Christmas travel: Widespread disruption on the railways with dozens of cancellations before festive break
The IndependentSign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy As Britain’s rail network prepares for its annual Christmas shut down, travellers across the UK and beyond are suffering widespread disruption. “There is a chance that some of the last trains may be affected, so passengers are advised to travel as early as they can to avoid as much inconvenience to their journeys as possible.” The rail workers’ employment contracts still in force across much of Britain’s network make Sunday working voluntary. Northern Rail has cancelled dozens of local services in northwest England, blaming “engineering work and being able to match employees’ availability within their working agreements”. Northern Rail told passengers: “We do not cancel services lightly and routes with cancelled Sunday service are chosen carefully to minimise the impact on customers.” At what is normally Britain’s busiest railway station, London Waterloo, about half the usual Sunday service to southwest London, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and beyond is running.