting options for late travel.
Major Engineering Works Causing Disruption
Adding to the expected festive rail chaos, significant engineering works will affect major lines across the network. Key routes facing closures include the West Coast Main Line, London Waterloo station, and the Leeds to York route.
These essential works are likely to displace large numbers of passengers onto alternative routes, increasing crowding and journey times on those lines. The analysis predicts crowds will surge again from Saturday 27 December as the post-Christmas travel rush begins, with a second wave of busy travel expected from Friday 2 January as people return home after the New Year celebrations.
Planning Your Festive Journey
The travel analysis, which examined Rail Delivery Group data, assigns a star rating to each day from 19 December to 4 January to help passengers plan effectively. With major routes affected by engineering works and certain dates expected to be particularly congested, passengers are advised to plan their journeys carefully, consider travelling on quieter days where possible, and check for specific service alterations with their train operator before setting out.
