Passengers are being strongly advised to steer clear of Euston Station over the festive period due to expected heavy congestion from December 21 to December 29. The station will be exceptionally busy as it picks up additional traffic diverted from other stations undergoing maintenance.
Paddington Station will be closed for five days, with Great Western Railway re-routing long-distance trains from Wales, Devon, and Cornwall into Euston from December 27 to 29.
On top of this, St Pancras will be closed for Thameslink and East Midlands Railway services during the same period, adding to the load at Euston.
Additional Train Station Closures Contributing to Congestion
- No Thameslink trains between St Pancras and Harpenden
- No East Midlands Railway trains between St Pancras and Bedford, due to Midland Main Line upgrades.
Christian Irwin, Network Rail’s northwest & central capital delivery director, stated: “London Euston station is expected to be extremely busy due to planned work on other routes. We recommend passengers travel before December 24 or after January 2 for a smoother journey.”
Euston’s Overcrowding Concerns
Euston has long been a hotspot for passenger dissatisfaction due to overcrowding and chaotic rushes when platforms are announced late. The station’s issues are well-documented, with the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) demanding Network Rail improve crowd management after three incidents of severe overcrowding in summer 2023.
These incidents raised concerns about the potential risks posed by uncontrolled surges, with the ORR noting “unacceptable levels of crowding” and inadequate crowd control measures. The ORR has warned of more serious consequences if these issues aren’t addressed.
Adding to the strain on the capital’s rail network, Transport for London (TfL) announced that London Overground services would be halved due to the closure of Liverpool Street station from Christmas Day to January 2.
