Stansted Express Tests Night Trains
London Stansted Airport is testing overnight Stansted Express trains this summer, giving late arrivals and early Saturday flyers a rail option when services usually thin out. The trial adds extra Friday-night services between the airport, Tottenham Hale and London Liverpool Street, with Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia using the run to measure demand for overnight airport rail travel.
Friday Night Train Trial Details
- Operator: Stansted Express, run by Greater Anglia
- Route: London Stansted Airport, Tottenham Hale and selected London Liverpool Street services
- Dates: Friday nights into Saturday mornings, until 25 September 2026
- Frequency: about every 30 minutes between around 23:50 and 05:00
- Tickets: standard Stansted Express fares, Railcards and valid discounts apply
- Check: journey planners before travelling
Most overnight trains run between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale, where passengers can join the Victoria line Night Tube for travel across London. Some early-morning services also start from, or continue to, London Liverpool Street. The airport–Tottenham Hale journey takes around 36 minutes, so the trial is aimed at people landing late or heading out before normal morning services.
The change should make weekend trips less dependent on taxis, coaches or airport hotels. Late arrivals can still reach the Tube network via Tottenham Hale, while early departures get a train option after Friday nights in London. It also helps airport staff and visitors staying around King’s Cross, Victoria, Oxford Circus or other Victoria line stops with Night Tube access.
Travellers should remember that this is a limited trial, not a full overnight train service. The extra trains run only on Friday nights into Saturday mornings, so anyone flying on another night will still need to plan another way to or from the airport. For weekend flights, though, the trial removes a common headache: paying for a taxi or waiting hours for the first morning train.