Restaurants and toilets will remain open, with special ‘welfare trains’ on platforms to accommodate vulnerable passengers who may be waiting too long to travel. The limited extra night trains promised by carriers for the wake and funeral would mainly serve destinations within the M25, Network Rail confirmed. Most people traveling to the capital should consider walking from mainline stations, Transport for London (TfL) has advised, as it warned of “unprecedented demand” during one of the biggest events the capital has seen. TfL said customers should plan ahead and check on the day if crowds have forced station closures, with areas around Westminster, Waterloo and Trafalgar Square and along the South Bank likely to they are extremely busy. Network Rail and TfL urged people attending the funeral to return home late and stay for food in the city if possible to avoid the huge rush expected on many services. The Tube and Elizabeth line will run an extra hour on Monday night to help people disperse from the capital and all transport services will run at weekday levels instead of the usual reduced bank holiday services. Tube stations closest to the procession and ceremony sites, including Westminster, St James’s Park and Hyde Park Corner, will be closed on Monday morning and Green Park will be exit only. Road closures during the state and in preparation for Monday will affect bus services throughout the weekend and diversions and disruptions are expected to last several days as barriers and other infrastructure installed to funeral. Services will mark the two-minute silence on Monday with announcements in advance, but will continue to operate. Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy said: “We are doing everything we can to help people travel to commemorations, pay tribute and celebrate the extraordinary life of Her Majesty The Queen. “The rail will be extremely busy on Monday, particularly on services to London. This is the biggest public transport since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and we are working closely with all train operators to run extra trains throughout the day and night. Subscribe to Business Today Get ready for the business day – we’ll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “To help us provide the best possible experience and avoid long queues at stations, we ask people not to rush home after the funeral and processions, but to take their time and experience London on this unforgettable day”. TfL commissioner Andy Byford said his teams were “working around the clock” to ensure Londoners and visitors could safely use the transport network to pay their respects. He said: “It will be extremely busy in London on Monday and there may soon be changes and queues to get into stations as a result of the large number of people travelling. “We will run a safe, reliable and frequent service to ensure everyone can travel home safely after paying their respects.” Walking can be the quickest option for short journeys in central London, even this weekend, advises TfL. Some Elizabeth Line services will run overnight on the outer sections, allowing people queuing all night to return westbound from Paddington or eastbound from Liverpool Street. TfL said marshals and dedicated travel ambassadors would assist customers arriving at or leaving London’s major national rail stations and help them find their way on foot, where possible, as the best option. Victoria Bus Station, the main intercity bus terminus, will be closed on Monday, with services operating from further outside London.
