Christmas Workings

[D1015]

Hi everyone, I'm just wondering what trains run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day?

I am aware that almost, if not all, passenger TOCs and trains don't run on these two days and that often Network Rail takes advantage of this to complete massive amounts of permanent way and infrastructure work.

Do freights / Freight TOCs or track cleaning jobs still work on these two days? Thanks.

 

[The Planner]

Hi everyone, I'm just wondering what trains run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day?
I am aware that almost, if not all, passenger TOCs and trains don't run on these two days and that often Network Rail takes advantage of this to complete massive amounts of permanent way and infrastructure work. Do freights / Freight TOCs or track cleaning jobs still work on these two days? Thanks.

There will be engineering trains pottering about, but not a lot else. RTT will show what is around. I would ignore any 3J, 3S trains, and 1Q as well as they just don't get specifically cancelled off.

 

[stadler]

Hi everyone, I'm just wondering what trains run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day?
I am aware that almost, if not all, passenger TOCs and trains don't run on these two days and that often Network Rail takes advantage of this to complete massive amounts of permanent way and infrastructure work. Do freights / Freight TOCs or track cleaning jobs still work on these two days? Thanks.

Heathrow Express have two Class 387 trains both doing Heathrow Airport inter terminal shuttles on Christmas Day all day long.

One spends all day going back and forth between T123 and T4.

Another spends all day going back and forth between T123 and T5.

Those are the only passenger workings, although i think there are a couple late evening services on other operators which finish in the early hours of Christmas Day morning.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

The Tyne Valley has announced a two hourly service due to West Coast works on Boxing Day.

The North East usually doesn’t have any trains, apart from Metro, on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Christmas Day sees a lot of work being done on the King Edward Bridge over the Tyne.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Chiltern are running a broadly half-hourly service between Marylebone and Oxford Parkway on Boxing Day, calling at Wembley Stadium, Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Haddenham & Thame Parkway and Bicester Village.

Times are showing on RTT.

 

[LPJOHN]

Merseyrail usually operates a limited service on Boxing Day. I have not seen any announcement on their website yet, but looking at realtraintimes a service is operating on Boxing Day.

 

[Falcon1200]

Scotrail have for many years run trains on Boxing Day in Strathclyde; Last year, IIRC for the first time, services ran in eastern Scotland too.

 

[class 9]

The Tyne Valley has announced a two hourly service due to West Coast works on Boxing Day.

The North East usually doesn’t have any trains, apart from Metro, on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Christmas Day sees a lot of work being done on the King Edward Bridge over the Tyne.

Nothing showing on RTT or journey planners for the Tyne Valley on Boxing day.

 

[mm333]

Although i think there are a couple late evening services on other operators which finish in the early hours of Christmas Day morning.

The latest service I can find is the 0034 Elizabeth line service from Liverpool Street to Shenfield.

In recent years, the final Stansted Express south has departed at 2359, but not this year.

 

[stadler]

The latest service I can find is the 0034 Elizabeth line service from Liverpool Street to Shenfield.

In recent years, the final Stansted Express south has departed at 2359, but not this year.

Yes i reckon that is probably the latest one on the entire UK railway network.

I can find all of these trains operating on Christmas Day in the early hours of the morning:

• 22:46 Abbey Wood - Maidenhead 00:03 (EL)
• 23:30 Heathrow T5 - London Paddington 00:05 (EL)
• 23:12 London Paddington - Shenfield 00:07 (EL)
• 23:26 Shenfield - London Liverpool Street 00:09 (EL)
• 23:42 Heathrow T5 - London Paddington 00:09 (HX)
• 23:19 Reading - London Paddington 00:12 (EL)
• 23:21 London Liverpool Street - Stansted 00:12 (SX)
• 22:45 Heathrow T4 - Shenfield 00:17 (EL)
• 23:47 Heathrow T4 - London Paddington 00:20 (EL)
• 23:41 Shenfield - London Liverpool Street 00:24 (EL)
• 23:57 Heathrow T5 - London Paddington 00:24 (HX)
• 23:48 London Liverpool Street - Shenfield 00:31 (EL)
• 00:07 Heathrow T5 - London Paddington 00:43 (EL)
• 00:03 London Liverpool Street - Shenfield 00:46 (EL)
• 00:19 London Liverpool Street - Shenfield 01:00 (EL)
• 00:34 London Liverpool Street - Shenfield 01:17 (EL)

Other than that the only other Christmas Day passenger workings i can find seems to be the frequent T123 to T4 shuttles and T123 to T5 shuttles both running all day long.

 

[RDP]

On the Southern both GTR (Southern) and London Overground have run trains on some routes on Boxing Day although these tend to vary from year to year depending on where the various engineering possessions are.

