Exact time trains will stop running for Christmas – all you need to know to avoid holiday travel chaos
ALTHOUGH millions of Brits will be doing a Chris Rea and driving home for Christmas, others will be travelling by train.
But as rail staff prepare to stage another walk out, commuters are set to face chaos as they rush home for the Big Day.
Network Rail has warned the nation to only travel “if absolutely necessary” on Christmas Eve as Brits battle for a seat on the infrequent services.
The strikes will see hundreds of journeys cancelled, as just one in five services will run.
Commuters have been advised to set off as early as possible as rail staff clock off early to celebrate the festive period.
Bosses are expecting each carriage to be packed as trains stop running at 3pm, with the final journeys departing “much earlier.”
In some parts of the country, there will be no services running at all.
If you’re looking to travel over Christmas, you will want to double-check the train timetable to make sure your service is running.
The National Rail journey planner is the best way to check if your journey has been affected by the strike – which is available on their website and app.
While the rail industry says it is working hard to minimise the effect strikes will have on services, it is “inevitable” that some will be cancelled.
Industrial action will take place from 6pm on 24 December until 7am on 27 December.
Although trains don’t typically run on Christmas Day and there being only limited services on Boxing Day, it could see thousands of Brits left stranded.
The RMT union revealed over 40,000 workers across Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will take part in the walk outs.
Rail chiefs say they will use the time to carry out essential engineering and railway improvements on the tracks.
However, members of Unite at Network Rail, who were set to join RMT members, have accepted a pay offer and have called off their planned strikes.
Another bout of travel chaos is scheduled to rock the country on January 3, 4, 6 and 7 next year.
Those looking to fly away from the bedlam have also been warned to expect disruption over the festive period.
From December 23, airports will be plunged into chaos when around 1,000 Border Force officials begin their industrial action.
The strike, hitting at the heart of the Christmas getaway rush, will last until Boxing Day.
It will then resume on December 28 until New Year’s Eve.
Passport control desks at Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow airports will all be affected.
And an urgent Amber Traffic warning has been put in place as millions hit the roads to race home for Christmas.
A whopping 17 million Brits are expected to get in their cars from Friday, with the AA warning of huge delays.