The busiest (and quietest days) to travel by train this xmas

Christmas means cosy evenings. It means family time and presents. But it also means complete, utter chaos.

For those of us not lucky enough to live near the people we spend the holidays with, December is a pretty busy time. You might have to get time off work to travel, and no matter when you make your journey chances are the roads will be busy, the airports packed, and the trains underserved. But there are things you can do to minimise the pain of the season. 

As a general rule, the closer we get to the big day, the more chaotic public transport will get. But, more specifically, according to Trainline, the busiest day for trains will be December 21, which is a Saturday this year, so avoid that if you want to ensure a seat on your trip. 

The second most popular day will be Monday December 23, but things will calm down a bit for Christmas eve. Do check times before setting off on Dec 24 though, as some lines will be operating a reduced service that day.

As usual, trains won’t be running on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, except for a very select few transfers which will operate on December 26. If you need to get somewhere on the 25th, some buses will still be available, but check with your local provider to get details on that.

Disruptions and cancellations

A few services will be disrupted over the next month that are worth being aware of. 

Engineering works in London will mean Paddington station will close between December 27 and 29. London Liverpool Street will also close its doors for just over a week between December 25 and January 2, so beware of that if you’ll be passing through the capital at any point. 

On top of that, there will be no services from Crewe to Liverpool, and very few to Manchester, between December 28 and January 3. There may also be disruptions on all lines due to the weather throughout the month, so it’s always worth checking the day of your travel to ensure a smooth journey.

Train travel with Time Out 

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