Network Rail is carrying out a £152 million programme of planned engineering works over the Christmas and New Year period, closing major London stations and routes while upgrades are completed. Passengers travelling home for the holidays have been urged to plan ahead and check their journeys before travelling, although most of the rail network will remain open.
Paddington and Liverpool Street closures
London Paddington will close to train services from Christmas Day until January 3 for track and overhead line upgrades, including work at Dolphin Junction near Slough. This affects Elizabeth line services and the Heathrow Express, both of which will resume operations to and from Paddington starting on New Year's Eve. Great Western Railway (GWR) trains, however, will not return to Paddington until Monday, January 4. Some GWR services will terminate at Reading or divert to London Euston.
The railway through Forest Gate in east London will close for 10 days from Christmas Day for major track replacement work. Greater Anglia and Elizabeth line services will be disrupted, with no trains running through the affected area until the early hours of Monday, January 4.
Redhill and southeastern London disruptions
The railway through Redhill will close from December 20 to January 3 for track and points replacement. Rail replacement buses will operate between Reigate and affected stations from Earlswood to Purley. Services to Brighton and Gatwick Airport will continue, although passengers should expect alterations. Work is due to finish in the early hours of Monday, January 4.
London Charing Cross, Waterloo East and Cannon Street will have no Southeastern services from January 1 to January 3. Most trains will be diverted to London Victoria, with limited services from London Bridge. Several south-east London stations, including Hither Green, Grove Park, Lee and New Eltham, will be served by replacement buses instead.
Euston service changes
London Euston will operate a reduced Avanti West Coast service from December 27 to January 3, while London Northwestern Railway trains will run to amended times. This is partly to accommodate GWR trains diverted from Paddington. Euston will not close, so passengers can still catch trains to and from the station.
