Passengers planning to use South Western Railway (SWR) services over the festive season are being warned to expect significant travel disruption due to a major programme of engineering upgrades.
Key Dates for Disruption
The core route between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction will be fully or partially closed from Thursday, December 25 until Monday, January 5. This prolonged closure is necessary for a team of around 350 engineers to carry out critical upgrade work between Queenstown Road in Battersea and Nine Elms, which includes altering platforms at Queenstown Road station.
Mark Goodall, Wessex route director for Network Rail and SWR, advised passengers to make alternative plans. “We are giving passengers early notice that there will be changes to train services for those travelling to and from central London over the festive period,” he said. “We are advising passengers to plan ahead and use alternative routes into the capital.”
Detailed Breakdown of Service Changes
The disruption will unfold in several phases, with the most severe impacts on key dates:
Christmas and Boxing Day (25-26 December): South Western Railway will suspend all train services across its entire network. No passenger trains will run on these two days.
Christmas Eve (24 December): Services will finish early. The last departures from London Waterloo will be before 10pm, with final trains to destinations like Hampton Court, Chessington South, and Shepperton leaving between 9.12pm and 9.36pm.
Christmas Weekend (27-28 December): There will be no trains at all between Clapham Junction and London Waterloo. All other lines in South West London and Surrey will operate a reduced service, terminating at Clapham Junction.
Week Between Christmas and New Year (29-31 December): A partial closure will be in effect. All services that run through Barnes will start and finish at Clapham Junction, with a reduced service on lines through Wimbledon. On New Year's Eve, some additional trains will run for celebrations, with 12 extra services from Waterloo running until 4.45am.
Early January Closures and Alternative Routes
The disruption will continue into the new year. The closure affecting trains between Clapham Junction, London Waterloo, Windsor, and Reading will remain until Monday, January 5.
On Sunday, January 4, there will be further specific closures. The route between Clapham Junction and Barnes will shut entirely, with some trains terminating at Barnes and others diverting via Kingston or Twickenham.
Separate engineering works between Woking and Andover/Winchester will also affect some services via Wimbledon, with the last departure from London Waterloo at 11pm on affected days.
Rail bosses have reiterated their apology for the inconvenience but stress the long-term benefits. “We are sorry for the disruption this closure will cause,” added Mark Goodall, “however these works will provide a more reliable journey for everyone who travels on one of the country’s busiest railways.” All passengers are strongly urged to check their journey details before travelling throughout this period.
