Train Strikes And Engineering Work: What's Happening On National Rail Over Christmas

Passengers are being urged to check the times of last trains to avoid being stuck in London for Christmas as services in the South are finishing early on Christmas Eve.

A strike by the RMT union from December 24 until the start of service on December 27 means major disruption to services on Christmas Eve with some last trains leaving London as early as midday.

Major engineering work is still going ahead despite industrial action, with some extra changes to train services as a result.

The strike, from 6pm on Christmas Eve, means all trains have to be off the network by then, including freight trains that carry equipment and materials to engineering work sites. To allow these projects to go ahead, passenger services are winding down from midday and will be finishing their journeys by 3pm, with no alternative transport in place.

Check before you travel at National Rail.

One of the major projects still taking place this Christmas is the switching on of a brand-new £160m signalling system on the Brighton Main Line covering routes from Balham to Victoria via Clapham Junction, and up through Kensington Olympia and Imperial Wharf.

The brand-new system will help deliver quicker journey times and more reliable services on the south London lines into London Victoria.

In addition to the changes mentioned above most Southern trains will be diverted to London Bridge until January 2 and Gatwick Express trains will not run. Tickets will be accepted on Southern and Thameslink trains to London Bridge and on London Underground.

Check before you travel at National Rail

Learn more on the Network Rail website.

The central gateline has reopened after being closed for improvement works to take place. It's the biggest entrance point to all platforms and supports a safe passenger flow between the station entrance and platforms.

The old well-worn floor has been replaced with new floor tiles to match the rest of the station concourse, which provide a safe walking surface as well as giving a bright new look to the station concourse.

All gates are wide access making them easier to use for those with luggage or those needing mobility support. They also all have a barcode reader meaning all ticket types are accepted (including Google and Apple Pay), which gives passengers complete freedom to choose how they want to pay for their journey. 

A new totem informing passengers of the location of platform 2 has just been installed alongside the central gateline, in the style of the new wayfinding for the station. A new totem for platform 1 was installed several weeks ago and more will be installed for each platform in the station concourse in the coming weeks. 

Work to relieve crowding and congestion at London Victoria has now started.

A computer generated image of how the gateline will look when work completes

The project will increase the number of ticket gates from 86 to 125, including adding 8 more wide (accessible) gates.

The concourse area that serves platforms 15-19 will be opened up and expanded, and a spacious new thoroughfare created between platform 14 and the existing escalators to the Victoria Place Shopping Centre.

The project will improve passenger experience and safety, as well as help trains run on time by allowing people to get on and off platforms more quickly and easily.