If you have family who are planning to return to the Island over the Christmas and New Year period by rail, it’s worth checking what’s happening with engineering works.
Between Friday 23rd December 2022 to Tuesday 3rd January 2023 Network Rail will be undertaking “vital improvements and routine maintenance” around Britain.
It’s suggested that nearer the time you check the latest information nationally – this includes any disruption planned for South Western Railway.
Where to expect disruption
Some of the projects will include:
London Liverpool Street station – bridge reconstruction, switches and crossing refurbishment and track maintenance
- This means no services will start or terminate at Liverpool Street station from Monday 25th December to Monday 2nd January.
- Greater Anglia trains will run to and from Ingatestone and Billericay, while buses will run between Ingatestone and Newbury Park, and Billericay and Newbury Park.
- Cambridge and Stansted Express trains will start and terminate at Tottenham Hale.
East Coast Main Line – switches and crossing and plain line track renewals at York
- A reduced Transpennine Express service of two trains an hour will run between York and Manchester from Tuesday 27th December to Sunday 1st January.
- Bus services will be in place between York and Scarborough/Middlesbrough/Northallerton and a shuttle train service will run between Newcastle and Northallerton.
Clapham Junction and Balham – resignalling and track work
- From Sunday 25th December to Monday 2nd January, there will be no Southern or Gatwick Express trains to or from London Victoria
- Most Southern trains will be diverted to run to and from London Bridge instead
- Replacement buses will run between Clapham Junction and East Croydon
- Gatwick Express trains will not operate, but frequent alternative Southern or Thameslink trains will be available between Gatwick Airport and London Bridge.
Lewisham station – signal and crossing renewals
- Work will take place from Saturday 24th December to Monday 2nd January
- Cannon Street station will be closed on Saturday 24th December and some services will start or terminate at London Bridge
- Lewisham station will be closed and there will be no trains between New Cross, St John’s and Dartford via Bexleyheath. A replacement bus service will run along the line and Dartford services will run via Greenwich and Sidcup.
West Coast Main Line – track renewals, bridge work and platform work
- Between Saturday 24th and Friday 30th December, track renewals will take place at Harlesden, while platform work will take place at Milton Keynes Central, and bridge work will take place at Camden and Wolverton.
- Long-distance services from London Euston will run to a reduced timetable.
Image: gonzalo facello under CC BY 2.0
