Most services running but TfL advises customers to check before they travel over the festive period

8 Dec 2022 02:16 PM

Over the Christmas and New Year period, from Friday 23 December 2022 until Monday 2 January 2023, most TfL public transport is open

• There will be some planned works and closures that will affect the London Overground and Elizabeth line
• Piccadilly line will operate as normal but there will be no Elizabeth line services to Heathrow Airport on Boxing Day with replacement coach services instead
• Industrial action from Network Rail and train operator staff will also affect some of London's transport network during this time, so everyone is advised to check before they travel
• Santander Cycles will be available throughout the festive period. Walking and cycling routes will be largely uninterrupted aside from New Year's Eve
• Full details of all planned closures are available at tfl.gov.uk/christmas-travel

Transport for London (TfL) will keep most of its services running throughout the festive period but is advising customers to plan journeys ahead so they can make the most of the busy festive period in the capital this year. Resources like TfL's Journey Planner or the TfL Go app will help customers avoid closures caused by planned essential works or by national rail industrial action across the transport network and navigate any last-minute service changes. 

The majority of TfL services will be running over Christmas and New Year, but there will be no service on the majority of public transport on Christmas Day and no services on some parts of the network on Boxing Day​. Night Tube and Night Overground services will not operate on Saturday 24 December.

Apart from planned closures, services will run all night on New Year's Eve and the Mayor's annual fireworks display will take place for the first time since 2019. Given the impact of the pandemic on TfL's finances, customers will have to pay to travel on New Year's Eve, as was the case last year. 

Victoria Coach Station, Santander Cycles, rental e-scooters, and taxi and private hire services will be available throughout the festive period including on Christmas Day. Walking and cycling routes will be largely uninterrupted aside from New Year's Eve when roads in certain areas of central London will be closed, some Santander Cycle docking stations will be out of service, and some bridges will be closed to pedestrians to facilitate the Mayor's fireworks display. The IFS London Cable Car is open throughout the festive period with the exception of Christmas Day.

Winter Wonderland has returned once again as a ticketed event and will continue to be open to the public until 2 January 2023. For a quieter journey, customers can travel to and from Bond Street, which is within a 15-minute walk of Hyde Park, or Victoria and Paddington, which are within a 20-minute walk of Hyde Park.

Essential engineering works will impact Elizabeth line services over the festive period and travel to Heathrow Airport will be affected as the Elizabeth line will not be running on Boxing Day. There will also be no service between Paddington and Abbey Wood on 27 December with a reduced service in the central section between 28 December 2022 and 2 January 2023 due to vital engineering work.

Between Sunday 25 December 2022 and Monday 2 January 2023, the Elizabeth line will be fully suspended between Whitechapel and Shenfield. London Overground will be suspended on all routes from Liverpool Street to Enfield, Cheshunt and Chingford and will also be suspended between Romford and Upminster due to Network Rail track maintenance works. Liverpool Street mainline station will be closed.

Planned works are also set to take place on Network Rail-owned infrastructure between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone. As a result, between Saturday 17 and Friday 23 December 2022, the Bakerloo line will be fully suspended between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone and the London Overground will be fully suspended between Euston and Watford Junction. Customers are advised that additional bus services on routes 718, 719, and 720 will be in place.

Industrial action by Network Rail staff will also affect the transport network, particularly on the London Overground, Elizabeth line and District and Bakerloo line services as they share Network Rail infrastructure. During the strike action, there will be a reduced service on London Overground and the Elizabeth line will revert to running as three separate railways rather than running direct through London. During this time, strike action is also expected on train operating companies in and around the capital, which may affect customers travelling into London. Customers are advised to check the TfL website for full details: 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."

Simply touching in and out using a contactless or Oyster card means customers only pay for the journey they make. With the Hopper fare, customers can also make unlimited bus and tram journeys within an hour for just £1.65.

People driving during the festive period are advised to plan ahead as planned works could mean there will be diversions along routes in central London.

Notes to editors

Network Rail and train operator strikes are scheduled for:

• Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 December
• Friday 16 and Saturday 17 December
• From Saturday 24 December to Tuesday 27 December
• Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 January
• Friday 6 and Saturday 7 January

Action short of a strike on train operating companies between 18 December and 2 January may also affect services

Day to day breakdown of services (25 Dec 2022 - 2 Jan 2023):

Sunday 25 December:

• No service on the majority of the network

Monday 26 December:

• No service on the Elizabeth line
• A modified Sunday timetable across London Underground lines
• A reduced / no service on London Overground lines
• A reduced service and later start from 08:00 on the DLR
• Sunday service on all day bus routes, with a Sunday night service

Tuesday 27 December:

• No service in the Central section of the Elizabeth line, no service in the East, reduced service in the West
• Saturday service on London Underground lines
• A reduced service on London Overground lines
• Saturday service on the DLR
• Sunday service on all day bus routes, with a Sunday night service

Wednesday 28 December:

• Reduced service in the Central section of the Elizabeth line, no service in the East, reduced service in the West
• Saturday service on London Underground
• Reduced service on the London Overground
• Enhanced Saturday service on the DLR
• Saturday service on all day bus routes, with normal night services

Thursday 29 December:

• Reduced service in the Central section of the Elizabeth line, no service in the East, reduced service in the West
• Saturday service on London Underground
• Reduced service on the London Overground
• Enhanced Saturday service on the DLR
• Saturday service on all day bus routes, with normal night services

Friday 30 December:

• Reduced service in the Central section of the Elizabeth line, no service in the East, reduced service in the West
• Saturday service on London Underground, and night tube
• Reduced service on the London Overground
• Enhanced Saturday service on the DLR
• Saturday service on all day bus routes, with normal night services

Saturday 31 December:

• Reduced service in the Central section of the Elizabeth line, no service in the East, normal service in the West. Special night service in the West and Central section
• Special service and Saturday service on the London Underground, and overnight running on all lines (except W&C)
• Reduced / normal service on the London Overground lines. Reduced overnight service on two lines
• Saturday service and special all-night service on the DLR
• A Saturday night service will operate on all 24-hour and night bus routes, with certain routes operating at enhanced frequencies and a small number of additional day routes operating overnight

Sunday 1 January:

• Reduced service in the Central section of the Elizabeth line, no service in the East, normal service in West
• Special New Year's Day service on all London Underground lines
• Reduced or normal service on London Overground lines
• Sunday service on the DLR
• Sunday service on all day bus routes, with a Sunday night service

Monday 2 January:

• Reduced service in the Central section of the Elizabeth line, no service in the East, reduced service in West
• Saturday service on the London Underground
• Reduced / Saturday services on the London Overground
• Saturday service on the DLR
• Sunday service on all day bus routes, with a Sunday night service