Christmas Day services

[Harlesden]

What year did British Rail (or British Railways) last run passenger trains on Christmas Day? Would there be a timetable anywhere on the web?
Even today, surely the network isn't simply abandoned for 48 hours (25th/26th December). How many rail staff actually work over Christmas?

 

[flymo]

In the 74/75 BR timetable it shows:

25 December - No service (limited service local in Scotland)
26 December - Modified service.

No more details than that unfortunately but it shows there were some services running over Christmas back then.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

What year did British Rail (or British Railways) last run passenger trains on Christmas Day? Would there be a timetable anywhere on the web?
Even today, surely the network isn't simply abandoned for 48 hours (25th/26th December). How many rail staff actually work over Christmas?

I don't know about British Rail, but Southern (Gatwick Express) normally run a bus service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport on Christmas Day.

there are staff out and about on Christmas Day, usually at depots and some stations, but these are often those who volunteer and have little or no family.

 

[Minilad]

I don't know about British Rail, but Southern (Gatwick Express) normally run a bus service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport on Christmas Day.

there are staff out and about on Christmas Day, usually at depots and some stations, but these are often those who volunteer and have little or no family.

And of course some of a different religious persuasion for whom Christmas day has no relevance

 

[Tomonthetrain]

and those that want to get away from the nagging mrs!

 

[2Dogbox]

I'd work on Christmas day, I can't stand Christmas. Bah Humbug!

 

[Zoe]

When it has been suggested that there should be a Christmas Day service the response is usually that the staff deserve to have the day off and that no-one would use the service. The question here then is why do other countries in Europe run a service on Christmas Day?

 

[Liam]

Isn't there a lot of engineering work done over christmas and new year?

 

[anthony263]

There must be some demand for christmas service so much so that it seems the coach companies like megabus are cashing in. Even the bus operaters are running services on boxing and new years day (Cardiff bus were doing a very good trade last year, there were some staff like myself who were willing to work xmas day)

If a train company has the staff who want to work on xmas day and there are no or limited engineering work then i say let them go ahead.

 

[Zoe]

There must be some demand for christmas service

Is there though? London is the place where I would have thought there would be some demand but even there TfL run absolutely nothing.

 

[Butts]

When it has been suggested that there should be a Christmas Day service the response is usually that the staff deserve to have the day off and that no-one would use the service. The question here then is why do other countries in Europe run a service on Christmas Day?

Another question ???

Are they in the boozer and if so who is serving them - do those staff not deserve a day off as well ?

 

[Zoe]

Are they in the boozer and if so who is serving them - do those staff not deserve a day off as well ?

That would be my point also but I would have though most of these people would have chosen to work on Christmas Day. The concern with transport is that there would not be volunteers and it would end up as a rostered shift.

 

[Butts]

Is there though? London is the place where I would have thought there would be some demand but even there TfL run absolutely nothing.

If they don't try they won't really know how much demand exists.

When I worked in Bingo years back a few clubs opened one christmas day and it was an unmitigated flop so not repeated.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That would be my point also but I would have though most of these people would have chosen to work on Christmas Day. The concern with transport is that there would not be volunteers and it would end up as a rostered shift.

That's called progress

Seriously can you imagine what Tube Drivers would ask for probably at least treble time and probably more.

 

[Zoe]

How well used are the Christmas Day buses in Edinburgh?

 

[causton]

Seriously can you imagine what Tube Drivers would ask for probably at least treble time and probably more.

They would have to disable Oyster cards and sell only a £30 travelcard for the day to cover the increased costs! (don't give them ideas, oops...)

 

[Temple Meads]

I'd be happy to work on Christmas Day..








For a nice fat bonus

 

[callum112233]

Frieght companies work on christmas day.

 

[anthony263]

Is there though? London is the place where I would have thought there would be some demand but even there TfL run absolutely nothing.

I did read an article in 1 of the buses magazines a few years agao which had an interview with ensign who said they did try running buses on xmas day and did have a lot of demand and enquiries from people wanting the normal bus services.

I know that some operaters have enquiried about it but the stumbling block appears to be TFL

 

[Blindtraveler]

xmas busses by both first and Lothian are very wel used on xmas day. The network changes a bit each year but most areas are served and there popular! Last year 1 i used was full and standing!

 

[Greenback]

I doubt there would be anyone on Christmas Day buses in Swansea. Most of the population that would use a bus get so smashed on Christmas Eve they don't recover until January 5th.

 

[anthony263]

I doubt there would be anyone on Christmas Day buses in Swansea. Most of the population that would use a bus get so smashed on Christmas Eve they don't recover until January 5th.

I wouldnt say that i know of 1 member of staff who has suggested such an idea of running a bus link between the 2 hospitals in swansea. I would certainly do it, although what i would do for lunch on xmas as everything will be closed i dont know.

 

[Greenback]

I suppose there might be takers to go and get treatment for alcohol poisoning on Christmas Day!!!

 

[bb21]

I wouldnt say that i know of 1 member of staff who has suggested such an idea of running a bus link between the 2 hospitals in swansea. I would certainly do it, although what i would do for lunch on xmas as everything will be closed i dont know.

You'll have to bring your own turkey sandwich in that case.

Why TfL does not allow normal services, with reduced frequency, to be run on Christmas Day is beyond me. There are still people who need to get to work, people who need to visit families, etc. By all means run it as a commercial operation and charge a higher fare if needed. The demand is still out there.

This applies to operators elsewhere too.

Then we have the rail network, ...

 

[jon0844]

I've said it before, but given the temptation to drink and drive over Christmas (as you may go to see friends/family and then have a drink or three) it would be worth the Government subsidising public transport on that day to get people to consider leaving the car at home.

Drink driving seems to be back on the up (Herts Police did a sting in the summer and claimed almost 14% were over the limit - which is more than 1 in 10!) That's seriously worrying - what about Christmas Day? There aren't many police cars out, so I bet it's even worse as people do seem to now think they'll be okay as long as they drive slow (or not far).

Naturally, I don't see that happening but it's an idea.

 

[Blindtraveler]

agreed!

 

[Zoe]

The most significant obstacle to overcome though as I say is the "The drivers deserve the day off, people can live without public transport for a day" response that I've been told when I have asked the question.

 

[Ivo]

Unless something has changed since last Christmas, don't a lot of people go to others' houses for dinner and to show their new presents on Christmas Day? Would there not be a demand for a service there?

As I understand it, there used to be a coach service from Southend to London on December 25, which stopped at all stops on the day, but I don't know anything else about it. Maybe W-on-Sea could tell you more?

Oh, and lastly, for all those questioning why anyone would want the day off: What about the people who couldn't care less and have only work to live for? In that scenario, why not work on Christmas Day?

 

[Zoe]

Unless something has changed since last Christmas, don't a lot of people go to others' houses for dinner and to show their new presents on Christmas Day? Would there not be a demand for a service there?

The argument against this is that people tend to go by car or taxi.

 

[Ivo]

That is true, but far from everyone owns a car - and taxi firms jack their prices up on that day to give their drivers *who are working on Christmas Day* a nice payday! I even had this discussion with a taxi driver last year, and he told me that he earned almost £200 on Christmas Day 2009!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The argument against this is that people tend to go by car or taxi.

Presumably because there are no trains available...?