Flying Over Christmas 2026: Rail Closures and Airport Journeys from the East Midlands
Christmas is one of the few weeks of the year when airports are at their busiest and the railway is at its quietest. In 2026 the gap is wider than usual for anyone flying from the East Midlands. Birmingham New Street closes to all trains for five days, and engineering work near Slough changes rail services between Paddington and Heathrow from 27 December until 3 January.
None of this means the journey cannot be made. It does mean that a plan built around the train in an ordinary week may not hold. This guide sets out what has been announced so far, who it affects, and how to plan a Christmas departure or return without leaving the outcome to chance.
In brief
No National Rail services run on Christmas Day, Friday 25 December. Most operators run no service on Saturday 26 December, and the Boxing Day bank holiday falls on Monday 28 December, according to National Rail.
East Midlands Railway runs no trains on 25 or 26 December and finishes earlier than usual on Christmas Eve, with last trains usually leaving between 7pm and 9pm (EMR).
Birmingham New Street is closed to all trains from Thursday 24 to Monday 28 December, with services resuming on Tuesday 29 December (Network Rail).
From Sunday 27 December to Sunday 3 January, major engineering work at Dolphin Junction near Slough brings changes to train services between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport.
Festive timetables are being published from early October, and National Rail expects last-train details in late November or early December.
What is changing this Christmas
Birmingham New Street: closed 24 to 28 December
Network Rail confirmed on 22 September 2026 that New Street will have no trains to or from the station for five days over Christmas while upgrade work takes place. Journeys will take longer and may rely on rail-replacement buses or the local bus network. Detailed alternatives are due to be published at nationalrail.co.uk/newstreetclosure once plans are finalised.
For travellers in Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, most rail journeys towards Birmingham Airport involve a change at New Street. Anyone flying from Birmingham between Christmas Eve and 28 December should treat the train as unavailable and plan the road journey instead.
Paddington and Heathrow: works from 27 December to 3 January
National Rail lists major engineering work at Dolphin Junction, between Slough and Langley, from Sunday 27 December to Sunday 3 January inclusive, with changes to services between Paddington and Heathrow. ianVisits reports that the Elizabeth line will not run between Paddington and Heathrow during the closure, and that a shorter closure is also planned for 28 and 29 November.
Operator-specific timetables for Heathrow Express had not been published at the time of writing. If your outbound or return flight falls in this window, check the detail once it appears rather than relying on last year's arrangements.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day
No National Rail trains run on Christmas Day. Last year, Transport for London ran no services at all on 25 December, and neither the Elizabeth line nor Heathrow Express ran on Boxing Day (Londonist). Arrangements for 2026 are still to be confirmed, but it is sensible to assume a similar pattern.
Who this affects most
Families and executives flying long-haul from Heathrow on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day, when rail options from the East Midlands are limited or absent.
Anyone departing from Birmingham Airport between 24 and 28 December who would normally change trains at New Street.
Returning travellers landing at Heathrow between 27 December and 3 January, often late, tired and carrying more luggage than they left with.
International guests arriving to spend Christmas in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire or Leicestershire, for whom the onward journey is unfamiliar.
How to plan a Christmas flight
Confirm the rail picture once timetables are published. Do not assume an ordinary weekday service on 24, 27 or 31 December, or on 1 January.
Work backwards from the check-in deadline, not the train time. Christmas is a peak period at the major airports, and queues at bag drop and security are harder to predict.
Plan the return as carefully as the outbound. The Paddington works run until 3 January, which is when many people fly home.
Think about luggage. Gifts, ski equipment and winter coats are awkward on replacement buses and crowded platforms.
Book ground transport early. Demand concentrates on a handful of days, and those are the days when public transport offers the fewest alternatives.
Why it matters to private travellers
Time is often the most valuable part of the journey. At Christmas it is also the least forgiving: flights are full, rebooking options are thin, and a missed long-haul departure can cost a family days of a short holiday. A door-to-door transfer removes the connections that fail first in a disrupted week, and luggage is handled once rather than three times.
Arrive prepared, not rushed. For many people that is the whole point of the journey to the airport.
How Onyx fits
Onyx Transport provides chauffeur transfers from the East Midlands to the major UK airports, including Heathrow from Nottingham, Heathrow from Derby and Birmingham Airport from Nottingham. The journey is planned around your flight rather than a timetable, which matters most in a week when the timetable is the thing that has changed.
If you organise travel for others, our note on corporate chauffeur bookings for PAs and EAs covers how to brief us. Arriving at East Midlands Airport instead? Our guide to the new contactless eGates explains what changes when you land.
If you know you will be flying between Christmas Eve and early January, tell us your flight details early and we will confirm availability for the exact day and time.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any trains on Christmas Day 2026?
No. National Rail states that no services run on Christmas Day. Most operators also run no service on Saturday 26 December.
Is Birmingham New Street closed over Christmas 2026?
Yes. Network Rail has confirmed there will be no trains to or from New Street from Thursday 24 to Monday 28 December. Services resume on Tuesday 29 December.
Will trains run from Paddington to Heathrow between Christmas and New Year?
Engineering work at Dolphin Junction from 27 December to 3 January changes services between Paddington and Heathrow, and the Elizabeth line is reported not to run on that section during the closure. Check National Rail and TfL for the final arrangements before you travel.
When will exact Christmas timetables be available?
National Rail says festive timetables are published from early October, with last-train information expected in late November or early December.
When should I book a Christmas airport transfer?
As soon as your flights are confirmed. Christmas demand concentrates on a small number of days, and those are the days when public transport offers the fewest alternatives.
Plan the journey now
Private travel should feel effortless, even in the one week of the year when the railway steps back. If you are flying over Christmas, send us your flight details and we will plan the journey around them.
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