Festive period 2024

Updated 28 Oct 2024

Significant engineering works will be taking place across the festive period. If you are planning to travel throughout this period, we would advise checking your journey well in advance and leaving plenty of time to reach your destination.

Some major routes will be affected from Saturday 21 December until Sunday 5 January, with the greatest impact being on our Thameslink route between London and Bedford. Rail replacement buses will be operating on some routes, but these will be limited, and we expect them to be extremely busy. Queuing systems will be in place, and you may not be able to board your chosen bus. A number of station car parks will have full or partial closures during this period to allow for the safe operation of replacement buses. Please check your local station nearer the time for more information.

Services to and from airports on our network will be affected during this period. Fewer trains will be serving Gatwick Airport and Luton Airport Parkway, so please plan ahead if you are travelling to or from one of these airports over the festive period.

Below is a guide to the planned service impact on each day, along with maps showing the closures and where replacement buses will be operating. Journey planners are now up to date for the whole period.

Route maps of services

Route map for 21-24 December 2024 (PDF)

Route map for 27-29 December 2024 (PDF)

Route map for 30 December 2024 - 1 January 2025 (PDF)

Route map for 2-5 January 2025 (PDF)

Saturday 21 December

There are no train services between Harpenden and London.

The following changes will be made to Thameslink services:

Services between St Albans City and Sutton via Mitcham Junction will only run between London Blackfriars and Sutton via Wimbledon (2 trains per hour)
Services between Bedford/Luton and Three Bridges will not run. These services will run between London Bridge and Brighton (2 trains per hour)
Services to/from Rainham will only run between London Bridge and Rainham (1 train per hour)
Additional services will run between Bedford and Harpenden (4 trains per hour)

Rail replacement buses will run between:

Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin
Harpenden, St Albans City and Potters Bar
London St Pancras and Harpenden

Customers travelling to/from Luton Airport Parkway should use the replacement bus service to/from Hitchin, connecting with train services to/from London.

Customers travelling between Bedford and London should use the EMR replacement bus service between Bedford and Milton Keynes Central, connecting with train services to/from London Euston. Ticket acceptance will be in place for both bus and train services on this route.

Other services will be running to amended timetables throughout the day.

Sunday 22 December

There are no train services between Harpenden and London.

The following changes will be made to Thameslink services:

Services between St Albans City and Sutton via Mitcham Junction will only run between London Blackfriars and Sutton via Wimbledon (2 trains per hour)
Services between Bedford and Three Bridges will only run between London St Pancras and Three Bridges (1 train per hour)
Services between Bedford and Brighton will only run between London St Pancras and Brighton (2 trains per hour)
Services between Cambridge and Brighton will only run between Cambridge and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour), and between London Bridge and Brighton (1 train per hour)
Services between Luton and Horsham will only run between London St Pancras and Horsham (1 train per hour)
Services between Luton and Rainham will only run between London Bridge and Rainham (1 train per hour)
Additional services will run between Bedford and Harpenden (4 trains per hour)

Rail replacement buses will run between:

Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin
Harpenden, St Albans City and Potters Bar
London St Pancras and Harpenden

Customers travelling to/from Luton Airport Parkway should use the replacement bus service to/from Hitchin, connecting with train services to/from London.

Customers travelling between Bedford and London should use the EMR replacement bus service between Bedford and Milton Keynes Central, connecting with train services to/from London Euston. Ticket acceptance will be in place for both bus and train services on this route.

Other services will be running to amended timetables throughout the day.

Monday 23 & Tuesday 24 December

There are no train services between Harpenden and London.

