A series of strikes and closures will affect the London transport network this Christmas. Here’s our guide to navigating the city at one of the busiest travel times of the year.
Which tube lines will be affected by industrial action this Christmas?
Tube strikes have been confirmed on both the Central line and Bakerloo lines this Christmas.
When will the strikes take place?
Drivers on London’s Central line service have announced two strike days taking place the weekend before Christmas.
London’s busiest tube line will be closed on Friday 21 December between 20.00 and 02.00 on Saturday 22 December, and again between 04.00 and 20.00 hours on Saturday 22 December.
Normal service will resume on the line from 20.00 on Saturday 22 December.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) workers have also confirmed two days of industrial action on the Bakerloo Line, one of which will affect passengers over the Christmas period.
There will be no service between 05.00 and 23.01 on Wednesday 26 December and, again between 22.29 on Sunday 13 January and 22.29 on Monday 14 January 2019.
Why are the strikes taking place?
A statement on the RMT’s website reads that the Central line action follows a “comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations, a failure to employ enough drivers, a wholesale abuse of agreed procedures and the victimisation of a trade union member”.
General secretary, Mick Cash, said: “There is a growing culture on London Underground that revolves around refusing to employ enough drivers, bullying staff and expecting our members to pick up the pieces when the service breaks down.”
Director of line operations for London Underground, Nick Dent, described the strike action as “totally unjustified”.
On the Bakerloo line, the RMT said the decision to proceed with strike action comes as a result of insufficient staffing on the route which, it argues, puts “undue stress on staff and puts all members and the travelling public at increased risk”.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT members are rightly angry that staffing levels on the Bakerloo line have been hacked back to the bone presenting a serious danger to staff and passengers alike.
“Previous commitments to ensure safe staffing coverage have been flouted and in order to press the company to address the issues we have no option but to announce a programme of action.
“The union remains available for serious and genuine talks.”
What other services will be affected over the Christmas period?
There will be no London Underground Services on Christmas Day and no London Overground, TfL Rail or Thames Clipper services on Boxing Day.
Track closures will also affect passengers on the Metropolitan line and Overground service.
After approximately 22.00, there will be no Metropolitan line service between Aldgate and Wembley Park, Mondays to Wednesdays until late 2018. Passengers are advised to use the Jubilee line between Baker Street and Wembley Park and the Circle or Hammersmith & City line between Baker Street and Aldgate.
Overground services will continue to be affected on weekends due to a lack of available trains and a reduced service will run between Gospel Oak and Barking.
What time are the last tube services on Christmas Eve?
There will be a reduced service from 15.00 on London Underground on Monday 24 December and most last trains will depart at Sunday times.
The Waterloo and City line is running a reduced service all day, with last trains departing around 23.15.
London Overground trains will stop running from around 21.30.
There will be no night services on TfL buses, with 24-hour services ceasing at midnight.
I want to go to the Boxing Day sales. Which services will be running?
On the tube, a reduced Sunday service will run, with first trains departing around 07.45. Services will be reduced from around 20.00 and last trains will depart at the standard weekday times.
There will be no London Overground services or TfL rail services operating today.
A Sunday service will apply on London bus routes, with 24-hour routes starting from around 06.00.
Normal services will resume on Thursday 27 December.
Can I still get free tube travel on New Year’s Eve?
Free travel will be available to TfL passengers between 23:45 on Monday 31 December and 04:30 on Tuesday 1 January 2019 (except on Thames Clippers and Emirates Air Line services).
London Underground is running a special all-night service on most lines on New Year's Eve.
When will normal services resume?
A special service will run on New Year’s Day, but normal services will resume on the network from Wednesday 2 January 2019.
Services are subject to change, so check the TfL website before you travel.
