EMR shares key Christmas and New Year travel advice for customers
- EMR is urging customers to check their journey over the Christmas period
- Services will not run on Christmas Day or Boxing Day
- Some services will start and finish at different times
East Midlands Railway (EMR) is encouraging customers to plan ahead as they prepare to travel during the Christmas and New Year period.
Whether customers are heading home for Christmas Eve, browsing festive markets, or celebrating New Year’s Eve with friends, EMR, which is part of Transport UK, is providing key information to help them travel with confidence throughout the festive season.
As with every festive period, train times across the UK will differ from the usual timetable. EMR is advising customers to check before they travel and to book early, with Advance fares offering savings of up to 60% on many journeys – including popular routes such as Nottingham–London and Sheffield–London.
Christmas Eve – 24 December
EMR services will run on Christmas Eve; however, they will finish earlier than normal. Last departures typically take place between 19:00 and 21:00 depending on the route. Customers are strongly advised to check the time of their last train, especially if attending festive events.
Christmas Day – 25 December
There will be no EMR services on Christmas Day. All stations will be closed. Customers who need to travel around the holiday period are advised to journey on Christmas Eve or from 27 December onwards.
Boxing Day – 26 December
As is standard across the rail network, no EMR trains will operate on Boxing Day.
Services will restart on 27 December.
27 December
Services resume across the EMR network on 27 December, with some routes operating to a revised timetable.
Customers should be aware that ongoing engineering works may affect journey times and service frequency.
New Year’s Eve – 31 December
Trains will operate across the EMR network throughout the day. Services may finish earlier than usual, so customers attending New Year celebrations should confirm their return journey in advance.
New Year’s Day – 1 January
A reduced timetable will operate on New Year’s Day. Trains may start later in the morning and run less frequently, reflecting lower demand and engineering work in some areas.
Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “The festive season is one of the busiest times of the year for rail travel, and planning ahead can make all the difference.
"We encourage customers to check their journeys in advance, book early for the best fares, and allow extra time when travelling. We look forward to helping customers reach their festive celebrations safely and smoothly.”