Shopping, social visits and commuting top reasons for festive rail travel as passengers reminded to plan ahead
As the festive season gets underway, rail passengers are being encouraged to plan ahead for Christmas travel, with advance tickets now on sale for dates throughout the festive period and into the New Year.
Although passenger numbers tend to dip during this time compared to the rest of the year, making it a key window for improvement works, those who did plan to travel more last year cited shopping trips, visiting friends and relatives and commuting as their top three reasons.
Last year, between mid-December and the New Year, an average of one in five places on train services was booked in advance, with customers securing better value for their journeys.
Monday 30 December was the most popular day for rail travel between the Christmas Bank Holiday and New Year’s Eve, with nearly a quarter of overall train capacity booked in advance (23%).
Passengers are advised to check whether their service requires a seat reservation before travelling and to book as early as possible to secure the best options. For a smoother journey, only bring luggage that is comfortable to carry and aim to use bags that fit in overhead racks or designated storage areas.
This year, over Christmas and into the New Year, there will be engineering works taking place as part of a programme of investment to upgrade rail infrastructure.
To help passengers navigate service changes during this time, Rail Delivery Group and Network Rail have developed a new series of Visual Disruption Map videos focused on areas with planned engineering works. Each of the eight videos are equipped with British Sign Language (BSL) offering passengers a clear and timely guide to planned service changes, along with advice on alternative travel options.
Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Rail Delivery Group said:
“We know how important it is for people to be able to travel during the festive season. Whether spending time with loved ones, enjoying a day out or heading to work, the railway plays a vital role in helping people make the most of the festive season.
“Our data shows clear patterns in festive travel, helping passengers make informed choices during busy times. With improvement works taking place on parts of the network this holiday period, we’re advising passengers to check journey planners for the latest information, as some stations and services are expected to be busy, particularly on Saturday 27 December.
“Our colleagues across the railway will be working hard to keep passengers moving, and we ask everyone to treat them with kindness and respect as they help deliver a safe and reliable service for everyone.”
Network Rail's Chief Network Operator Helen Hamlin said:
"The period between Christmas and New Year sees lower passenger numbers compared to other times of the year, making it the best time for us to carry out major projects that take longer than a night or weekend to complete.
“We work closely with train operators to organise diversions and rail replacement buses for passengers who are travelling, but it's still so important to plan ahead. That's especially the case this year, as people may have to travel home on different routes after Christmas than the way they travelled out.
“So, to everyone travelling, please take the time to check your journey using National Rail Enquiries or your train operator’s website. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we deliver work that will ultimately improve the reliability of the railway.”