Londoners are being warned to expect significant travel disruption across the capital this weekend, with three key London Underground lines facing closures and a ripple effect hitting other Transport for London (TfL) services. The issues begin on Friday, December 5 and continue through to Sunday, December 7, threatening to complicate festive shopping trips and weekend plans.
Tube Lines Facing Full or Partial Closures
The disruption is centred on three major Underground lines. On the Metropolitan line, there will be no service between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge throughout Saturday and Sunday due to essential track work.
The Northern line is set for a complex series of shutdowns. During the Night Tube on Friday and Saturday, service will be suspended between Charing Cross and Golders Green, and between High Barnet and Mill Hill East. More extensively, all weekend from Saturday morning, there will be zero service on the Northern line between Archway and both High Barnet and Mill Hill East.
Furthermore, the Piccadilly line will be out of action between Acton Town and Uxbridge on both Saturday and Sunday, again because of track maintenance.
Elizabeth Line, Overground and DLR Also Hit
The travel chaos extends far beyond the classic Tube map. On the Elizabeth Line, the last train from Heathrow Terminal 5 on Saturday night (departing at 00:07) will terminate early at Ealing Broadway. On Sunday morning, there will be no service between Paddington and Ealing Broadway until 7:45am, and trains will not stop at Woolwich until 10am.
London Overground passengers on the Suffragette line will find no service between Barking and Barking Riverside all day Sunday. Additionally, there will be no trains between South Tottenham and Barking Riverside until 12:45pm on the same day.
Adding to the problems, the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) will have no service between Tower Gateway and Shadwell on Sunday due to third-party engineering works.
Plan Ahead to Avoid Festive Frustration
With the weekend promising to be a busy one for Christmas shoppers and event-goers, these widespread closures are likely to cause considerable inconvenience. TfL is advising all passengers who normally use the affected routes to replan their journeys in advance.
Travellers should check for alternative Tube services, local bus routes, or replacement bus services that have been arranged. The most reliable way to navigate the disruption is to use the TfL Journey Planner online for real-time updates and recommended alternative routes.
This wave of engineering work, while disruptive, is part of essential maintenance and upgrade programmes aimed at improving the long-term reliability of the capital's transport network.
