Thursday 24 December 2015 - Sunday 3 January 2016
During this time there will be some changes to train times across the network. It’s best to plan ahead if you don’t want to risk being left behind this Christmas.
Below is a guide that shows how the train timetable is affected. You can also view the changes if you download the 'Changes to Train Times' map.
Please use London Midland's Journey planner, free App on Android and IOS or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk before you travel.
In addition to the guide below please be aware that improvement works are taking place in the Stafford area, and buses will replace trains throughout this period, with changes to London – Crewe and Birmingham – Liverpool train services. Please visit www.londonmidland.com/stafford for more information and details about this.
Christmas Travel with other train companies
If you are making a longer journey, or you maybe changing trains, take a look at the links below. Each train company may have variations to their timetable over this period.
Virgin Trains
Arriva Trains Wales
Cross Country Trains
Southern Railway
Great Western Railway
Thursday 24 December
- Many London Midland train services will be operating a special timetable with fewer services from the afternoon onwards. More information can be downloaded here.
- The last trains are often very busy so to travel more comfortably please plan well in advance and consider an earlier departure if you can.
Friday 25 and Saturday 26 December
- London Midland will be not be operating any train services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Sunday 27 December
- There will be no Bedford – Bletchley services.
- There will be no Birmingham – Shrewsbury services.
- Services between Birmingham and Liverpool also those between London Euston and Crewe will be affected by improvement works at Stafford.
Monday 28 December
- Services between Birmingham and Liverpool also those between London Euston and Crewe will be affected by improvement works at Stafford.
- Services to/from Euston will operate a Saturday Timetable.
- Birmingham – Shrewsbury will operate a Saturday Timetable.
- Birmingham – Shrewsbury/Worcester/Hereford will have fewer trains during peak times.
- There will be no Bedford – Bletchley services.
- There will be fewer services between Birmingham – Rugeley Trent Valley.
Tuesday 29 December – Thursday 31 December
- There will be a reduced service on the Bedford – Bletchley line with one train every 2 hours.
- Services to/from Euston and Birmingham – Shrewsbury will operate a Saturday Timetable
- Birmingham – Shrewsbury/Worcester/Hereford will have fewer trains during peak times.
- There will be fewer services between Birmingham – Rugeley Trent Valley.
- Birmingham to Liverpool services services will operate hourly.
- There will be fewer services between Redditch – Birmingham -Lichfield Trent Valley with 3 trains per hour.
Friday 1 January
- Most of the London Midland network will run a Sunday timetable and a reduced service between Birmingham – Shrewsbury
- Improvement works affect London Euston to Crewe services until 1600, with rail replacement coaches in operation between Stafford and Rugby.
- Birmingham to Liverpool services services will operate hourly.
- There will be no Bedford – Bletchley services.
Saturday 2 January
- The normal Saturday Timetable will run across the London Midland Network.
Changes to ticket restrictions
Generally, normal travel restrictions will apply to all tickets between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve however, customers with Off-Peak and Off-Peak Day tickets will be allowed to travel in the evening peak during this period; morning restrictions will still apply, though.
On Monday 28 December & New Year's Day (bank holidays), all Off-Peak and Off-Peak Day tickets will be valid on any train for the journey stated on the ticket.
Restrictions will remain in place for tickets marked 'London Midland Only' (Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak & Advance) during the Christmas period.