It always used to be last trains would reach their final destination by 10pm.
So last train from London to Edinburgh would be about 5pm, and from London to destinations like Southampton or Brighton around 8pm.
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Christmas Eve Final Trains
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It always used to be last trains would reach their final destination by 10pm.
So last train from London to Edinburgh would be about 5pm, and from London to destinations like Southampton or Brighton around 8pm.
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Depends how far back you go. It was near midnight in the 70s on BR(S) at least in the suburban area.
jamesst
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These were times before the Rmt strike action was announced. They will change.
Nicholas Lewis
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2035 was latest i ever left Victoria SE side in 80's to head back to Kent but that is now 1155 this year. Not sure if this was always the plan or a reaction to RMT strike. Im pretty sure many staff will turn up anyhow especially for late shift to make sure they can collect the Xmas bonus.
HamworthyGoods
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No bonus for working Christmas Eve.
The early finish as explained elsewhere is down to the RMT strike - it is needed to allow Xmas engineering possessions to be set up ahead of the strike action starting at 18.00.
Nicholas Lewis
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Apologies i appreciate that but what i should have said is despite RMT strike action i bet plenty of their members will still come in for the Xmas bonus shifts.
Personally I applaud NR for shutting lines early where there were major project possessions despite the inconvenience but majority of lines don't have possession on though so why have a blanket early finish when your still going to pay the staff isn't really helping the situation of trying to reduce teh gap between costs and passenger income.
I remember reading an article in Traction (I think) where somebody had set themselves the challenge of travelling by train every day for a year. They realised they were going to come unstuck on Christmas Day until they found out there was a Gatwick Express which was due to arrive into Victoria at something like 0005.
Surely it isn't a bonus shift as they are rostered to do the shift.
I agree regarding the shutting early part.
Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
Im not sure about Ops side but mtce get bonus payments for shifts that start from 2300 Xmas Eve round to shifts that start before midnight on Boxing day or they did when i had them deployed on S&C works i was responsible for through 2000's/10's and generally had no issue getting it covered as it was a sum set to incentivise volunteers.
I don't know what the those warnings under the status said yesterday but today they say those services won't run. Obviously we will have to wait until Tuesday for those services to be removed from the planners.
VideozVideoz
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In the past (unsure of this year), the last train to Mallaig arriving 23:30 Xmas eve always ran. That could have been the last train running on the network that day.
HamworthyGoods
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The 00:30 Stansted to Liverpool Street usually runs on Christmas Morning.
pitdiver
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What always amazed me was LUL always ran right up to normal end of traffic hours. This I thought ludicrous as it cost them more to get me home by special taxi than the value of tickets that were sold Christmas Eve evening.
I do remember similar times around 1980. Notices particularly at London termini that last suburban departures would be at around 17.00 - certainly early enough that anyone who had a tight office manager insisting on staying to 17.30 would have difficulties.
But older relatives spoke of maybe around 1938-9, when there was no question of anyone leaving one minute before normal time, and any office drinks in the pub only happened after that. Others travelled significant distances home; one of them rushed from the City office, tube to Paddington, then just the "next one" to Taunton, as there were many reliefs whose stock had all been lined up on the Up Engine & Carriage from Old Oak during the afternoon. Walked into the house about 9pm. Overnight services into Christmas morning were not just packed, but duplicated.
philosopher
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I sure there is normally a shuttle train running between the Heathrow stations on Christmas Day itself.
Mcr Warrior
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Heard it might be a rail replacement sleigh this year!
There is, and will be this year
In 1974 family Christmas was with relatives in Lincoln.
I was in Harrow on Christmas Eve and made my way to King's Cross for the (from memory) 20.20, to change at Newark for Lincoln.
Silly error on my part as, although I had carefully checked that the Newark to Lincoln train ran, the 20.20 didn't (being one of the Scottish overnights).
All was not lost - I went next door and caught the (from memory) 21.30 to Nottingham, having arranged to be picked up there.
Point of the tale is - trains certainly ran late, albeit not overnight.
Later in the 70s I can recall being on Christmas Eve night shift at Watford PSB, and the DC service ran as normal (last arrival at 00.47).
