Avanti Christmas Tickets Released Ahead of Birmingham Rail Closure
Avanti West Coast has released its Christmas and New Year tickets, but a five-day shutdown at Birmingham New Street will complicate journeys through the West Midlands. Network Rail will replace ageing overhead wires at the station, leaving it without train services between 24 and 28 December 2026. Other parts of the West Coast Main Line will also run to amended timetables over the holidays.
What to Check Before Christmas Rail Travel
- Closure: No trains at Birmingham New Street, 24–28 December.
- Alternative: Replacement buses run between New Street, Birmingham International and Wolverhampton.
- 25–26 December: No Avanti trains.
- 27 December: No Avanti trains to or from Manchester Piccadilly before 10:00.
- 18 December–3 January: Peak restrictions lifted on Avanti services.
- Before departure: Check Avanti's Christmas timetable and reserve a seat.
- Cancelled train: Claim a full refund if you do not travel.
Services between London Euston and Birmingham will terminate at Birmingham International, with replacement buses taking passengers into the city centre. Some northbound trains will bypass New Street and continue towards the North West and Scotland on a diverted route. The station building itself will stay open for access to shops, toilets and assistance. Trains on 23 and 29 December are expected to be especially crowded.
The temporary removal of peak restrictions means an Avanti Off-Peak ticket can be used at any time of day during the stated period, but it does not give Advance tickets that flexibility. Advance fares are tied to a booked train, generally cannot be refunded voluntarily and cost £10 to change, plus any fare difference. If a service is cancelled and you abandon the journey, a full refund is available.
Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve services finish earlier than usual: the last Avanti train from London Euston to Glasgow Central on 24 December is scheduled for 16:29. On New Year's Day, trains between Preston and Lancaster will not run until 13:45, with buses replacing them earlier. Anyone making a flight connection or returning after a late celebration should use the date-specific timetable rather than normal departure times.