Network Rail plans £152 million in holiday rail work across Britain, with closures and phased service changes on major routes as the operator upgrades infrastructure for reliability and capacity.
At Birmingham New Street, trains are due to stop running from Dec. 24 through Dec. 28, 2026. The five-calendar-day span includes Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when trains do not normally operate at the station; Network Rail says work-related travel disruption is expected on Dec. 24 and Dec. 27-28. Trains are scheduled to return to a full timetable Dec. 29. The £13 million job replaces overhead power lines, many dating to the 1960s. Network Rail says this begins a multiyear renewal, with additional holiday work planned in 2027 and 2028.
Near Slough, a £27.8 million project at Dolphin Junction will replace switches, adjust the track arrangement and upgrade overhead wiring, bringing service changes at London Paddington in stages. Elizabeth line trains will continue serving Paddington’s low-level platforms during much of the work, with central-section service from Dec. 27-30 but none on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Heathrow Express is due to resume Dec. 31, 2026, when Elizabeth line trains will again connect Heathrow and Paddington. Great Western Railway services are not scheduled to return to Paddington until Jan. 4, 2027.
At Forest Gate in east London, a 10-day renewal will replace six sets of track switches and renew nearby rails, sleepers and ballast. National Rail lists changes for Greater Anglia and Elizabeth line trains from Dec. 27, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027; Network Rail expects trains to pass through the area again in the early hours of Jan. 4. Replacement buses and other travel options are planned.
Network Rail says the festive window gives crews longer periods to handle complex projects and expects most of the railway to remain open. Greater Anglia reports that passenger counts from Christmas Day through New Year’s Day often reach about half the usual weekday total. The upgrades are intended to improve reliability and capacity for passenger and freight services, while travelers on affected routes may need buses, diversions or extra time. National Rail’s journey-planning information is updated through Jan. 4, 2027, and it advises travelers to check before setting out.