Eurostar also operate on Boxing Day while the Eurotunnel Shuttles operate on both days.

 

[stadler]

GWR are apparently operating one random passenger service on Christmas Day this year:

07:17 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington 08:23

(Calls: Didcot Parkway, Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne, Tilehurst, Reading, Twyford, Maidenhead, London Paddington)

Realtime Trains | 1P79 0717 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington | 25/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 1P79 0717 departure from Didcot Parkway to London Paddington on 25/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I have no idea why they are running this and it seems to be one journey only and in one direction only.

 

[FGW_DID]

GWR are apparently operating one random passenger service on Christmas Day this year:

07:17 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington 08:23

(Calls: Didcot Parkway, Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne, Tilehurst, Reading, Twyford, Maidenhead, London Paddington)

Realtime Trains | 1P79 0717 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington | 25/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 1P79 0717 departure from Didcot Parkway to London Paddington on 25/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I have no idea why they are running this and it seems to be one journey only and in one direction only.

Probably find the schedule has been missed and not been cancelled for the day.

 

[Wolfie]

Hi everyone, I'm just wondering what trains run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day?
I am aware that almost, if not all, passenger TOCs and trains don't run on these two days and that often Network Rail takes advantage of this to complete massive amounts of permanent way and infrastructure work. Do freights / Freight TOCs or track cleaning jobs still work on these two days? Thanks.

My understanding, given that there is very limited staffing of signal boxes, is very limited indeed.

 

[Anvil1984]

The Tyne Valley has announced a two hourly service due to West Coast works on Boxing Day.

The North East usually doesn’t have any trains, apart from Metro, on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Christmas Day sees a lot of work being done on the King Edward Bridge over the Tyne.

There’s Northern trains for the first time out of Newcastle on New Years Day. Definitely nothing on Boxing Day (No West Coast services run on Boxing Day so that reasoning wouldn’t make sense)

 

[Ze Random One]

Already mentioned upthread, but Tyne and Wear Metro would appear to be running their normal Boxing Day service, 8am to 8pm, including via Sunderland over Network Rail metals.

Again, mostly mentioned upthread, other services apparently running on Boxing Day include
Chiltern Marylebone to Oxford
Limited stop Merseyrail services as per previous years
Southern services via Croydon (Victoria to Croydon, Brighton and Sutton}
London Overground Windrush Line to Croydon
Stansted Express as far as Tottenham Hale
Heathrow Airport Terminal shuttles

And Scotrail are running an almost complete regional service in Scotland. Including Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Perth.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

There’s Northern trains for the first time out of Newcastle on New Years Day. Definitely nothing on Boxing Day (No West Coast services run on Boxing Day so that reasoning wouldn’t make sense)

I must apologise, I got myself confused.

It is New Years Day that they are running.

TVCRP - Passenger trains to run on Tyne Valley Railway on New Year's Day

Passenger trains to run on Tyne Valley Railway on 1 January 2026

tvcrp.org.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Nov 2025 ==

There’s Northern trains for the first time out of Newcastle on New Years Day. Definitely nothing on Boxing Day (No West Coast services run on Boxing Day so that

Nothing showing on RTT or journey planners for the Tyne Valley on Boxing day.

Sorry, I got myself confused - It is New Years Day.

TVCRP - Passenger trains to run on Tyne Valley Railway on New Year's Day

Passenger trains to run on Tyne Valley Railway on 1 January 2026

tvcrp.org.uk

 

[dk1]

I must apologise, I got myself confused.

It is New Years Day that they are running.

TVCRP - Passenger trains to run on Tyne Valley Railway on New Year's Day

Passenger trains to run on Tyne Valley Railway on 1 January 2026

tvcrp.org.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Nov 2025 ==





Sorry, I got myself confused - It is New Years Day.

TVCRP - Passenger trains to run on Tyne Valley Railway on New Year's Day

Passenger trains to run on Tyne Valley Railway on 1 January 2026

tvcrp.org.uk

Yes a very limited service on New Years Day is a very new thing for local services in the NE. It’s very similar to Scotland in that respect.

 

[jkkne]

Yes a very limited service on New Years Day is a very new thing for local services in the NE. It’s very similar to Scotland in that respect.

Certainly a positive step, shame that there'll be zero other public transport to compliment since buses and the Metro don't run in the North East on NYD

 

[dk1]

Certainly a positive step, shame that there'll be zero other public transport to compliment since buses and the Metro don't run in the North East on NYD

It’s long been tradition in that part of the UK. Those Geordies certainly know how to party.

