The UK was shocked with the death of Her Majesty The Queen on Thursday 8th September and as the nation mourns her, thousands of people across the country will travel to pay their respects over the coming days. From Wednesday 14th September, the nations capital will be experiencing unprecedented travel demands as her Majesty’s coffin is transported to the Palace of Westminster.
To combat the expected strain on London’s transport network, providers have planned extra staff and services to aid people in their daily travels. Network Rail, the Rail Delivery Group and Transport for London (TfL) are working closely together – along with the Government and all other partners involved – to ensure that Londoners and visitors to the capital are able to get around safely and as easily as possible.
Whilst London will see the majority of transport congestion, many other locations across the nation will be hosting ceremonial events to coincide with the state funeral, so passengers are advised to check their travel across the UK to avoid travel disruptions.
Andy Byford, London’s Transport Commissioner, said:
“At such an important and difficult time for the country, we are doing everything we can to ensure Londoners and visitors can pay their respects to Her Majesty The Queen and welcome His Majesty The King. We are working with our partners to keep our city moving smoothly and to ensure that everyone who needs to get around or is planning to attend the memorial events can do so safely. I would urge all customers to check before they travel, using the TfL website or TfL Go app, as while we’re planning to run a normal service, there may be short notice changes and diversions as a result of the large number of people travelling and necessary road closures.”
There are likely to be changes to normal routes in and around stations to manage queuing and demand and those travelling are advised:
- That roads and public transport in and around central London will be very busy. London Underground and rail services will be the best ways to get around central London.
- The Elizabeth line will run a special service with 12 trains per hour on the central section (Paddington-Abbey Wood) on Sunday 18 September to provide further transport options for customers. The East and West sections will operate as normal. Further information is available via TfL Journey Planner.
- London Underground will run as normal; however, some stations will be busier than usual, and some short-term safety measures such as queuing, closures, non-stopping trains or changes to the way customers enter or exit a station may be necessary.
- To avoid Green Park Tube station, if possible, due to high numbers of customers passing through and to keep capacity for customers who need step-free access. Other Tube stations, such as Victoria, Piccadilly Circus and St James’ Park, are within a short walking distance of Buckingham Palace.
- Due to road closures, some bus services will be diverted or will stop short of their destination, and some may be running a reduced service.
- To allow plenty of extra time for journeys and to avoid driving where possible.
- To follow the instructions of staff, event stewards and the police.
As the nation mourns the death of Her Majesty The Queen, the UK rail network will be placed under great strain, garnering massive levels of passenger traffic. These added services and increased staffing levels will aid in reducing congestion and disruptions where possible, however passengers should expect difficulties in the coming days.
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