LNER is urging passengers to plan ahead this Christmas as the rail operator prepares for one of its busiest periods of the year, with nearly half a million journeys expected over the festive break.
Between 22 December 2025 and 4 January 2026, around 474,300 bookings have already been made on LNER services, with Saturday 27 December forecast to be the busiest day so far, carrying more than 66,000 passengers.
With stations and trains set to be busier than usual, customers are advised to arrive in good time, particularly as train doors can close up to two minutes before departure. Passengers booking directly with LNER can also opt in to live platform and seat notifications via the LNER Assistant, designed to ease last-minute travel stress.
To help journeys run smoothly, LNER is encouraging travellers to reserve seats where possible, pack only what they can comfortably carry, and make use of Passenger Assistance if extra support is needed. Customers can also sign up to the LNER Perks loyalty scheme, receiving £5 credit on joining and earning 2% back on future bookings made directly with the operator.
Colette Casey, Customer Experience Director at LNER, said:
“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes at LNER to make sure we keep our customers on the move over the festive period, and spread some Christmas cheer along the way too.
“We also hope that our Christmas onboard offerings, including our new festive menu and the Christmas edition of our Routes podcast, make that journey home extra special – there’s plenty to keep younger travellers entertained as well.”
Families travelling with children can take advantage of LNER Family Lounges in Edinburgh, York and London King’s Cross, while onboard entertainment includes a festive edition of the LNER Kids Club podcast and seasonal activity books.
Passengers travelling First Class will be offered a Festive Menu featuring seasonal dishes sourced from suppliers along the East Coast route. Those in Standard Class can order refreshments directly to their seat through the ‘Let’s Eat At Your Seat’ service.
While there is no planned engineering work affecting the East Coast route over Christmas, disruption on the West Coast Main Line and the Leeds to York route may affect other operators. Travellers are advised to check National Rail Enquiries for the latest journey updates before setting off.
