Paddington will remain closed until Thursday 28 December while most services from Kings Cross are due to be cancelled.
Network Rail said that engineering works were necessary and that it had tried to keep disruption to a minimum.
Motorists too were warned there could be daily delays of around 40 minutes, leading up to Christmas Eve on the M25 clockwise, west of London.
Although the rail closures were expected to cause disruption to passengers, Network Rail said over 96% of the rail network would remain open for “business as usual”.
It said the closures were needed as part of £127m of investment work so that passengers could benefit from better and more reliable services and facilities.
Summary of rail disruption:
- 23rd December -1st January: Work outside London Victoria station. Southeastern services diverted to Blackfriars, Charing Cross and Cannon Street.
- Christmas Eve – 27th December
No services from London Paddington owing to HS2 work at Old Oak Common and laying new track at West Drayton. Long distance services will terminate at Reading.
No Heathrow Express (Piccadilly line trains will be going to the airport).
- Christmas Eve: Most long-distance services have been cancelled from London Kings Cross due to signalling work on the East Coast Main Line (Trains will run to Potters Bar, and there will be one service to/from Hull).
- Boxing Day: Thameslink, Gatwick Express and other Southern services will be terminated. A Southern service will however, run with trains in and out of London Victoria serving Gatwick Airport, Brighton, East Croydon and Sutton.
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Check before travelling
Network Rail advised passengers to check before travelling over the festive period. It said alternative travel arrangements could be found online at National Rail Enquiries.
Southern train closures and changes in south London this week
Monday, 18th December to Thursday, 21st December – Buses replace late night trains between East Croydon and East Grinstead
Overnight engineering work taking place between South Croydon and Oxted will close all lines between Monday and Thursday this week.
The following services will be amended:
- The 11:06pm East Grinstead to London Victoria service will commence at East Croydon
- The 11:22pm London Victoria to East Grinstead service will end at East Croydon
- The 11:53pm London Victoria to Oxted service will terminate at East Croydon
Which stations are affected?
East Croydon, South Croydon, Sanderstead Riddlestown, Woldingham, Oxted, Upper Waringham, Hurst Green, Lingfield, Dormans, East Grinstead
Alternative travel
A additional bus service will run between East Croydon and East Grinstead from 11pm during these days while works take place.
Tuesday, 19th December to Friday, 22nd December 22 – Amended late night and early morning services between London Victoria and Clapham Junction
This week, engineering works taking place between Tuesday and Friday between London Victoria and Clapham will close some lines affecting early morning and late-night travel on these days.
Southern has advised that some of the services between London Victoria and Clapham Junction will be retimed.
Which stations are affected?
London Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction
Saturday, 23rd December to Sunday, 25th December – Amended late night and early morning Southern service via Purley
Over the weekend before Christmas, services via Purley from 11:50pm on Saturday until 0am on Sunday will be amended.
This is due to planned engineering works taking place overnight between South Croydon and Coulsden South, closing some lines.
Which stations are affected?
Purley, Reedham, Chipstead, Coulsdon Town, Woodmansterne, Kingswood, Tadworth, Tattenham Corner
Affected services and replacement buses
At 12:50am on Sunday the Purley to Tattenham Corner service will not run.
A replacement bus will run to Tattenham Corner from Purley.
Caterham and Tattenham Corner route trains will only run between London Bridge and South Croydon until 8:45am on Sunday morning.
A replacement bus service will run between East Croydon and Caterham via Purley and from Purley to Tattenham Corner.
December 24: Reduced Southern service from 5pm
Southern will be running a reduced service on all rotues from 5pm on Christmas Eve, with the last trains arriving at 9pm.
