Passengers travelling by rail across London and Cambridgeshire this Christmas are being reminded to plan ahead, as Network Rail and train operators prepare for an extensive programme of maintenance, renewals, and upgrades over the festive period. The essential engineering work will impact a number of key routes and stations from Christmas Day onwards, including London Liverpool Street, Kensal Green, and several parts of the Cambridgeshire network.

The work forms part of a continued national investment to ensure the long-term safety, reliability, and performance of the railway. Among the largest undertakings will be the ongoing renewal of the roof and drainage system at London Liverpool Street – the UK’s busiest station – and strengthening inside the Bishopsgate Tunnel. In addition, vital signalling upgrades in the Cambridge area and major track renewals at Kensal Green will take place alongside a series of smaller, safety-critical projects. Passengers are strongly advised to check their journey details before travelling at NationalRail.co.uk or with their train operator.

As is tradition, no trains will operate on Christmas Day or Boxing Day across the majority of the rail network. However, a limited Stansted Express service will run between Tottenham Hale and Stansted Airport on Boxing Day, alongside London Overground services on the Mildmay Line between Clapham Junction and Shepherd’s Bush. Passengers should note there will be no rail replacement buses on these two days, and many last services on Christmas Eve will depart earlier than usual.

London Liverpool Street will close completely from Thursday 25 December until Thursday 1 January, as Network Rail engineers carry out extensive structural works. Steel support girders will be installed and corroded steelwork repaired inside the Bishopsgate Tunnel. Meanwhile, work will continue high above the platforms, where the roof renewal project is progressing to replace glass panels, improve drainage, and enhance storm resilience. The station is expected to reopen to passengers on Friday 2 January 2026.

During the closure, significant alterations will be in place for Greater Anglia, c2c, and London Overground services. Greater Anglia trains will operate to and from Stratford instead of Liverpool Street, including Stansted Express services. London Overground routes on the Weaver Line will run between Chingford, Enfield Town, Cheshunt, and London Fields, with no service beyond that point until early January. All c2c services that normally terminate at Liverpool Street will instead operate to and from London Fenchurch Street via West Ham.

Further north, the Cambridge area will see an 11-day closure from 25 December to 4 January 2026, as Network Rail and Alstom engineers deliver the next phase of the Cambridge Re-signalling Project. The work will introduce a new digital control system between Cambridge North and Audley End, replacing the 40-year-old signalling panel with a modern workstation at the Cambridge signalling centre. The project will also support the forthcoming opening of Cambridge South station early in the new year. Additional improvements include the installation of a fully integrated CCTV barrier system at Meldreth Road level crossing, boosting safety for road users and pedestrians.

As a result, there will be no rail services between Royston/Stansted Mountfitchet and Cambridge/Cambridge North from 27 December to 4 January, with bus replacements running between affected stations. Services between Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds will also be impacted during this period. Passengers travelling with Greater Anglia, Thameslink, Great Northern, or CrossCountry are advised to check for updates and allow additional time for their journeys.

Meanwhile, at Kensal Green, engineers will focus on replacing several switches and crossings — key movable sections of track that allow trains to change direction — as well as 220 metres of worn rail and sections of drainage infrastructure. The Mildmay Line will therefore be closed between Gospel Oak and Richmond/Shepherd’s Bush from 25 December to 4 January, with limited shuttle and alternative services operating via Stratford, Gospel Oak, and Clapham Junction.

Passengers are reminded that while these works may cause short-term inconvenience, they are crucial to maintaining a safe and reliable network. Network Rail said the Christmas period remains one of the best times to deliver such large-scale improvements, given the reduced number of weekday commuters. Customers are urged to check the National Rail Enquiries website or TfL journey planner before setting off, to avoid disruption and ensure a smooth festive journey.

Image: Network Rail