Travel strikes and disruptions that could affect your Christmas holiday

In addition to being “the most wonderful time of the year,” Christmas and the days surrounding it are often the most difficult to travel.

This year’s festive season is sadly no different, with planned engineering work and strikes across the UK and Europe expected to cause disruption throughout December and January.

Disruption to trains and buses in the UK

National Rail says “a considerable number of engineering and improvement projects will be undertaken over Christmas and New Year” and recommends that those currently traveling consult journey planners for information on disruption and route changes.

Across the country, train services on many lines will end earlier than usual on Christmas Eve.

If you’re leaving London, you can check the last direct Christmas Eve trains from the capital here.

Across the UK, trains to and from airports will also finish early on Christmas Eve and, if you’re arriving at or departing from Luton Airport, National Rail warns that travel could be further disrupted between Saturday December 21 and Tuesday December 24. due to major engineering works closing lines between London and Harpenden, near Luton.

On Christmas Day, no National Rail services will run anywhere in the UK, and no London Underground trains will run either.

In the UK, very few buses will run on Christmas Day and you are advised to check your local operator’s website for details of the changed timetable.

Planned engineering works

As always, check your local services before you go. A certain number of planned works are likely to cause significant disruption.

• Between London St Pancras International and Bedford – from Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 December
• In the London Paddington area – from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 December
• In London Liverpool Street – from Friday December 27 to Wednesday January 1
• In the Cambridge area – from Friday December 27 to Sunday January 5
• In the Crewe area – Friday 27 December to Thursday 2 January

The challenges of London and its airports

In London, no bus services will operate on the 25th. If you choose to drive in the capital, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will not operate.

From Christmas Day until January 2, the congestion charge will also not operate, but the normal Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will.

On Boxing Day, Heathrow will not have Heathrow Express or Elizabeth line services, although London Underground services will be operational.

Also at Heathrow, from Friday 27 December to Sunday 29 December there will be no Heathrow Express services. Elizabeth Line services will run to and from the airport, but will be disrupted by major engineering works near London Paddington.

Gatwick will have a Southern-operated service, but no Gatwick Express, Thameslink or Great Western Railway trains – which run from Reading –.

Stansted will have Stansted Express trains between the airport and Tottenham Hale station in London, but no CrossCountry services will operate.

Manchester bus strikes

Around 200 bus workers employed by Transport for Greater Manchester are expected to stage strike action shortly before Christmas to fight pay.

From 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, December 12 to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 15, and again from Friday, December 20 to Monday, December 23, no buses will be operating throughout Manchester city center and surrounding areas.

However, as with many strikes, the action may be called off at short notice.

Finnair flights canceled

Finnair announced on Friday that it had canceled 300 flights on December 9 and 13, a decision expected to affect around 33,000 air passengers on routes across Europe.

The airline warns that the strike, called by the Finnish Airline Pilots’ Association, could impact flights on dates close to the planned two days of action.

EasyJet strike In France

In September, French staff at low-cost airline easyJet announced an indefinite strike over plans to close the company’s base in Toulouse.

The strike is expected to last until December 16. Warnings have also been issued that further strike action could affect easyJet across France in December and beyond – so be sure to check the situation before you travel.

French rail and port services could be disrupted

French workers are also planning strikes that could disrupt travelers starting December 11. although one of the four unions organizing the strike withdrew and urged other unions to do the same.

High-speed TGV and international lines will be affected, as well as regional TER lines.

Train timetables will indicate that services are expected to be disrupted 48 hours in advance.

No end date has been announced, so these strikes could well continue until Christmas Day or beyond.

In French ports, dockers will go on strike on December 9 and 10, although the disruption caused by this action is expected to be minimal.

Italy to see nationwide train, tram and plane strikes

Across Italy on December 13, flights as well as rail and other public transport services will be heavily disrupted due to a planned 24-hour general strike.

Motorway toll services could also be disrupted, causing problems for drivers, and ferry services to Sicily and Sardinia would also be affected.

On December 15, Italy’s main airports will also face difficulties, due to a new strike by air traffic controllers.

Bus strikes in Spain continue

There has been a nationwide bus strike in Spain since late November and it is expected to continue until December. Travelers across the country can expect significant disruption to local and long-distance bus services, but regional services in Murcia and Andalusia will be particularly affected.

In the Canary Islands, bus drivers’ strikes scheduled for December 5 have been postponed to the 9th and 23rd of the month. If no agreement is reached, unions warn there could be unlimited strikes.