The busiest and quietest days to travel by train this Christmas revealed – plus how to save on festive fares
New data from Trainline reveals when passengers are most and least likely to travel over Christmas - so you can plan your journeys better.
As millions prepare to visit loved ones this Christmas, new data from Trainline reveals the busiest and quietest times to travel by train over the festive period, along with practical tips to help passengers save money and dodge the crowds.
If you’re looking to avoid the masses, then travelling on the Saturday before Christmas is probably not the best idea. It has consistently been the busiest day to travel by train for the past two years. Demand is typically at its height in the late morning, with the single busiest hour last Christmas falling between 10am and 11am on Saturday, December 21.
At the other end of the scale, New Year’s Day was the quietest day to travel by train last year. For a more peaceful journey, it could be the perfect moment to visit family, or return home after New Year celebrations.
The data shows that early mornings and late evenings remain the quietest times to travel over the festive period, with passenger numbers dropping sharply later in the day. On January 1 2025, the number of people travelling fell by more than half between 4-5pm and 5-6pm. Train services usually begin sometime between 5am and 6am.
The busiest routes over the Christmas period last year were:
- Birmingham New Street ↔ London Euston
- London Euston ↔ Manchester Piccadilly
- London Euston ↔ Milton Keynes Central
- Gatwick Airport ↔ London Victoria
- Edinburgh Waverley ↔ London King’s Cross
The route Edinburgh Waverley to London King’s Cross also saw the highest number of early bookers, with 54.1% of commuters booking more than two weeks in advance. It could be the first route to sell out of Advance tickets this year, so if you’re planning this trip, don’t leave it until the last minute to book!
Trainline’s top tips for stress-free Christmas train travel:
- Track train disruptions – If your train journey is disrupted, keep on track with the latest Trainline features, from Travel Forecast helping to spot delays as they happen through to Train Swap, helping you to switch journeys.
- Book in advance – Limited numbers of Advance tickets are still available over the Christmas break, so there’s still a chance to save if you book now.
- Use a digital Railcard – Railcards can save customers up to one-third off.
- Split tickets – Splitting a journey into multiple tickets can be cheaper than buying a single through ticket. SplitSave helps to automatically find cheaper combinations.
- Travel with others – Groups of three to nine people travelling together may be able to save up to 34% with GroupSave on eligible Off-Peak services.
- Look out for deals – Seasonal and year-round offers, including Family Travelcards and Kids for a Quid, can help to cut costs.
Sarah Helppi, UK Country Director at Trainline, said: “Christmas is one of the busiest times of year on the rail network, but our data shows there are clear ways for people to travel more smoothly and save money.
“Booking early and travelling at quieter times of day can make a real difference, helping customers enjoy a stress-free journey this festive season. Even if plans do have to change, our latest Way to Train features are on hand to help our customers feel in control of their journeys.”