The following changes will be made to Thameslink services:

Services between Luton and Orpington will not run
Services between Bedford and East Grinstead will not run
Services between St Albans City and Sutton via Mitcham Junction will only run between London Blackfriars and Sutton via Wimbledon (2 trains per hour)
Services between Bedford and Three Bridges/Brighton will only run between London Bridge and Brighton (2 trains per hour)
Additional services will run between Bedford and Harpenden (4 trains per hour)

Rail replacement buses will run between:

Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin
Harpenden, St Albans City and Potters Bar
London St Pancras and Harpenden

Wednesday 25 December

Thursday 26 December

Boxing Day – A limited Southern service will run between London Victoria and Brighton, and across some Southern Metro routes. No Thameslink, Great Northern or Gatwick Express services will be running.

Services that will run are as follows:

Between London Victoria and Brighton, calling at London Victoria, Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Haywards Heath and Brighton only (1 train per hour)
Between London Victoria and Three Bridges, calling at London Victoria, Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Three Bridges only (1 train per hour)
Between London Victoria and Sutton (2 trains per hour)
Between London Victoria and East Croydon via Crystal Palace (2 trains per hour)

Friday 27 December

There are no train services between Harpenden and London, or Cambridge North and Royston.

The following changes will be made to Thameslink and Great Northern services:

Services between St Albans City and Sutton via Mitcham Junction/Wimbledon will not run
Services between Bedford/Luton and Three Bridges will not run
Services between Peterborough and Horsham will only run:
- between Peterborough and London Kings Cross (2 trains per hour)
- between London Bridge and Horsham (2 trains per hour – calling additionally at Norwood Junction, Purley, Earlswood and Salfords)
Services between Bedford and Brighton will only run between London Bridge and Brighton (2 trains per hour)
Services between Cambridge and Brighton will only run:
- between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour)
- between London Bridge and Brighton (2 trains per hour)
Services between Kings Lynn and London Kings Cross will only run:
- between Kings Lynn and Cambridge North (1 train per hour)
- between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour – calling additionally at Hitchin)
Services between Luton and Rainham will only run between London Bridge and Rainham (1 train per hour)
Services between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks will run between London Victoria and Sevenoaks (1 train per hour)
Additional services will run between Bedford and Harpenden (4 trains per hour)

Rail replacement buses will run between:

Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin
Harpenden, St Albans City and Potters Bar
London St Pancras and Harpenden (all stations)
Royston and Cambridge (all stations)
Royston and Cambridge (fast)
Royston and Cambridge North (fast)
Cambridge and Cambridge North

Customers travelling to/from Luton Airport Parkway should use the replacement bus service to/from Hitchin, connecting with train services to/from London.

Customers travelling between Bedford and London should use the EMR replacement bus service between Bedford and Milton Keynes Central, connecting with train services to/from London Euston.

Ticket acceptance will be in place for both bus and train services on this route.

Other services will be running to amended timetables throughout the day.

Saturday 28 December

There are no train services between Harpenden and London, or Cambridge North and Royston.

The following changes will be made to Thameslink and Great Northern services:

Services between St Albans City and Sutton via Mitcham Junction/Wimbledon will not run
Services between Bedford/Luton and Three Bridges will not run
Services between Peterborough and Horsham will only run:
- between Peterborough and London Kings Cross (2 trains per hour)
- between London Bridge and Horsham (2 trains per hour – calling additionally at Norwood Junction, Purley, Earlswood and Salfords)
Services between Bedford and Brighton will only run between London Bridge and Brighton (2 trains per hour)
Services between Cambridge and Brighton will only run:
- between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour)
- between London Bridge and Brighton (2 trains per hour)
Services between Kings Lynn and London Kings Cross will only run:
- between Kings Lynn and Cambridge North (1 train per hour)
- between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour – calling additionally at Hitchin)
Services between Luton and Rainham will only run between London Bridge and Rainham (1 train per hour)
Services between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks will run between London Victoria and Sevenoaks (1 train per hour)
Additional services will run between Bedford and Harpenden (4 trains per hour)

Rail replacement buses will run between:

Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin
Harpenden, St Albans City and Potters Bar
London St Pancras and Harpenden (all stations)
Royston and Cambridge (all stations)
Royston and Cambridge (fast)
Royston and Cambridge North (fast)
Cambridge and Cambridge North

Customers travelling to/from Luton Airport Parkway should use the replacement bus service to/from Hitchin, connecting with train services to/from London.

