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Heathrow and Gatwick rail links hit by engineering works ahead of festive period

Transport links to the UK’s two largest airports have announced engineering works ahead of next week’s busy Christmas period.

Gatwick Express trains are expected to stop running for 10 days, with the last service of the year leaving Victoria station at 9.15pm on Christmas Eve. The service will recommence on January 4.

Meanwhile at Heathrow, the usual one day closure on Christmas Day will be extended by three days due to Crossrail works.

In addition, there will be no Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect trains from London Paddington station during the festive period.

A Heathrow airport spokesman said: “Due to essential Crossrail improvement works being carried out by Network Rail, Heathrow Express services will not run from Friday 25th to Monday 28th December 2015.

“The Piccadilly Line and additional bus and coach services will be operating. Passengers are advised to leave extra time when travelling to the airport.”

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Improving rail links to our major airports is absolutely vital for passengers, visitors and our economy. The work we’re carrying out this Christmas has been planned in close collaboration with both Heathrow and Gatwick and the train operators which serve them.

“There will be rail and bus links to Gatwick but journeys will take longer, while London Underground links to Heathrow remain open.”

Stephen Joseph, director of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: “These engineering works will of course cause huge problems for travellers and I suspect the decision has been taken to inconvenience airline passengers rather than inconvenience commuters.

“What these closures highlight, however, is the lack of surface transport options to both Heathrow and Gatwick, which is something the Government is still failing to address in its plans for airport expansion.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .