Greater Anglia’s trial of overnight Stansted Express services has made a promising start, with more than 1,000 additional passenger journeys recorded during the first four weeks of operation.
Launched on Friday 3 July, the initiative is providing passengers with a new rail travel option for late-night arrivals and early-morning departures at London Stansted Airport. The trial will continue every Friday night until 26 September 2026.
The additional overnight trains operate at roughly 30-minute intervals between 23:50 and 05:00. Services run between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale, where passengers can connect with the Victoria line Night Tube, while selected trains also operate to and from London Liverpool Street.
The early results suggest strong demand for improved overnight rail connectivity between one of the UK’s busiest airports and the capital, offering greater flexibility for both air passengers and airport employees working unsociable hours.
Jamie O’Donnell, Assistant Group Station Manager at Greater Anglia, said:
"It's been fantastic to see passengers embrace this new option so quickly, and it's clear there's an appetite for a late-night and early-morning link between the airport and the capital.
"This trial represents a significant step forward as we look at ways of connecting Stansted to London by train twenty-four hours a day, wherever practical, in a similar way to other major international airports"
"Our passengers can now arrive by train for the first outbound flights, and those landing past midnight can connect straight into London – neither of which were previously possible. Additionally, it supports airport workers, with many operating on late night or early morning shifts."
Passenger usage data gathered throughout the trial will help Greater Anglia and industry partners better understand travel patterns during overnight and early morning periods. The information will play a key role in determining the long-term viability of any future overnight services.
The trial has been delivered through close collaboration between Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia, with engineering and maintenance schedules carefully coordinated to create additional travel opportunities while maintaining essential infrastructure work.
The initiative is the latest customer-focused enhancement at Stansted Airport, following the introduction of contactless pay-as-you-go travel earlier this year. It also aligns with broader efforts across GBR Anglia to improve passenger experience and deliver practical benefits during the transition towards Great British Railways.
As the rail industry continues to explore ways of improving connectivity, the success of the overnight Stansted Express trial highlights the growing demand for flexible, around-the-clock transport links between airports and major urban centres.
Image credit: Greater Anglia
