Liverpool Street Closure and Engineering Works to Alter Christmas Travel Plans

Tuesday 2nd Dec 2025

Rail passengers are being urged to plan ahead over the Christmas and New Year period, as earlier last train times, amended timetables and major engineering work will affect journeys across the region. Operators are advising travellers to check schedules before setting off, particularly on Christmas Eve when most services will finish by 22:00.

London Liverpool Street station will be closed for eight consecutive days as Network Rail continues its programme to replace ageing roof panels. Engineers will also be working within the Bishopsgate tunnel to carry out essential maintenance on the structure that supports rail traffic approaching the station.

During the closure, many services to and from London will begin or end at Stratford, with onward travel into central London available via the Elizabeth line and the London Underground. Ticket acceptance has been agreed across several TfL routes, including the Elizabeth line and Central line between Stratford and Liverpool Street, the Victoria line between Tottenham Hale and King’s Cross St Pancras, and the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines between King’s Cross St Pancras and Liverpool Street.

Elsewhere, engineers will continue a major upgrade of signalling across the wider Cambridge area, replacing life-expired systems and commissioning new equipment that will support the planned opening of Cambridge South station in 2026. Most services will run between 27 and 31 December, though some alterations will remain in place before a bank holiday timetable operates on New Year’s Day. Normal services are scheduled to resume on Monday 5 January.

Martin Beable, Managing Director at Greater Anglia, said:

“While most of our services will be running over the festive period, so that people can continue to travel across East Anglia and beyond, engineering work is taking place and will affect passengers travelling on both main lines to and from London and in the Cambridge area. Since the railway tends to be much quieter over this period, Network Rail uses it to carry out essential upgrade work that will help Greater Anglia to continue operating a very punctual and reliable service for customers in 2026. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the service alterations, and we urge passengers to check before they travel as some journeys may take longer than normal.”

Wednesday 24 December

On Christmas Eve Tuesday 24 December an early shutdown of services will apply. Trains will cease operation by 22:00, with reductions in service from 19:00.

The exception is the Stansted Express between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport.

The last train to Stansted Airport will be the 23:21 London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport, arriving at 00:12.

The last train from Stansted Airport will be the 22:43 Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street, arriving at 23.34.

Thursday 25 December

No Greater Anglia services will operate on Christmas Day.

Friday 26 December

Only a reduced Stansted Express service will run.

Stansted Express services will start/terminate at Tottenham Hale. Customers are encouraged to use the Victoria line to/from Tottenham Hale.

No other services will operate.

Saturday 27 December