We know that Christmas can be one of the busiest times of the year for train travel which is why we’re looking forward to keeping you up to date with Christmas 2025 and New Year travel updates so you can plan ahead and avoid disappointment.
Looking for a festive activity to get you in the spirit? Why not check out our Grand Central blog? Here you will find the best Christmas markets, Christmas city breaks and things to do in London if you’re visiting the capital city over the festive period.
Whether you’re looking for Christmas train routes, cheap Christmas train tickets, timetable updates or stations Grand Central trains travel to and from, our team and website will help you with everything - allowing your Christmas travel to be smooth and stress-free.
Christmas and New Year 2025 Grand Central timetable
View our December 2025 timetable here and see Christmas and New Year engineering works affecting our routes below:
Tuesday 23rd December
West Riding southbound diversions:
- 06:58 and 10:39 services to London King’s Cross will start at Halifax, call at Bradford Interchange, and then travel non-stop to Wakefield Kirkgate. Rail replacement buses are running calling at all stops between Brighouse and Wakefield Kirkgate.
- 08:57 service to London King's Cross starts earlier at Bradford Interchange at 08:49 and travels non-stop to Wakefield Kirkgate. A rail replacement bus is running calling at all stops between Halifax and Wakefield Kirkgate.
- 15:41 service to London King's Cross starts at Bradford Interchange at 15:43 and travels non-stop to Wakefield Kirkgate.
West Riding northbound diversions:
- All services are non-stop from Wakefield Kirkgate to Bradford Interchange. Rail replacement buses are running calling at all stops between Wakefield Kirkgate and Halifax.
Christmas Eve (Wednesday 24th December)
West Riding southbound diversions:
- 06:58 and 10:39 services to London King’s Cross will start at Halifax, call at Bradford Interchange, and then travel non-stop to Wakefield Kirkgate. Rail replacement buses are running calling at all stops between Brighouse and Wakefield Kirkgate.
- 08:57 service to London King's Cross starts earlier at Bradford Interchange at 08:49 and travels non-stop to Wakefield Kirkgate. A rail replacement bus is running calling at all stops between Halifax and Wakefield Kirkgate.
West Riding northbound diversions:
- All services are non-stop from Wakefield Kirkgate to Bradford Interchange. Rail replacement buses are running calling at all stops between Wakefield Kirkgate and Halifax.
North East and West Riding cancellations:
- 15:32 Sunderland → London King’s Cross not running.
- 15:41 Bradford Interchange → London King’s Cross not running.
- 17:32 Sunderland → London King’s Cross not running.
- 19:27 London King’s Cross → Sunderland not running.
- 20:00 London King’s Cross → Bradford Interchange not running.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day (Thursday 25th and Friday 26th December)
- No services
Saturday 27th December
- 08:00 London King's Cross → Sunderland not running
New Year's Eve (Wednesday 31st December)
North East and West Riding cancellations:
- 15:32 Sunderland → London King’s Cross not running.
- 15:41 Bradford Interchange → London King’s Cross not running.
- 17:32 Sunderland → London King’s Cross not running.
- 19:27 London King’s Cross → Sunderland not running.
- 20:00 London King’s Cross → Bradford Interchange not running.
New Year's Day (Thursday 1st January)
- No services
Friday 2nd January
- 08:00 London King's Cross → Sunderland not running
FAQs
Are there trains on Christmas Day?
No, there are no trains on Christmas Day. This is one of the only days of the year when trains across the country come to a complete standstill.
Do trains run on Boxing Day?
The same goes for Boxing Day trains; there will be extremely limited services running, if any, so always make sure to check this before travelling to the station. The last thing you want to do is turn up to an empty train station on the 26th!
Trains on Christmas Eve
Although Christmas Day and Boxing Day are out of the question, you will be able to travel on Christmas Eve, whether this be to travel to a last-minute Christmas Market or to head home for Christmas. Christmas Eve trains run more or less as usual, except they end earlier than they would on an average day.
Do trains run on 27th December?
Yes, there will be trains running on the 27th of December; however, they may start later in the day than usual due to engineering work on the railways over Christmas. Use our Journey Planner to double-check if a train is running and what time you can catch it.
New Year's Eve trains
Wondering if you’ll be able to catch the train to the New Year's Eve party you’re planning on attending? You’re in luck, trains do run on the 31st! Be sure to check our Journey Planner for the times you want to travel, as some services will finish earlier than usual.
Do trains run on New Year's Day?
There will be limited services running, if any on New Year's Day and all of Grand Central's services are cancelled. Always make sure to check this before travelling to the station because the last thing you want to do is turn up to an empty train station after your New Year's Eve celebrations!
Book in advance to avoid disappointment
The most valuable piece of advice we can offer for using trains at Christmas is to book your tickets in advance, leaving plenty of time to spare. As soon as you’ve got your Christmas plans sorted, get on our Journey Planner and get booking your tickets. This is the best way to ensure you can travel on the days and times that suit you over the festive period.
Advance fares
When it comes to booking in advance, our Advance tickets are the ideal option. These are the best value tickets we have available and can be purchased up to 6 months in advance, allowing you to sort your Christmas travel early. Book your advance tickets online today!