From engineering works on Britain’s railways to airline worker walk outs, here’s what you need to know
As well as being the “most wonderful time of the year”, Christmas, and the days surrounding it, are often the most difficult on which to travel.
This year’s festive season is, unfortunately, no different with planned engineering works and strikes in the UK and Europe set to cause disruption in December and January.
UK rail and bus disruption
National Rail says “a considerable number of engineering and improvement projects will be undertaken at Christmas and New Year”, and recommends those travelling by rail to check Journey Planners for information on disruptions and route changes.
Across the country, train services on many routes will finish earlier than normal on Christmas Eve.
If you’re leaving London, you can check the last direct Christmas Eve trains from the capital here.
Throughout the UK, trains to and from airports will also finish early on Christmas Eve and, if you’re arriving to, or flying from, Luton Airport, National Rail warns that journeys may be disrupted further still between Saturday 21 December and Tuesday 24 December due to major engineering work closing the lines between London and Harpenden, near Luton.
On Christmas Day, there will be no National Rail services operating anywhere in the UK, and there will also be no London Underground trains running.
Across the UK, very few buses will run on Christmas Day, and it’s advised that you check your local operator’s website for details of amended timetables.
Planned engineering works
As always, check your local services before setting off. There are a number of planned works that are likely to cause significant disruption.
- Between London St Pancras International and Bedford – Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 December
- In the London Paddington area – Friday 27 to Sunday 29 December
- At London Liverpool Street – Friday 27 December to Wednesday 1 January
- In the Cambridge area – Friday 27 December to Sunday 5 January
- In the Crewe area – Friday 27 December to Thursday 2 January
Issues facing London and its airports
In London, there will be no bus services running at all on the 25th. If you choose to drive in the capital, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) won’t be in operation.
From Christmas Day to 2 January, the Congestion Charge also won’t be operating, but the normal Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will be.
On Boxing Day, Heathrow will have no Heathrow Express or Elizabeth line services, although London Underground services will be operating.
Also at Heathrow, from Friday 27 December to Sunday 29 December, there will be no Heathrow Express services. Elizabeth line services will run to and from the airport, but will be disrupted by major engineering work near London Paddington.
Gatwick will have a service operated by Southern, but no Gatwick Express, Thameslink or Great Western Railway – which run from Reading – trains.
Stansted will have Stansted Express trains between the airport and Tottenham Hale station in London, but no CrossCountry service will be operating.
Manchester bus strikes
Around 200 bus workers employed by Transport for Greater Manchester are set to stage strikes shortly before Christmas in a dispute over pay.
From 00:01 on Thursday 12 December until 23:59 on Sunday 15 December and then again from Friday 20 December until Monday 23 December, there will be no buses in service across all of Manchester city centre and its outskirts.
As with many strikes though, action can be called off at short notice.
Finnair flights cancelled
On Friday, Finnair announced it has cancelled 300 flights on both 9 December and 13 December, a move which is expected to affect around 33,000 air passengers on routes across Europe.
The airline is warning that the strike, called by the Finnish Air Line Pilots Association, could impact flights on dates surrounding the two planned days of action.
EasyJet strike in France
In September, French staff of budget airline easyJet announced an indefinite strike due to the company’s plans to close its base in Toulouse.
The strike is slated to run until 16 December. There are also warnings in place that more strike action could affect easyJet across France in December and beyond – so make sure to check the situation before you travel.
French rail services and ports may be disrupted
French workers are also planning strikes likely to disrupt travellers from 11 December. although one of four unions organising the strike has pulled out and urging other unions to do the same.
High-speed TGV and international routes will be affected, alongside regional TER services.
Rail timetables will show the services set to be disrupted 48 hours in advance.
No end date has been announced, so these strikes could well go on until Christmas Day, and beyond.
At French ports, dock workers will go on strike on 9 and 10 December, although the disruption caused by this action is likely to be minimal.
(Photo: alxpin/Getty Images)
Italy will see train, tram and plane strikes nationwide
Across Italy on 13 December, there will be major disruption to flights as well as rail and other public transport services, due to a planned 24-hour general strike.
Motorway toll booth services may also be disrupted, causing issues for drivers, and ferry services to both Sicily and Sardinia will be hit, too.
On 15 December, Italy’s major airports will also face issues, thanks to another strike by air traffic controllers.
(Photo: kasto80
/ Getty Images)
Spanish nationwide bus strikes to continue
There has been a nationwide bus strike in Spain since late November, and it’s likely to continue throughout December. Travellers across the country can expect significant disruption to local and long-distance bus services, but regional services in Murcia and Andalusia will be particularly badly affected.
In the Canary Islands, bus driver strikes scheduled for 5 December have been moved to the 9 and 23 of the month. If an agreement isn’t reached there, unions warn that there could be indefinite strike actions.