Elizabeth Line engineering works 2026: Easter & May bank holidays

Sunday 5 April

• Before 07:40
  • There will be no trains running between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway. 

• After 07:40
  • Abbey Wood–Maidenhead services will start and terminate at London Paddington low level instead of Maidenhead.

  • Abbey Wood–Heathrow T4 services will be reduced to 2 trains an hour.

  • Shenfield–Heathrow T5 services will operate as usual

  • Abbey Wood–Reading services will operate as usual with an additional stop at Iver
  • Acton Main Line, Hanwell and West Ealing stations will have no service from the Elizabeth Line.

Monday 6 April

• After 22:00:

  • Abbey Wood–Maidenhead services will start and terminate at London Paddington low level instead of Maidenhead.

  • Abbey Wood–Heathrow T4 services will be reduced to 2 trains an hour.
  • Acton Main Line, Hanwell and West Ealing stations will have no service from the Elizabeth Line.

Passengers with tickets for cancelled services (between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway, as well as Acton Main Line, Hanwell and West Ealing Elizabeth Line services) may board the London Underground and London Buses for the same journey at no extra cost. Charges will apply to contactless/Oyster card users.

Sunday 3 May

• Before 07:30
  • There will be no trains between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway in either direction. Elizabeth Line trains will continue to run between Heathrow Airport/Reading and Ealing Broadway.
• Before 10:30
  • There will be no trains between Shenfield and Stratford (London) in either direction. Rail replacement services will be in operation between:

  • Shenfield and Newbury Park Tube station via Romford/Chadwell Heath

  • Romford and Stratford (London)

Monday 4 May

• After 22:00
  • Abbey Wood–Maidenhead services will start and terminate at London Paddington low level instead of Maidenhead.
  • Abbey Wood–Heathrow T4 services will be reduced to 2 trains an hour.
  • Services calling at Hayes & Harlington, Southall and Ealing Broadway will be reduced to 6 trains an hour.
  • Services calling at Heathrow Terminal 2 & 3 will be reduced to 4 trains an hour.
  • Services calling at Heathrow Terminal 4, Maidenhead, Burnham, Slough, Langley and West Drayton will be reduced to 2 trains an hour.
  • After 23:00, there will be no trains calling at Acton Main Line, West Ealing or Hanwell.

As you can see, these engineering works are also set to reduce the frequency to Heathrow Airport, so passengers taking the train to the airport on affected dates should prepare accordingly to ensure enough time before flights. As always, be sure to consult a journey planner before setting out on your route, as scheduled timetable changes can always experience last-minute adjustments as projects progress. 

• A rail replacement service – usually buses or coaches for longer journeys – is often provided to fill the gap in service caused by closed stations or tracks. The pick-up and drop-off location of a rail replacement bus will be signposted at the affected stations. At staffed stations, railway staff will be available to assist you (unless the pick-up point is not at the station). Non-folding bikes will not be permitted onboard, and there will be limited space for folding bikes.
• Train routes to areas undergoing engineering works are often adjusted to provide a split or truncated service to avoid the closed area while still providing service to most of the route. Truncated services end the route at an earlier stop before reaching the engineering site, from which point you may need to take a rail replacement bus to continue your journey – thus providing you with a split journey.
• Sometimes trains will divert to take an alternative route to avoid the affected area. This usually results in increased travel times.
• Altered first and last train times are another way of accommodating engineering work, whereby a service starts later or finishes earlier to allow engineering work to be carried out in the morning or at night. This allows the majority of services to run as normal, but if you usually travel at the start or end of service, your journey will be affected.
• Engineering work is usually scheduled for Sundays and bank holidays, as passenger numbers on these days are typically lower than on weekdays. This allows major upgrades to be conducted without impacting commuter traffic.

Tips for handling Elizabeth Line timetable changes

We also have some tips you can follow when dealing with impacted journeys to ensure your trip runs as smoothly as possible, given the altered circumstances:

• Allow yourself extra time when travelling across London during scheduled Elizabeth Line structural engineering days to make sure you arrive at your destination in time and make any connections, if applicable. This is especially true for passengers taking the Elizabeth Line to Heathrow Airport for a flight – this line will experience a reduction in service, so consult a journey planner to find a service that allows you sufficient time for your flight.

• Some cancelled or altered Elizabeth Line services can be substituted by the London Underground, such as the Central Line for services between Shenfield and Stratford (London). If you already have a ticket for the Elizabeth Line journey, this will also be honoured on the Underground. 

• If possible, try travelling earlier in the day to avoid scheduled evening work. 

• If you’re aware of upcoming engineering works on the Elizabeth Line, but specific timetable changes have not yet been announced, we advise waiting until details are confirmed before buying your tickets.

• If you have an early flight or late arrival at Heathrow Airport, it may be worth considering booking an overnight stay at an airport hotel if suitable train times are no longer an option. You can find plenty of deals on hotel stays at Trip.com Hotels – have a look at our top ten Heathrow Airport hotels here.

Planned Elizabeth Line engineering works around the London Paddington area will heavily affect journeys to and from London Paddington during the bank holiday weekends mentioned above. Infrastructure works near Paddington can often affect services across the entire western section of the Elizabeth Line, as this area serves as a critical bottleneck – it is the meeting point of both modern and legacy railway systems. Additionally, these works take place just west of Paddington, so the site essentially severs connection to Central London and the western branch of the network.

Are Elizabeth line tickets valid on rail replacement buses?

How far in advance are Elizabeth Line engineering works announced?

Major infrastructure plans are generally announced multiple weeks to months in advance, with detailed information typically available 12 weeks out. However, minor repairs or unforeseen disruptions may only be announced days or a few weeks in advance. 

Are Paddington station closures common during bank holidays?

Can I get a refund if I choose not to travel?

Yes, you are entitled to a full fee-free refund if your train is delayed or cancelled. This applies even if you had bought a non-refundable ticket. If you choose not to travel for reasons not related to a delay or cancellation, your entitlement to a refund will depend on your ticket type.

Do engineering works usually affect Sunday services?

Yes, engineering works are usually scheduled to take place on Sundays, as well as bank holidays and overnight. These times are when the network is less busy, so you experience the least disruption in your travel needs.