These are the busiest rail travel days you need to avoid this festive season
The busy train dates passengers should avoid during the festive season
- The Independent has analysed Rail Delivery Group data to predict festive rail demand, assigning a star rating to each day from 19 December to 4 January.
- The busiest days for pre-Christmas travel are expected to be Saturday 20 and Monday 22 December, with Tuesday 23 December also highly crowded.
- Passengers can anticipate uncrowded journeys on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day, though services wind down early on Christmas Eve.
- Significant engineering works will affect major lines, including closures on the West Coast Main Line, London Waterloo, and the Leeds to York route.
- Crowds are predicted to surge again on Saturday 27 December and from Friday 2 January, with many travellers potentially displaced to alternative routes due to engineering works.