I was in Harrow on Christmas Eve and made my way to King's Cross for the (from memory) 20.20, to change at Newark for Lincoln.
Silly error on my part as, although I had carefully checked that the Newark to Lincoln train ran, the 20.20 didn't (being one of the Scottish overnights).
All was not lost - I went next door and caught the (from memory) 21.30 to Nottingham, having arranged to be picked up there.
Point of the tale is - trains certainly ran late, albeit not overnight.
Later in the 70s I can recall being on Christmas Eve night shift at Watford PSB, and the DC service ran as normal (last arrival at 00.47).
Merseyrail has now confirmed earlier closedown times on Christmas Eve:
Kirkby-Liverpool last train 17:58
Liverpool-Kirkby 17:50
Hunts Cross-Southport 17:21
Southport-Hunts Cross 16:10 (plus trains from Southport at 16:25, 16:40, 16:55, 17:10 all terminating at Sandhills)
Liverpool-Ormskirk 17:31 (further train from Liverpool at 17:47 terminating at Maghull)
Ormskirk-Liverpool 17:34
West Kirby-Liverpool 17:36
Moorfields-West Kirby 17:51
New Brighton-Liverpool 17:38
Moorfields-New Brighton 18:01
Chester-Liverpool 17:12
Moorfields-Chester 16:26 (further train at 16:41 terminates at Hooton)
Ellesmere Port-Liverpool 16:39 (and at 17:09 terminating at Hooton)
Moorfields-Ellesmere Port 16:18 (further train at 16:48 terminates at Hooton)
Also the special service which was planned to operate on 26 December has been completely cancelled.
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mike57
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On our bit of Northern (Hull - Scarborough) looks like trains are running up until around 1pm. I need to make a quick trip to Beverley on the 24th and plan is to be out and back home by 10.30am, when I get to Beverley its a quick pick up and straight back to the station so I checked trains as it easier than driving
_toommm_
Established Member
Northern have announced their timetable for 24/12, with services around Yorkshire and Cumbria finishing around 13:30, and services around Greater Manchester finishing around 15:00:
Saturday 24
There is a very limited timetable in place for Saturday 24 December, which will finish very early in the day. These services can be found below. All other routes do not have service or replacement buses on this day. We advise you do not travel on this day.- Middlesbrough - Hartlepool - Newcastle
- Darlington - Saltburn
- Newcastle - Carlisle
- Liverpool - Manchester Airport
- Manchester Oxford Road/Piccadilly - Manchester Airport
- Blackpool - Manchester
- Leeds - Harrogate
- Sheffield - Lincoln
- Sheffield - Nottingham
- Leeds - Selby and York
- Leeds - Doncaster and Sheffield
- Sheffield - Huddersfield
deltic
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Doesnt seem worth running any trains on Christmas Eve given there will be so few especially given all the announcements to only travel if absolutely necessary - its not as if the operators actually want any passengers.
Peterthegreat
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According to Northern's website trains will not run on the Hull to Scarborough line at all on Christmas Eve,
High Dyke
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Certainly can't do that East of Nottingham with EMR.Travel home or anywhere on the 23rd at the latest everyone
Network Rail Ops staff on earlies or late turn (24th) receive no pay enhancement. Those working a night turn on a day prior to a Bank/Public Holiday receive basic rate payment up to midnight and the appropriate lower enhancement from midnight until the end of the turn. There is no entitlement to the higher rate, or to a compensation day in lieu.
VideozVideoz
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I don’t understand why there are no trains on the Buxton or Hope Valley lines. Northern have neglected these lines and some others for days. Even on the non-strike days there was nothing. They seem to be back today though
mike57
Established Member
App or website I wonder which is right. website says no trains, app shows services up to 1.35pm from Beverley with everything after that cancelled. I had planned on getting 7.22am from Bempton, the service which forms it goes up at about 6.15am so I will keep an eye out for it as I can see it from the kitchen. Otherwise it's a drive. Pick up is 5 mins walk from station so train is easier,
Peterthegreat
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The online journey planners (which I assume includes the App) are yet to be updated.
mike57
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Yes just looked on RTT and everything apart from Hull trains early departure has disappeared from Beverley so car it is. Looks like they have given up completely on the 24th.
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