Major UK train station to close for 5 days in December — including Christmas Eve

Major UK train station to close for 5 days in December — including Christmas Eve | Lifestyle Reporter Published September 23, 2026 1:30pm Updated September 23, 2026 1:30pm Birmingham New Street will have no trains for five days (Picture: William Barton/Getty Images) If you’re planning to travel across the UK by train during the festive season, you’ll need to take note. Birmingham New Street will be shut for five days for renovations in December — which could have an impact on journeys over Christmas. The transport hub will shut its doors from Thursday December 24 (Christmas Eve) to Monday 28 December. It will allow a £13 million overhaul to get underway, with services resuming on Tuesday 29 December. The station is Birmingham’s busiest and largest, handling an average of 140,000 passengers a day, and key interchange connecting cross-country, regional, and national routes, as well as those to Birmingham Airport. As such, the shutdown will likely impact travel well beyond the Midlands, and passengers passing through will need to make alternative arrangements. Birmingham New Street Station will remain open, but no trains will be running (Picture: Shutterstock / 4kclips) Martin Colmey, route director for Network Rail Central route, said: ‘Birmingham New Street is at the heart of the rail network, supporting millions of local, regional and national journeys every year. ‘There is never a good time for this type of work, and we have done all we can to reduce its impact as much as possible,’ Martin added. ‘Christmas is a quieter time, but we know it will affect journeys at an important time of the year. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘We want to make people aware as early as possible so they can plan ahead. ‘As soon as tickets are available to buy for Christmas travel, there will be clear, detailed information to help passengers plan their journeys and make informed decisions.’ While Network Rail is aiming to keep disruption to a minimum, passengers are warned to expect longer journey times. Although train services are suspended, Birmingham New Street station itself will stay open to accommodate shoppers and visitors accessing the city centre. Engineering works will be carried out (Picture: Shutterstock / Sergii Figurnyi) Station facilities, including toilets and the assisted travel lounge, will also remain accessible, and staff will be on-site throughout the closure to offer assistance. The upgrades will initially focus on essential overhead power lines, kicking off a major three-year project set to continue over the next two festive seasons in 2027 and 2028. ‘Much of the overhead line equipment dates back to the 1960s and needs to be replaced. This £13m investment has been carefully planned to make the railway more reliable,’ adds Martin. Christmas was chosen because passenger numbers drop significantly, by 50% to 60% during the seven days between Christmas and New Year compared to a typical week in November or early December. Fortunately, as tickets are not available yet for Christmas, this means existing bookings won’t be affected, so passengers don’t need to worry about getting refunds. National Rail Enquiries will list detailed alternative route information, such as rail-replacement buses and travel updates, once final plans are set. Our Top Shopping Picks Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale Topman’s new-season collection has arrived and prices start at just £10 An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind From £700 MacBooks to discounted iPhones, the best Apple tech for studentsb Confirmed Christmas travel timetables will be published online from early October, so passengers can plan their festive plans accordingly. More travel news from Metro Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: How to spend a perfect weekend in Belfast? Stay at Northern Ireland’s ‘best hotel’ Arrow MORE: M&S is bringing back a retro biscuit selection box from the 50s Arrow MORE: Why I’ve been going back to the same UK seaside town for 17 years The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.