Transport for London is advising customers to make the most of its resources in order to get the best from the London Transport system this Christmas.
TfL's Journey Planner or its TfL Go app are great tools to support customers in avoiding or navigating closures or last-minute service changes which may be caused by planned essential maintenance work or by national rail industrial action
Most of the Transport for London network will be up and running as usual over Christmas and New Year however there will be no service on Christmas Day and no service for some areas during Boxing Day. Both Night Tube and Night Overground services will not run on Christmas Eve.
New Year's Eve and the Mayor's annual fireworks display will see services operating all night apart from where planned closures are underway. Following the effects of the pandemic on Transport for London's finances, customers will need to pay for travel during New Year's eve as per last year. Further travel options are also available including Victoria Coach Station, Santander Cycles, rental e-scooters, as well as taxi and private hire services which are available right through the festive period including Christmas Day.
Walking and cycling routes will be mostly uninterrupted apart from on New Year's Eve as roads in certain areas of central London will be closed, some Santander Cycle docking stations will not be in use, alongside some bridges closed to pedestrians in order to facilitate the Mayor's fireworks display. The IFS London Cable Car will be open throughout the festive period except for on Christmas Day.
Ticketed event, Winter Wonderland has also returned this year and will be open to the public until the 2nd of January 2023. For quieter journeys, customers are able to travel to and from Bond Street which is just a 15-minute walk from Hyde Park or Vicotria and Paddington which are a 20-minute walk from Hyde Park.
Elizabeth line services will be affected by essential engineering work during the Christmas period alongside travel to Heathrow Airport due to the Elizabeth line not being operational on Boxing Day. The 27th of December will see no services between Paddington and Abbey Wood, alongside a limited service to the central section from the 28th of December to the 2nd of January 2023 as crucial engineering work takes place.
Between Sunday the 25th of December and Monday the 2nd of January 2023, the Elizabeth line will see a full suspension of services between Whitechapel and Shenfield. London Overground will also be suspended from all routes from Liverpool Street to Enfield, Cheshunt and Chingford as well as between Romford and Upminster as Network Rail undertake track maintenance works. Liverpool Street mainline station will also be closed.
Further planned engineering work will also be carried out on Network Rail-owned infrastructure between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone. Due to this work, between Saturday the 17th and Friday the 23rd of December, the Bakerloo line will see a full suspension of services between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone as well as the London Overground being fully suspended between Euston and Watford Junction. Customers will be able to use additional bus services on routes 718, 719, and 720.
Ongoing industrial action by Network Rail staff will also impact the transport network, especially for London Overground, Elizabeth line and District and Bakerloo line services due to them sharing Network Rail infrastructure. Reduced services on London Overground and the Elizabeth line will see them run as three separate railways instead of running directly through London during the strike action. As further rail operating companies both in and around the capital are impacted by the strike action, customers may be affected if making their way into London and are therefore advised to check via the Transport for London website to get up-to-date information: tfl.gov.uk/strikes
The Deputy Mayor for Transport, Seb Dance, said: “With the Christmas lights displays, world-famous shopping, restaurants, and the chance to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks on the banks of the Thames once again, London is a brilliant place to be this festive season. This year the capital's public transport network has continued to play a vital role in our recovery, helping to build a greener and more prosperous London for everyone. Most of London's transport network will remain open over the festive season to help everyone make the most of the city, but people should check their journey before they travel.”
Andy Lord, London's Transport Commissioner, said: “The festive season in London is an exciting time, with the shops, pubs, restaurants and entertainment sector all in full swing. Winter Wonderland returns with all its lights and buzz, and the Mayor's famous New Year's Eve firework display returns for the first time since 2019.
“Most of London's transport network will remain open over the festive season to help everyone make the most of the city, but customers are asked to check before they travel as some essential planned works and Network Rail industrial action will be taking place. We will be welcoming everyone with cheer as we do all we possibly can to ensure that everyone can travel safely and smoothly.”
By touching in and out with a contactless Oyster card customers only pay for the journey they make. The Hopper fare also allows customers to make unlimited bus and tram trips within one hour for only £1.65
For people considering driving during the Christmas period, please plan journeys ahead as planned works could see diversions along routes for central London.
