Paddington and New Street Shut for Five Days Each Over Christmas

The Department for Transport has announced that London Paddington and Birmingham New Street will each be closed for five days over the Christmas period as part of a 10‑day engineering programme.

The works are aimed at upgrading the stations and surrounding tracks. While the two flagship stations will be out of service, most other routes across Great Britain will remain open, meaning travellers will still be able to travel, albeit with some inconvenience.

Passengers are advised to check for service updates, consider alternative routes or travel times, and allow extra time for journeys during the disruption period.

The temporary closures are expected to improve the network’s reliability in the longer term, despite the short‑term inconvenience for commuters and holiday travellers.