Most train operators run nothing on Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December. York's 2026 Christmas engineering works are not out yet; last year Leeds to York shut for 10 days.

The rail industry’s Christmas period this year runs from Thursday 24 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027, and on Saturday 26 December most train operators will run no service at all (National Rail). What National Rail has not yet published is the list of engineering works for the lines through York, so no one can yet tell you which routes will be shut. Here is what is fixed, what happened last Christmas, and when the rest arrives.

The quick answer

  • No trains on Christmas Day, and almost none on Saturday 26 December. Boxing Day services from “a small number of operators” are still to be confirmed.
  • The 2026 engineering works for York are not published yet. Last Christmas there were no trains between Leeds and York from Christmas Day to 3 January.
  • Last year York’s buses stopped on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and Park & Ride did not run on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

Trains: what is already fixed

National Rail’s Christmas page for 2026/27 sets out the frame (National Rail):

  • Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December: trains on many routes “will finish earlier than normal”. National Rail’s list of last trains from London to the big cities “will be published here late November / early December”.
  • Christmas Day, Friday 25 December: “no National Rail services on Christmas Day as usual”.
  • Saturday 26 December: “most train operators will have no service”. A limited Boxing Day service from a few operators is still to be confirmed.
  • Monday 28 December, the substitute Boxing Day bank holiday: service details are still to come.
  • New Year’s Eve, Thursday 31 December: services on some routes “will finish earlier than normal”.
  • Engineering works across the network: “Full details of the major works will be published here when available.”

The operators calling at York are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express and CrossCountry, and each will post its own Christmas timetable. Do not assume the normal timetable, and on Christmas Eve check the last train before you set out.

What happened last Christmas

The biggest disruption to York last year was on the line to Leeds. Network Rail said that work by the Transpennine Route Upgrade around Church Fenton, on signalling, track and power supply, meant “no trains between Leeds and York between Christmas Day and 3 January (starting again on 4 January)” (Network Rail, 6 October 2025).

Network Rail announced that on 6 October last year. If the pattern holds, the 2026 list will appear in early October, and we will add it here.

What it means for you: if you are travelling to or from York between 25 December and 4 January, book as late as you dare, once the works are known, and pick a ticket you can change.

Engineering works already booked this autumn

National Rail has already listed works on lines around York between now and mid-November, including notices headed “Doncaster and York” from 12 October, “ECML Doncaster, Leeds, Darlington” from 24 October, “York” on 31 October, “Wakefield Westgate, Leeds, York” from 14 November and “TransPennine Express York area” from 16 November (National Rail engineering works). None yet covers the Christmas fortnight. Our roadworks and travel page carries the weekly detail.

Buses and Park & Ride

Last Christmas, First York said “there are no buses running on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day”, with a reduced timetable and limited specials on other days over the holiday (University of York, 26 November 2025). The 2026 timetable has not been published.

Park & Ride follows a standing rule: “There is no Park & Ride service on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, and not all sites are open on Boxing Day” (iTravel York).

During last year’s Christmas Market the council ran extra Park & Ride buses from 5.30am to 10.30pm, with up to three children travelling free with a paying adult (City of York Council, 22 October 2025).

Parking in the run-up to Christmas

Last year, from the Christmas Market’s opening on 13 November until 21 December, the council charged the higher Friday and Saturday rate every day of the week at Bootham Row, Castle, Coppergate, Esplanade, Foss Bank, Marygate, Monk Bar, Nunnery Lane, St George’s Field and Union Terrace. Bishopthorpe Road, East Parade and Rowntree Park stayed at normal prices, Minster Badge discounts still applied, and prices went back to normal on 22 December (City of York Council). The 2025 announcement came on 22 October, so expect this year’s in late October. Prices by car park are on our parking in York page, and the 2026 market dates on our Christmas Market page.

Still to confirm

What When we expect it Where it will appear
Christmas engineering works on York’s lines Early October Network Rail, National Rail
Last trains from London on Christmas Eve Late November or early December National Rail
Boxing Day and 28 December train services December National Rail, operators
First York Christmas bus timetable Late November First York
Council Christmas parking arrangements Late October City of York Council

We will update this page as each one lands. Also useful for the holidays: our Christmas bin collections page and York school term dates.

Sources