Passengers planning to travel with LNER this weekend are urged to check ahead as the train company faces a double blow of strikes and essential engineering work. Aslef, the train drivers’ union, has scheduled strikes targeting various train companies throughout December, with LNER set to experience disruptions this Saturday, 2 December. Additionally, essential engineering work on Sunday, 3 December, will lead to a limited service to and from London.
LNER is advising customers to proactively check their journeys on both days, anticipating that trains will be exceptionally busy with very limited seat reservations available. A spokesperson for LNER emphasised the potential challenges, stating, “Customers who have not yet purchased tickets or made a seat reservation for their journey are advised to consider travelling on another date.”
On Saturday, 2 December, a reduced timetable will be in place between Edinburgh and London, as well as between Leeds and London. Notably, no services will be operating beyond Edinburgh on this day. The following day, Sunday, 3 December, there will be a complete halt of trains to and from London King’s Cross, with services terminating at St Neots. For southbound journeys, a coach service will be provided from St Neots to Cockfosters London Underground Station, where passengers can connect with Piccadilly line services.
Conversely, northbound journeys will commence at St Neots, with a coach service shuttling passengers from Cockfosters London Underground Station to St Neots. The spokesperson cautioned passengers about the potential challenges, stating, “However, customers are advised that the coach service is expected to be extremely limited and may mean that journeys into and out of the capital could be up to two hours longer than scheduled.”
To assist passengers in navigating the disruptions, LNER has created a dedicated webpage outlining the possible inconveniences and alternative travel arrangements. This resource is intended for customers who choose to proceed with their travel plans despite the anticipated challenges.
For those determined to travel, LNER is strongly recommending that they check the entirety of their journey before setting off. With disruptions expected due to both strikes and essential engineering work, passengers are urged to plan accordingly and explore alternative travel dates to mitigate potential inconveniences.
Passengers are reminded to stay informed through official channels, and LNER assures that the dedicated webpage will be continually updated to provide the latest information. The train company acknowledges the inconvenience caused by these disruptions and expresses gratitude for passengers’ understanding and cooperation during this challenging period.
