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Original poster

AIBU to be surprised that the trains don't run over Christmas?

380 replies

HeritageQuay · 22/12/2024 18:13

So I've been invited by friends to their Christmas lunch in central London. Having been on my own for the last few years, I was delighted to be invited and immediately accepted.

I live about 50 miles outside London and so travel by train is clearly the most sensible option. Accordingly I have been ordering presents etc. on Amazon for delivery to my hosts.

So today I tried to look up train times, only to find that there are no trains at all on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. This came as complete surprise to me, is this a one-off or is it a regular thing?

Not quite sure how to get there now as the last thing I want to do is drive through London with all the issues re Congestion Charge / Ulez / Street parking etc., and in any case I wanted to enjoy a few drinks at Christmas!

How do other people travel at Christmas?

OP posts:
AlexisP90 · 22/12/2024 19:49

MereDintofPandiculation · 22/12/2024 19:46

Many non-Christians celebrate Christmas, as the poster you were replying to acknowledged.

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I'm not religious but I have always seen christmas as a day to spend with my family/friends and celebrate. The one time of year for one day you have no worries and just have a lovely time.

Yes lots of people still work. My dad did. On the train tracks!

Honestly I don't think it's unreasonable to say for 1 day there are no trains.

Still coach and taxis.

It's just a but more forward planning. For 1 day.

Moonfasa100 · 22/12/2024 19:49

MereDintofPandiculation · 22/12/2024 19:46

Many non-Christians celebrate Christmas, as the poster you were replying to acknowledged.

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Who's 'many'

Any non Christian person that I know, doesn't celebrate Christmas.

My Muslim colleague told me that christmas day is just like any other day to her.

MostHighlyFlavoredGravy · 22/12/2024 19:49

soupfiend · 22/12/2024 19:47

Trains run on boxing day

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Some, but not many.

devilspawn · 22/12/2024 19:48

Bless your innocence/privilege.

soupfiend · 22/12/2024 19:47

madaboutpurple · 22/12/2024 19:42

Your message made me laugh as there have never run at Christmas or Boxing Day. How you didn't know that amazes me.I have laughed out loud at this to be honest.

Trains run on boxing day

oakleaffy · 22/12/2024 19:46

dynamiccactus · 22/12/2024 19:36

I disagree, I think it would be better to do it the first week of Jan and tell everyone to take the week off or WFH. Wouldn't help those with hospital appointments that week of course.

People need to get to places before and after (and during) Christmas, but where I live there are no trains from today until 5th Jan. That is a long time. And they'll do all the "essential work" and then the trains will still get stuck due to infrastructure problems.

As for it not being fair on staff - not everyone has family to spend Christmas with and they might be quite happy to work, especially if double time were on offer.

Absolutely true.

Vets, Farmers, hospitals, care homes, anywhere where there are dependent people or animals, these still need attending to.

MereDintofPandiculation · 22/12/2024 19:46

Moonfasa100 · 22/12/2024 19:45

But how can you say that the MAJORITY of British people celebrate Christmas.

At the last census, less than half of he people in the UK , identified as Christian

Edited
Show quote history

Many non-Christians celebrate Christmas, as the poster you were replying to acknowledged.

NPET · 22/12/2024 19:45

There have never been any trains on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. There are tubes, buses and coaches on Boxing Day, but the only public transport on Christmas Day (apart from planes) is coaches to and from airports (e.g. the 703 from Slough to/from Heathrow).

MereDintofPandiculation · 22/12/2024 19:45

HeritageQuay · 22/12/2024 18:25

Simply because people clearly want to travel at that time, and successive governments have been trying to persuade you to give up your car and use public transport.

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No they haven’t. Every policy actually enacted drives people in the opposite direction.

Moonfasa100 · 22/12/2024 19:45

LetThereBeLove · 22/12/2024 19:44

As I said up thread the majority of British people (ATM) do celebrate Christmas (even if not religious). It's traditionally time spent with family, who, in many cases, live long distances away. I wouldn't expect Muslim or Sikh families to celebrate a Christian celebration. Jewish people will be celebrating Chanukah which begins on the evening of Xmas Day. HTH.

Show quote history

But how can you say that the MAJORITY of British people celebrate Christmas.

