TfL Press Release - TfL encourages everyone to plan their journeys and make the most of London this festive season

Transport for London (TfL) has encouraged Londoners to check their journeys ahead of time to allow them to make the most of the festive period in the capital this year. Resources like TfL’s Journey Planner or the TfL Go app will help customers avoid some essential works across the transport network.

The majority of TfL services will be running over Christmas and New Year, with the exception of Christmas Day. Santander Cycles, Victoria Coach Station, rental e-scooters and taxi and private hire services, as well as walking and cycling, will be the options for customers wishing to travel on Christmas Day itself, with Dial-a-Ride services available for registered customers throughout the festive period including Christmas Day.

The Emirates Air Line cable car is open throughout the festive period with the exception of Christmas Day.  This year, the cable car has teamed up with Railway Children charity to help raise funds for at-risk children across the UK and beyond. A unique festive cabin offer will be available at the weekends and throughout the school holidays during December, helping customers get into the Christmas spirit.

There will be some service changes and planned works across the public transport network and roads throughout the festive period. Full details are available at tfl.gov.uk/christmas-travel and nationalrail.co.uk/christmas.

Travel to Heathrow Airport will be affected as TfL Rail and Heathrow Express services will not be running on Christmas Day or Boxing Day due to Network Rail signalling works. In addition, there are planned essential closures on parts of the Piccadilly line on Boxing Day and throughout the festive period to enable safety-critical renewal work on some parts of the line, which will also help the line run more reliably. Customers needing to travel to or from Heathrow Airport on Boxing Day are advised to consider replacement non-stop coach services from Hammersmith or replacement bus services between Acton Town and Heathrow. TfL Rail services to and from Paddington will be available on 24 December, from 27 to 30 December, on 2 January and on 3 January, and replacement coach services from Hammersmith will also run on 24 December, 26 to 30 December and 2 and 3 January.

Victoria Coach Station will remain open throughout the festive period for privately operated coach services. This includes services between Victoria and Heathrow Airport on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Passengers are advised to book in advance and check with their coach operator prior to travelling.

Travel on Westminster Bridge will be reduced throughout the festive period from 15 November 2021 to late January 2022 to allow for the installation of permanent protective barriers. There will also be planned works on Camden Road, Marylebone Road, Brixton Road, the Westway and Hammersmith Gyratory during the festive period.

Although there will not be a New Year’s Eve firework display in central London this year, the capital remains home to some of the most iconic experiences in the world. People travelling in to and around the capital to see friends and make the most of London’s hospitality, leisure opportunities, and retail offerings can make use of TfL’s public transport network.

Simply touching in and out using a contactless or Oyster card means customers only pay for the journey they make. With Hopper fare, customers can also make unlimited bus and tram journeys within an hour for just £1.55.

Following the catastrophic impact of the pandemic on TfL’s finances, TfL unfortunately will not be able to offer free travel on New Year’s Eve. Services on the transport network will run through the night, ensuring that people can enjoy everything London has to offer and get home safely.

Heidi Alexander, Deputy Mayor for Transport said: “From theatres to restaurants, museums to markets, London has it all and this festive season there is no better place to be. We know people are keen to get out and enjoy all the delights that the capital has to offer this year, and there are many different ways to get around easily and safely on public transport. Do remember to check before you travel because although most of the network is running, there are a few closures over the holiday period.”

Andy Lord, Managing Director of London Underground, said: “London is one of the most exciting cities in the world, with so much to offer Londoners and visitors alike across the festive period. After such difficult times, we urge everyone to safely enjoy London and all it has to offer once again. Most of the public transport network is open this festive period and we look forward to welcoming the buzz and cheer, but ask customers to be mindful of essential planned works and closures. We remind people to check before they travel and to wear a face covering while travelling on our services, unless exempt.”

Although the vast majority of the network will be operating as usual over the festive period, some essential planned works and service changes will affect some parts of the public transport and road networks. These include:

• Christmas Eve will see early finishes across the network including last London Underground trains at Sunday times, last TfL Rail and DLR services at 22:00, and Trams ramping down from 18:00 to end at Saturday times
• There will be no night service on buses on Christmas Eve. Customers are advised to complete bus journeys by 23:30 on Christmas Eve, and service will resume from about 05:30 on Boxing Day. Weekend services will run on weekdays between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, with no services running on Christmas Day, including night buses from overnight into Boxing Day morning
• As with other years, there will be no Tube, Overground, TfL Rail, DLR, Tram or bus services on Christmas Day. Santander Cycles, Dial-a-Ride, Victoria Coach Station, rental e-scooters and taxi and private hire services, as well as walking and cycling, will be options for those wishing to travel
• TfL Rail services will not run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with the last Christmas Eve service ending at 22:00. A reduced eastbound service will run on 27 and 28 December, and 1 to 3 January, with east and westbound services running overnight on New Year’s Eve. Trains travelling westbound will not call at Acton Main Line, Hanwell and West Ealing on 27 and 28 December
• London Overground services will begin reducing at 19:00 on Christmas Eve with last trains running from 21:00. The festive period, including Boxing Day, will see various closures and planned works and customers are advised to check the TfL website
• In addition to Piccadilly line closures between Acton Town and Heathrow, and Rayners Lane and Uxbridge from 24 to 30 December and 2 to 3 January, there will also be no Waterloo & City line services between 26 and 28 December. There will also be planned works on the Metropolitan, Jubilee, Central, and Bakerloo lines during the festive period. Customers should consult tfl.gov.uk/christmas-travel for full details

If driving, customers are advised to plan ahead as planned works could mean there will be diversions along their routes. Key days such as Christmas Eve could also be busier than usual. Drivers are encouraged to check before they travel at tfl.gov.uk/status-updates.  

Customers are reminded that, unless they are exempt, face coverings must be worn for the full duration of journeys on the TfL network including inside Tube and bus stations. The change to Government regulations today means that TfL’s 500 uniformed enforcement officers and police partners will once again be able to issue penalty notice fines of up to £200 to those who refuse to comply.

Drinking from or carrying open containers of alcohol is not allowed on TfL services. Abuse towards TfL’s staff will not be tolerated and could lead to a criminal record.

TfL is continuing to ensure customers can travel safely and confidently on its services. Tube trains and stations are cleaned with hospital-grade cleaning substances that kill viruses and bacteria on contact and provide ongoing protection. Independent testing by Imperial College London has been carried out monthly since September 2020, taking swabs of touch points in stations, buses and air samples in ticket halls. No traces of coronavirus on TfL’s public transport network have been found since independent testing began.