Now, let’s talk about Christmas Day. This is the one true wildcard. No trains run on Christmas Day. None. Zip. Nada.
It’s like the entire railway system hibernates. Even the signals take a nap. You could probably lie down on the tracks and not worry, though please don’t test that theory.
Boxing Day is also a gamble. Some lines run a limited service, many don’t. It’s a lottery you don’t want to play without checking first.
Bank holiday rail strike: Train times, cancellations and all you need
What About Easter and the Big Ones?
Easter Monday? Trains run, but it’s often a modified Sunday service. Expect delays and replacement buses. Oh, the dreaded “rail replacement bus service.”
That phrase alone should send a shiver down your spine. It means you’re cramming into a coach that smells faintly of wet socks and regret.
May Day, Spring Bank Holiday, August Bank Holiday… they all follow the same rule: trains exist, but only just. You’ll get there, but it might take twice as long.