At the last census, less than half of he people in the UK , identified as Christian

fiftiesmum · 22/12/2024 19:45

Destiny123 · 22/12/2024 19:27

It's normally only £10 off your bill, and the codes all disappear in seconds. The last few areas I've worked uber doesn't run! So never yet benefitted despite working 8/10 xmases since I graduated

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We have to apply really early for Christmas transport (NHS trust), fortunately tube is running on boxing day.

MyDeftDuck · 22/12/2024 19:44

I've never know trains and buses to run over Christmas........just imagine the hike I'm fairs at triple time for operators.

LetThereBeLove · 22/12/2024 19:44

Moonfasa100 · 22/12/2024 19:30

The Muslim people that I work with are not celebrating Christmas.

The jehovahs witness that I work with is not celebrating Christmas.

Show quote history

As I said up thread the majority of British people (ATM) do celebrate Christmas (even if not religious). It's traditionally time spent with family, who, in many cases, live long distances away. I wouldn't expect Muslim or Sikh families to celebrate a Christian celebration. Jewish people will be celebrating Chanukah which begins on the evening of Xmas Day. HTH.

madaboutpurple · 22/12/2024 19:42

Your message made me laugh as there have never run at Christmas or Boxing Day. How you didn't know that amazes me.I have laughed out loud at this to be honest.

Moonfasa100 · 22/12/2024 19:42

Porcuporpoise · 22/12/2024 19:40

The vast majority of people in the UK do not work Christmas Day.

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A lot of bars and restaurants are open on Christmas day. They have people working there

Hospitals are open on Christmas day.

Most of the utility customer service lines will be open on Christmas day.

I used to work for a customer service phone line. We worked on Christmas day.

Moonfasa100 · 22/12/2024 19:40

Lots of people have to work on Xmas day.

I worked on Xmas day last year.

Im getting something to eat in a bar. I just asked my local barman if he's doing anything nice on Christmas day.

He told me that he will be working on Christmas day

Porcuporpoise · 22/12/2024 19:40

oakleaffy · 22/12/2024 19:29

Tons of people will be working on Christmas Day, I have done in the past. HTH.

Show quote history

The vast majority of people in the UK do not work Christmas Day.

Nottodaty · 22/12/2024 19:38

People I know that don’t celebrate Christmas aren’t - BUT they are using the break to catch up with families etc
In our work place we are open over Christmas, we had requests for leave from lots of people who won’t be celebrating Christmas but still wanted to use the time with family.

MostHighlyFlavoredGravy · 22/12/2024 19:36

soupfiend · 22/12/2024 18:53

Theyve never run on xmas day but do run on boxing day although extremely limited, might as well not bother

Buses used to run on xmas day when I was little, 70s, but not any more

I think its dreadful, is no different to any other BH and many people are working.

I think its dreadful, is no different to any other BH and many people are working.

The people working include rail maintenance workers who are working on jobs that need to be done on xmas day because they need longer than a day to complete

dynamiccactus · 22/12/2024 19:36

I disagree, I think it would be better to do it the first week of Jan and tell everyone to take the week off or WFH. Wouldn't help those with hospital appointments that week of course.

People need to get to places before and after (and during) Christmas, but where I live there are no trains from today until 5th Jan. That is a long time. And they'll do all the "essential work" and then the trains will still get stuck due to infrastructure problems.

As for it not being fair on staff - not everyone has family to spend Christmas with and they might be quite happy to work, especially if double time were on offer.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 22/12/2024 19:34

being from a country where the trains are definitely running (just the same as every other Sunday)? Yes, I was incredibly surprised when I learnt that the trains don’t run over Christmas in the UK.

but the roads were pretty much empty last Christmas (but we weren’t in London)…

Rowansiskin · 22/12/2024 19:30

It’s always the case. It’s when they do the commissioning of new infrastructure/essential maintenance that means the lines have to shut.

Moonfasa100 · 22/12/2024 19:30

fiftiesmum · 22/12/2024 19:23

The Muslim/Hindu/Sikh people I work with are still celebrating but in a different way and enjoying time off and a nice meal with family - much the same as traditional British families but without loads of presents.

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The Muslim people that I work with are not celebrating Christmas.

The jehovahs witness that I work with is not celebrating Christmas.

LetThereBeLove · 22/12/2024 19:30

Fink · 22/12/2024 19:22

They really won't. I drive for work on Christmas Day. The roads are quieter than usual but nothing like deserted.

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Two years ago we drove from London to Canterbury on Xmas Day. The roads then WERE deserted. Driving back on Boxing Day was also much quieter than usual.