Misery for travellers as rail services remain shut for Boxing Day across the country

MILLIONS will face traffic chaos on the roads today as the country is hit by a near shutdown of Boxing Day rail services.

London’s paddington StationREX

Bad news for travellers at London’s Paddington station where engineering works are planned

Jams were predicted across the country because major operators are closing arterial rail routes for engineering work. Chiltern Railways, southern, southeastern and First Great Western companies will run some services, while there is a reduced Gatwick Express service.

Other operators are heavily reduced or completely shut, with every main rail artery and large sections of london’s Tube system remaining closed.

The mass closures will bring misery to millions as families trying to travel to see loved ones, shoppers wanting to take advantage of the Crossyhead sales and football fans heading for the hundreds of matches being played across the country today.

Rail services began to shut down late afternoon on Christmas Eve with some scheduled not to resume fully until well into the new Year. A spokesman for travellers’ watch- dog Passenger Focus said the engineering work was essential but would cause “major inconvenience” to those trying to get around the country today.

Its director David sidebottom added: “For passengers struggling to get home to their families over the Christmas period, engineering works can cause major inconvenience, especially if it means having to use rail replacement bus services. “investment in maintenance and improvement is necessary and we passengers understand that.

“But our research is clear: passen- gers want to be kept on the train wherever possible, they want to know before buying a ticket if part of the journey will be by bus, and they want plenty of staff on hand to sign- post where to go and what to do.”

The labour Party claimed that while the Conservatives were in opposition in 2008 and 2009, they repeatedly complained about a lack of rail services on Boxing Day, saying it showed labour did not have the “interest of the travelling public at heart”.

Shadow Transport secretary Michael Dugher added: “The travel- ling public are facing misery on Boxing Day as yet again ministers have allowed the rail network to shut down for the day.

“Before the last general election, the Tories repeatedly criticised the lack of rail services on Boxing Day. But it is clear they have done absolutely nothing about it in government.

“Yet again, this Tory-led government has been shown to be all talk and no action.”

Network Rail sussex route managing director Tim Robinson said three significant infrastructure upgrades had been carefully planned to take place at the same time to keep disruption to a minimum.

Engineering work will also affect Paddington station in London and Slough in Berkshire from tomorrow until January 3, meaning disruption to some FGW services and to some Heathrow Express services between December 30 to January 1. Passengers are encouraged to plan their journeys on the national Rail website before leaving home.  

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