Transport bosses warn mourners of London queues
- Published
Queues are likely at London Underground and train stations on Monday as people travel to see the Queen's funeral.
Monday will see one of the UK's biggest transport operations with more than a million people expected to travel to the capital, Transport for London said.
Major London train stations are staying open all night, with extra services being put on - some through the night.
However, railway lines between Slough and Paddington have been blocked due to overhead wire damage.
The problem is affecting services run by Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express and the Elizabeth Line, and is disrupting travel from Heathrow Airport and Reading into London.
Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy has warned that trains will be "extremely busy", particularly in London on Monday afternoon and evening following Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral.
"To help us provide the best possible experience and avoid lengthy queues at stations we're asking people not to rush home after the funeral and the processions, but to take their time and experience London on this memorable day," he said.
Transport staff will be around to help elderly or vulnerable passengers and are advising people to keep an eye on the most up-to-date travel information.
On Sunday, footfall at London stations was up 10% from a week earlier, but some stations saw even bigger rises with Waterloo and Charing Cross up by more than 20%.
Andy Byford, commissioner of Transport for London (TfL) said: "The day of the funeral will be one of the busiest, biggest, challenges TfL has ever faced,"
He said the capital had seen "huge numbers of additional passengers" since the Queen died at Balmoral on 8 September, but demand will "reach a climax" on Monday.
He said: "We're ready for probably one of the busiest days Transport for London has ever faced...we're preparing for potentially a million people just within the footprint of the royal palaces and Hyde Park."
London train stations including Victoria, Waterloo, Charing Cross and Euston will be open throughout the night across the Bank Holiday weekend.
Three Tube stations - Westminster, St James's Park and Hyde Park Corner - will be closed for most of Monday morning to avoid being overcrowded.
Some stations will also have stationary "welfare trains" so people have somewhere to shelter at all hours. Many shops, restaurants and toilets will remain open in train stations as well.
LNER, which is not running "night trains", has already announced an Azuma train will be stationed at London King's Cross station all night, with staff on-hand to assist.
Avanti is also putting on extra charter services to help ease congestion between Manchester and London. Four extra services will run on Monday.
Transport for London has set up a special control centre in Southwark
TfL says it will invite customers on its services to observe the two-minute silence at around 11:55 on Monday.
TfL says buses will pull over for it, if it is safe and practical to do so, and switch their engines off. The Underground, Overground and other rail services in London will also invite passengers to take part but services will continue to run.
As it will be a bank holiday, peak travel restrictions have been lifted.
Although trains and Tubes have been busy in the past few days, particularly in central London around mourning events, overall passenger usage remains below pre-Covid levels.
Many commuters and business people are thought to have stayed away from the city centre.
Anyone who bought Anytime, Off-Peak, or Super Off-Peak train tickets can get full refunds during the mourning period if the tickets were bought before the Queen's death was announced.
Road closures and diversions are expected to continue for several days after Monday, as event infrastructure is removed, TfL said.
National Highways is also warning people to allow extra time travelling in out of London, as motorways and major roads will be very busy.
Motorists are advised to avoid central London because of road closures.
Motorway service stations will remain open, although there might be reduced levels of services at some locations on Monday.
Heathrow Airport has also warned people to take public transport instead of driving to the airport on Monday because of road closures around Windsor.
- Published19 September 2022
- Published15 September 2022