Other services will be running to amended timetables throughout the day.

Sunday 29 December

There are no train services between Harpenden and London, or Cambridge North and Royston.

The following changes will be made to Thameslink and Great Northern services:

Services between St Albans City and Sutton via Mitcham Junction/Wimbledon will not run
Services between Bedford/Luton and Three Bridges will only run between London Bridge and Three Bridges (1 train per hour)
Services between Peterborough and Horsham will only run between London Bridge and Horsham (1 train per hour)
Services between Bedford and Brighton will only run between London Bridge and Brighton (2 trains per hour)
Services between Cambridge and Brighton will only run:
- between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour)
- between London Bridge and Brighton (1 trains per hour)
Services between Kings Lynn and London Kings Cross will only run:
- between Kings Lynn and Cambridge North (1 train per hour)
- between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour – calling additionally at Hitchin)
Services between Luton and Rainham will only run between London Bridge and Rainham (1 train per hour)
Services between London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks will run between London Victoria and Sevenoaks (1 train per hour)
Additional services will run between Bedford and Harpenden (4 trains per hour)

Rail replacement buses will run between:

Luton Airport Parkway and Hitchin
Harpenden, St Albans City and Potters Bar
London St Pancras and Harpenden (all stations)
Royston and Cambridge (all stations)
Royston and Cambridge (fast)
Royston and Cambridge North (fast)
Cambridge and Cambridge North

Customers travelling to/from Luton Airport Parkway should use the replacement bus service to/from Hitchin, connecting with train services to/from London.

Other services will be running to amended timetables throughout the day.

Monday 30 & Tuesday 31 December

There are no train services between Cambridge North and Royston.

The following changes will be made to Thameslink and Great Northern services:

Services between Cambridge and Brighton will only run:
- between Royston and Brighton (1 train per hour)
- between Finsbury Park and Brighton (1 train per hour)
Services between Kings Lynn and London Kings Cross will only run:
- between Kings Lynn and Cambridge North (1 train per hour)
- between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour)
Services between Cambridge and London Kings Cross will only run between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour)

Rail replacement buses will run between:

Royston and Cambridge (all stations)
Royston and Cambridge (fast)
Royston and Cambridge North (fast)
Cambridge and Cambridge North

Other services will be running to amended timetables throughout the day.

Wednesday 1 January

There are no train services between Cambridge North and Royston.

The following changes will be made to Thameslink and Great Northern services:

Services between Cambridge and Brighton will only run:
- between Royston and Brighton (1 train per hour)
- between Finsbury Park and Brighton (1 train per hour)
Services between Kings Lynn and London Kings Cross will only run:
- between Kings Lynn and Cambridge North (1 train per hour)
- between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour)
Services between Cambridge and London Kings Cross will only run between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour)

Rail replacement buses will run between:

Royston and Cambridge (all stations)
Royston and Cambridge (fast)
Royston and Cambridge North (fast)
Cambridge and Cambridge North

Other services will be running to amended timetables throughout the day.

Thursday 2 January until Sunday 5 January

There are no train services between Cambridge and Royston.

The following changes will be made to Thameslink and Great Northern services:

Services between Cambridge and Brighton will only run:
- between Royston and Brighton (1 train per hour)
- between Finsbury Park and Brighton (1 train per hour)
Services between Kings Lynn and London Kings Cross will only run:
- between Kings Lynn and Cambridge (1 train per hour)
- between Ely and Cambridge (1 train per hour)
- between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour)
Services between Cambridge and London Kings Cross will only run between Royston and London Kings Cross (1 train per hour)

Rail replacement buses will run between:

Royston and Cambridge (all stations)
Royston and Cambridge (fast)
Royston and Cambridge North (fast)

Other services will be running to amended timetables throughout the day.

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Festive period 2024

Route maps of services

Planned services each day

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