Travel tips for infrequent travellers at Christmas

Christmas and New Year's services

Check train times before you travel during the festive period

There will be significant changes to train services over the Christmas and New Year period, so please check the following information carefully.

Major engineering work will take place between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction between Saturday 27 December 2025 and Sunday 4 January 2026.

Separate engineering work will also take place between Basingstoke and Andover/Winchester on Sunday 4 January 2026.

There are two sets of lines that run from London Waterloo through Clapham Junction. The South West Main Line runs through Wimbledon, to destinations including Exeter, Portsmouth and Weymouth.

The Windsor Lines run through Barnes, to destinations including Reading and Windsor & Eton Riverside. Engineering work will affect both of these lines.

To plan ahead, please use our journey planner here.

Wednesday 24 December 2025
Thursday 25 and Friday 26 December 2025
Saturday 27 December 2025
Sunday 28 December 2025
Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 December 2025
Wednesday 31 December 2025
Thursday 1 January 2026
Friday 2 January 2026
Saturday 3 January 2026
Sunday 4 January 2026
Monday 5 January 2026

The vital engineering work between Saturday 27 December 2025 and Sunday 4 January 2026 will see improvements to track, switches and crossings, signalling systems, electrical supplies, and for Queenstown Road (Battersea), platform improvements.

When complete, this work will mean a better experience for customers through fewer faults and delays, together with smoother and more reliable journeys. Find out more here.