 

[bluesky]

GTR (Southern) will be operating Boxing Day services from London Victoria to Gatwick, Brighton, Sutton and East Croydon (plus some intermediate stops) between approximately 0500 and 2200, very similar to last year. GatEx branded services will not be running, although their rolling stock may well be out and about!

 

[TheSel]

Merseyrail usually operates a limited service on Boxing Day. I have not seen any announcement on their website yet, but looking at realtraintimes a service is operating on Boxing Day.

Merseyrail info now available here.

Essentially a 30 minute service on all lines, roughly 10:00 - 19:00, but some stations will be closed, so 'Limited Stop' will be the order of the day. Nothing beyond Hooton (i.e. no Chester or Ellesmere Port services). Some additional Liverpool - Aintree services, supplementing the Liverpool - Ormskirk line for race go-ers. Also the Southports will extend beyond Liverpool Central to Liverpool South Parkway (not Hunts Cross).

 

[185143]

Merseyrail info now available here.

Essentially a 30 minute service on all lines, roughly 10:00 - 19:00, but some stations will be closed, so 'Limited Stop' will be the order of the day. Nothing beyond Hooton (i.e. no Chester or Ellesmere Port services). Some additional Liverpool - Aintree services, supplementing the Liverpool - Ormskirk line for race go-ers. Also the Southports will extend beyond Liverpool Central to Liverpool South Parkway (not Hunts Cross).

Starting up later than the have done in the past.

I've been on the 08:57 from South Parkway to Waterloo for a 'Spoons breakfast quite a few times on Boxing Day now.

 

[AY1975]

Chiltern are running a broadly half-hourly service between Marylebone and Oxford Parkway on Boxing Day, calling at Wembley Stadium, Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Haddenham & Thame Parkway and Bicester Village.

Times are showing on RTT.

AFAIK this is the first time Chiltern have run on Boxing Day.

The press release on the Chiltern website seems to imply that it will call at Wembley Stadium, Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Haddenham & Thame Parkway and Bicester Village:

Chiltern Railways to operate special service on Boxing Day | Chiltern Railways News

News from Chiltern Railways

press.chilternrailways.co.uk

The stops along the route include:

London Marylebone, Wembley Stadium, Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Haddenham & Thame Parkway, Bicester Village and Oxford Parkway.

But RTT via the link above shows it as calling only at Bicester Village.

 

[OliverH68]

AFAIK this is the first time Chiltern have run on Boxing Day.

The press release on the Chiltern website seems to imply that it will call at Wembley Stadium, Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Haddenham & Thame Parkway and Bicester Village:

Chiltern Railways to operate special service on Boxing Day | Chiltern Railways News

News from Chiltern Railways

press.chilternrailways.co.uk

But RTT via the link above shows it as calling only at Bicester Village.

They have run Boxing Day trains to/from Oxford Parkway for a number of years now. 2019 was the first time, I think.

Only the first train to Bicester Village & the last one back to London are non-stop, everything else is as per the calling pattern listed.

 

[MatthewHutton]

They have run Boxing Day trains to/from Oxford Parkway for a number of years now. 2019 was the first time, I think.

Only the first train to Bicester Village & the last one back to London are non-stop, everything else is as per the calling pattern listed.

Yeah it’s basically for Boxing Day sales at Bicester village.

 

[CyrusWuff]

They have run Boxing Day trains to/from Oxford Parkway for a number of years now. 2019 was the first time, I think.

They first ran in 2013, running to Bicester North (given the link to Bicester Village didn't open until October 2015.) There was a break due to the pandemic, but they resumed in 2023.

archive.org has a copy of the 2013 timetable, and it's broadly the same now but with some additional trains returning from Oxford Parkway later in the day.

A change for this year is that Princes Risborough isn't being served, though there's no immediately obvious reason as to why.

 

[MatthewHutton]

They first ran in 2013, running to Bicester North (given the link to Bicester Village didn't open until October 2015.) There was a break due to the pandemic, but they resumed in 2023.

archive.org has a copy of the 2013 timetable, and it's broadly the same now but with some additional trains returning from Oxford Parkway later in the day.

A change for this year is that Princes Risborough isn't being served, though there's no immediately obvious reason as to why.

Princes Risborough is the weakest stop other than Wembley that they are serving. So maybe they just don’t want to staff it.

 

[vidal]

Wasn't there an unadvertised all stations service that ran as a paper exercise for Santa? I certainly remember seeing it uploaded once or twice to RTT.

James

 

[mrd269697]

Merseyrail usually operates a limited service on Boxing Day. I have not seen any announcement on their website yet, but looking at realtraintimes a service is operating on Boxing Day.

I can assure you we are running a Boxing Day service. As I’m in that day!