December will bring widespread transport disruption across London as Transport for London carries out maintenance on multiple rail corridors. Construction workers travelling early, late or over weekends should expect delays on the Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line and DLR, with several lines suspended entirely on key dates including Boxing Day.
On the Metropolitan line, there will be no service between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December, followed by a second closure on Friday 26 December when trains will not run between Rickmansworth and Amersham or Chesham.
The Northern line will also be affected that same weekend, with no service between Archway and High Barnet during daytime hours on 6–7 December.
On the Piccadilly line, trains will not operate between Acton Town and Uxbridge on the same weekend, and further closures will suspend all services between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge from 24 December through 4 January, with a separate shutdown from 29 December to 4 January on the same stretch.
The London Overground faces the heaviest disruption across the network. The Liberty line will be fully closed on Friday 26 December.
The London Overground faces the heaviest disruption across the network. The Liberty line will be fully closed on Friday 26 December.
The Lioness line will have no service between Euston and Kilburn High Road on Sunday 21 December until midday and again after 8.30pm, followed by a complete shutdown on 26 December.
The Mildmay line will see repeated interruptions: no westbound service from Camden Road to Willesden Junction after 11.45pm from 1–4 December; no southbound service from Willesden Junction to Shepherd’s Bush until 6.15am from 2–5 December; no service between Barking and Barking Riverside on 7 December; no trains between South Tottenham and Barking until 12.45pm that same day; no service between Camden Road and Stratford after 10.15pm on 21 December; a full closure between Stratford and Richmond/Shepherd’s Bush on 26 December; and an extended suspension between Camden Road and Richmond/Shepherd’s Bush from 27 December to 4 January.
On the Suffragette line there will be a full closure on 26 December.
The Weaver line will also be heavily reduced, with no service between Hackney Downs and Chingford after 10.45pm from 8–11 December; no trains between Liverpool Street and Enfield Town, Cheshunt or Chingford until 10.15am on 21 December; no service again from Hackney Downs to Enfield Town or Cheshunt after 10.45pm on 22–23 December; another full closure on 26 December; and suspended service between Liverpool Street and London Fields from 27 December to 1 January.
The Windrush line will have no service between Sydenham and West Croydon and also between Wandsworth Road and Clapham Junction on 14 December. On 26 December there will be no service between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction or New Cross, and also no trains between Sydenham and Crystal Palace. A further shutdown will suspend trains between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction from 27–31 December.
Elizabeth line passengers will face reduced service as well. Trains will not stop at Acton Main Line, Hanwell or West Ealing after 10.30pm from 1–3 December. On Sunday 7 December, trains will not run between Paddington and Ealing Broadway until 7.45am, and Woolwich station will be closed to Elizabeth line services until 10am. Further Paddington–Ealing Broadway closures will occur on 14 and 21 December until 7.45am. Boxing Day, 26 December, will see the entire Elizabeth line shut down. From 27 December to 1 January, trains will not operate between Liverpool Street (National Rail platforms) and Stratford.
The DLR will also face repeated closures in East London. There will be no service between Tower Gateway and Shadwell on Sunday 7 December; no trains between Prince Regent and Beckton on 13 December; no service between Canning Town and Beckton, and again between Tower Gateway and Shadwell, on 14 December; another shutdown between Tower Gateway and Shadwell on 21 December; and a final closure on 26 December between Tower Gateway and Shadwell.
These disruptions fall during a critical period for London’s construction industry, with pre-Christmas handovers, weekend possession works and early-start site teams relying heavily on predictable transport. Workers should check routes ahead of time, especially around 21–31 December when multiple lines are simultaneously affected.
Elizabeth line passengers will face reduced service as well. Trains will not stop at Acton Main Line, Hanwell or West Ealing after 10.30pm from 1–3 December. On Sunday 7 December, trains will not run between Paddington and Ealing Broadway until 7.45am, and Woolwich station will be closed to Elizabeth line services until 10am. Further Paddington–Ealing Broadway closures will occur on 14 and 21 December until 7.45am. Boxing Day, 26 December, will see the entire Elizabeth line shut down. From 27 December to 1 January, trains will not operate between Liverpool Street (National Rail platforms) and Stratford.
The DLR will also face repeated closures in East London. There will be no service between Tower Gateway and Shadwell on Sunday 7 December; no trains between Prince Regent and Beckton on 13 December; no service between Canning Town and Beckton, and again between Tower Gateway and Shadwell, on 14 December; another shutdown between Tower Gateway and Shadwell on 21 December; and a final closure on 26 December between Tower Gateway and Shadwell.
These disruptions fall during a critical period for London’s construction industry, with pre-Christmas handovers, weekend possession works and early-start site teams relying heavily on predictable transport. Workers should check routes ahead of time, especially around 21–31 December when multiple lines are simultaneously affected.