Christmas can be a tricky time for commuters planning to head home for the festive season.
Typically, bus and train services will finish earlier than usual or run reduced services on Christmas Eve.
But planned industrial action this year means commuters will need to keep a close eye on travel timetables to catch any last-minute changes.
Some travel networks have advised commuters to only travel if absolutely necessary on Christmas Eve, as strikes will see significantly reduced services across most lines.
Here is a list of UK-wide bus and train services, along with all the current rules for travelling on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Travel for London
Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, most services in London will stop running earlier than usual.
Buses will run a Saturday service on all of its day routes, but 24-hour night services will finish at around midnight.
If you’re taking the tube, you should aim to complete your journeys by 3pm on the following lines:
- District line: Wimbledon-Parsons Green and Richmond-Turnham Green
- Bakerloo line: Queen's Park-Harrow & Wealdstone
There will be no service on the Waterloo and City line or the District line to Kensington Olympia due to planned closures.
There will also be no night services on both the tube and the London Overground.
Commuters should complete their journeys by 11am if they’re using the following lines:
- Stratford-Richmond/Clapham Junction
- Gospel Oak-Barking
- Romford-Upminster
Journeys should be completed by 1pm on the following lines:
- Highbury & Islington-Clapham Junction/Crystal Palace/West Croydon/New Cross
- Liverpool Street-Enfield Town/Chingford/Cheshunt
- Watford Junction-Euston
Those travelling on the Elizabeth line should complete journeys at 2pm on Christmas Eve.
While on the DLR commuters can travel until 10.30pm
London Trams will run a normal service during the day, and a reduced service in the evening.
Christmas Day
On Christmas Day, everything will stop running. This includes the tube, buses, TfL Rail, DLR, Overground, trams, river buses, Emirates Air Line and National Rail.
The only transport available will be taxis, private hires and Dial-a-Ride.
Londoners may still hop on a Santander bike or electric scooter dotted around the city.
if you're travelling between Friday December 23 and Monday January 2, there will be planned work, rail strikes, closures and service changes on the network - so its best to keep an eye on the TFL website for all the latest updates.
National Rail
National Rail have advised to only travel if absolutely necessary on Christmas Eve, as industrial action will see significantly reduced services across the rail network.
Trains will be much busier and stop running from around 3pm, with last trains departing much earlier than this.
In some areas, there will be no services at all.
Commuters are being advised to plan ahead and check that their entire journey is possible before leaving.
Southern Rail
Christmas Eve: Services will finish much earlier than usual, with last trains departing at around midday on many routes.
Christmas Day: No service.
Greater Anglia
Christmas Eve: Industrial action has been announced for Christmas Eve. Services will be finishing much earlier than originally planned, with no trains running after 4pm.
Christmas Day: No service
Avanti Westcoast
Christmas Eve: It is not yet known how industrial action will affect the Avanti Westcoast service but trains may be finishing much earlier than originally planned. Commuters are being advised to check back before travelling.
A reduced service will be operating on all routes due to engineering works at London Euston.
Christmas Day: No service
London Northeastern Railway
Christmas Eve: Services will slowly reduce earlier than usual on Christmas Eve - exact times can be found on the National Rail website.
Christmas Day: No service.
Great Western Railway
Christmas Eve: Due to industrial action, there will be a very early shutdown of services across the network on Christmas Eve. All journeys will need to be completed by lunchtime.
Christmas Day: No service.
East Midlands Railway
Christmas Eve: No service due to industrial action.
Christmas Day: No service.
West Midlands Railway
Christmas Eve: Services will wind down earlier than usual on Christmas Eve - exact times can be found on the National Rail website.
Christmas Day: No service.
Transport for Wales
Christmas Eve: Services will finish much earlier than originally planned. For exact times, those travelling will have to check beforehand.
Services will stop earlier than normal across the whole network.
Due to engineering work, buses will replace trains between Pontypridd and Aberdare.
And after 12pm, services to or from Birmingham New Street will begin or terminate at Wolverhampton. Commuters should use local transport options to complete their journeys.
Christmas Day: No service.
Scotrail
Christmas Eve: Services will run as normal until around 15pm, when services begin to wind down.
Christmas Day: No service.
National Express
National Express say their coaches will be running throughout the festive season, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
Those looking to travel with National Express are being encouraged to book as early as possible, and visit their live service updates page for more information.
Megabus
Megabus also says they plan to keep passengers connected this Christmas by running coach services throughout the festive season across the UK.
Commuters should still check the Megabus website for live updates.
