October 1st 2024.
During the festive season, many people are eager to travel and visit their loved ones. However, there is some unfortunate news for those looking to travel east. The UK's busiest railway station, London Liverpool Street, will be closed for eight days over Christmas. This means that thousands of people will face travel misery as they try to navigate their way around the city.
Network Rail has officially announced that the station will be closed from Christmas Day until January 2 for necessary works. This closure will result in delays and cancellations for those hoping to reunite with their families or return home following the festive celebrations. As a result, Greater Anglia trains, including the Stansted Express, will be diverted through Stratford, which will serve as the train company's London terminus. Passengers can then easily change onto the Central or Jubilee line at Stratford to reach central London.
In addition, London Overground services in the area will be altered during this time. Trains will start and terminate at London Fields, including those from Chingford that typically do not stop there. There will also be fewer Overground services, with only two per hour to Chingford and one per hour to Enfield Town and Cheshunt. People in this area are advised to use alternative transportation options, such as Victoria line trains from Walthamstow Central and Seven Sisters, or local bus routes.
Although Christmas is still a few months away, it is important to plan ahead and check for any disruptions before traveling. Unfortunately, this is not the only inconvenience for travelers during this time. London Paddington station will also be closed for three days between December 27 and 29, affecting those traveling to the west country. Great Western Railway will divert its long-distance trains from Cornwall, Devon, and Wales to Euston during this period.
Furthermore, there will be no Thameslink trains between St Pancras and Harpenden, and no East Midlands Railway services between London St Pancras and Bedford from December 21 to December 29. This is due to ongoing work on the Midland Main Line, which will also impact those flying from London Luton Airport. For passengers who usually take the train north from St Pancras, alternative transportation options and connecting buses will be necessary to reach their destinations.
Despite these disruptions, Network Rail has assured that 95% of the train network will still be running as usual. Helen Hamlin, Network Rail's director of system operations, explains that the festive period is an ideal time to carry out essential work on the railway. With fewer people traveling, they can make significant improvements without causing too much disruption to passengers and freight flows.
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