Stansted Express will run overnight trains every 30 minutes on Fridays this summer, from July 3 to September 26, between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale, where passengers can connect with the Victoria line Night Tube. Some early morning services will extend to or depart from Liverpool Street.
Faster connections than buses
The journey takes around 36 minutes, offering a much faster alternative to National Express buses. The trial is part of improvements since Stansted Express and Greater Anglia were brought under public ownership in October 2025. Railway teams adjusted engineering and maintenance plans to allow overnight trains once a week.
Public ownership enabling innovation
Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said: "This is exactly what public ownership of our railways makes possible. As we build Great British Railways, we're bringing train operators and Network Rail together under one roof so we can plan smarter, work faster and deliver more for passengers." He added that the services will connect passengers via the Night Tube, alongside contactless ticketing at every London airport.
GBR Anglia collaboration
Jamie Burles, Managing Director of GBR Anglia, stated: "This is a practical example of the benefits of closer working across the railway made possible under public ownership. By bringing Stansted Express and Network Rail Anglia closer together as part of GBR Anglia, we have been able to review engineering plans and trial these additional services while still protecting essential maintenance." He noted that demand will be monitored closely, and contactless pay-as-you-go at Stansted Airport is another step toward simpler, more flexible travel.
Contactless ticketing extended
In March, contactless rail travel was extended to Stansted Airport, making travel faster and simpler. The overnight trial runs from 11:30pm to 5am, with trains every 30 minutes.
