Mainline train stations will stay open in London throughout the night in coming days as transport authorities prepare to look after the huge number of people expected to pay their respects at Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral.
Restaurants and toilet facilities will stay open, with special “welfare trains” on platforms to seat vulnerable passengers who may have long waits to travel.
The limited additional night trains promised by operators for the lying in state and funeral would mainly serve destinations within the M25, Network Rail confirmed.
Most who travel into the capital should consider walking from mainline stations, Transport for London (TfL) has advised, as it warned of “unprecedented demand” during one of the biggest events the capital has witnessed.
TfL said customers should plan ahead and check on the day if crowds have forced station closures, with areas around Westminster, Waterloo and Trafalgar Square, and along the South Bank likely to be exceptionally busy.
Network Rail and TfL urged people coming to attend the funeral event to return home slowly and stay to eat in the city if possible, to avoid the huge rush expected for many services.
The tube and Elizabeth line will run for an extra hour on Monday night to help people disperse from the capital, and all transport services will run to weekday levels rather than the usual bank holiday reduced operations. Underground stations nearest to the procession and ceremonial areas, including Westminster, St James’s Park and Hyde Park Corner, will be closed on Monday morning and Green Park will be exit only.
Road closures during the lying in state and in preparation for Monday will affect bus services throughout the weekend, and diversions and disruptions are expected to last for several days as barriers and other infrastructure installed for the funeral are removed.
Services will mark the two-minute silence on Monday with announcements beforehand but continue to run.
The Network Rail chairman, Sir Peter Hendy, said: “We are doing all we can to help people travel to commemorative events, pay their respects and celebrate the extraordinary life of Her Majesty the Queen.
“The railway is going to be extremely busy on Monday particularly on routes into London. This is the biggest public transport operation since the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games and we’re working closely with all train operators to run extra trains through the day and into the night.
“To help us provide the best possible experience and avoid lengthy queues at stations we’re asking people not to rush home after the funeral and the processions but to take their time and experience London on this memorable day.”
The TfL commissioner, Andy Byford, said his teams were “working around the clock” to ensure Londoners and visitors could safely use the transport network to pay their respects. He said: “It is going to be extremely busy in London on Monday and there may be short-notice changes and queues to enter stations as a result of the large number of people travelling.
“We will be running a safe, reliable and frequent service to help ensure that everyone can travel home safely after paying their respects.”
He added: “It’s an emerging picture, but it’s been as busy as we expected and to date the plan has gone well.
“We’ve deployed an army of volunteers, and we’re confident we’ve got the capacity and the expertise.”
Walking may be the quickest option for short journeys in central London, even this weekend, TfL advised. Some Elizabeth line services will run overnight on the outer sections, allowing people queueing through the night for the lying in state to return west from Paddington or east from Liverpool Street.
TfL said marshals and special travel ambassadors would help customers arriving or leaving from big London national rail stations, and would help them find their way on foot where possible as the best option. Victoria coach station, the main terminus for intercity coaches, will be closed on Monday, with services operating from further out in London.
