London’s Christmas Chaos: Major Train and Tube Service Changes to Prepare for This Holiday Season – You Need to Know

Published on December 24, 2025

The festive season in London brings a lot of joy, but for commuters and travelers, it also brings the dreaded chaos of packed stations, delayed services, and railway engineering works. This year, the usual holiday stress is compounded by a major closure at Liverpool Street Station and additional disruptions on several Tube lines. Whether you’re planning to leave the city or venture out for New Year’s Eve celebrations, here’s what you need to know about London’s train closures, cancellations, and service changes over the Christmas and New Year period.

Major Train and Tube Service Disruptions from December 24, 2025, to January 2, 2026

Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve)

• Reduced service across the Underground after 8 pm.
• No Elizabeth Line services after 10:30 pm.
• Limited service on Lioness, Suffragette, Windrush, Weaver, and Mildmay lines starting at various times from 7 pm onwards.
• Last Overground trains will run by 9:30 pm on most routes.
• DLR services will stop running by 10:30 pm.

Christmas Day (December 25)

• No Transport for London (TfL) services running on Christmas Day, including all trains and tubes.

Boxing Day (December 26)

• Reduced Underground services begin at 7 am.
• No night tube service.
• The Elizabeth line, District, and Metropolitan lines will have limited or no services to specific stations.
• Special services on the Lioness, Suffragette, Windrush, and Mildmay lines, with significant gaps in service.

Saturday, December 27 to Monday, December 29

• The District line will not serve Kensington Olympia.
• Piccadilly line services will be disrupted between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge.
• Weaver, Elizabeth, and Mildmay lines will have services curtailed or unavailable between key stations.
• Windrush line services will be significantly limited after 10:15 pm.

Tuesday, December 30

• Reduced services across multiple lines, with no night tube.
• Significant disruptions to the District, Piccadilly, Mildmay, and Weaver lines.
• The Elizabeth line services will be affected, especially between Liverpool Street and Stratford.

New Year’s Eve (December 31)

• Tube services will run throughout the night, but some stations will close in the evening due to crowd control:
• Blackfriars from 10:30 pm
• Charing Cross from 6 pm
• Leicester Square, Westminster, Covent Garden, and other key stations from various times.
• The Elizabeth line and Windrush lines will continue to operate through the night with some interruptions.
• Special services will run on the Mildmay line from Clapham Junction to Shepherd’s Bush and Willesden Junction to Stratford, running all night.

New Year’s Day (January 1)

• Reduced Sunday services will operate across all lines.
• Certain lines, including the District, Piccadilly, and Waterloo & City lines, will not serve specific stations.
• Special Windrush and Elizabeth line services will operate during limited hours.

Friday, January 2

• Several closures persist, including no service on the District line to Kensington Olympia and Piccadilly line disruptions.
• Services on Mildmay and Weaver lines will be significantly reduced.

Major Closure to Liverpool Street Station

One of the most significant disruptions this holiday season will be the closure of Liverpool Street Station from December 25 until January 1 for essential engineering works. This will impact a range of services, including the London Underground, Overground, and National Rail services. It’s a major blow for commuters and travelers looking to travel to destinations via this busy hub, as well as those using nearby lines.

Planned Tube Line Upgrades and Engineering Works

In addition to the major station closure, several other areas of the Tube network will be undergoing upgrades, with parts of the Piccadilly line closed for essential works. Travelers should expect changes to multiple lines, including no services on the Lioness, Suffragette, and Weaver lines after early evening on most days.

Service Adjustments to Plan Around

• District Line: No services to Kensington Olympia on select days.
• Piccadilly Line: Significant disruption, particularly between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge.
• Elizabeth Line: The line will be limited, with no services between Liverpool Street and Stratford for a large portion of the holiday period.
• Weaver Line: Will experience substantial disruption, including no services between Liverpool Street and London Fields.
• Windrush Line: Limited service, particularly between Sydenham and West Croydon after 10:15 pm.

What You Need to Know:

• Travel Early: To avoid the worst of the disruption, travelers are advised to set off early for their journeys and check for the latest updates on London Underground and National Rail websites.
• Expect Busy Stations: While many services are limited, expect stations to be packed with fellow travelers. Avoid rush hour and plan accordingly.
• Check for Station Closures: Major stations such as Blackfriars, Leicester Square, and Westminster will be closed intermittently during New Year’s Eve, so factor in extra time to navigate through potential closures.
• Alternative Routes: If you’re planning on traveling outside of London, be prepared for cancellations and check alternative routes on National Rail’s website.

Final Thoughts

The Christmas and New Year season in London is always filled with excitement, but for travelers, it can also be filled with frustration due to train closures and disruptions. With planned engineering works, station closures, and limited services on many lines, it’s essential to plan ahead and keep updated on service changes. By staying informed and traveling early, you can make the most of your festive season in London without the added headache of transportation woes.