There will be no trains to, from or through Birmingham New Street from Thursday 24 December to Monday 28 December 2026. Network Rail is closing the railway at the station for five days to renew overhead power lines. Some of the wiring dates back to the 1960s. Across Britain, no trains run on Christmas Day, and in the Midlands, no trains run on Boxing Day either.
The Birmingham New Street Christmas closure affects journeys across the country, as many routes pass through the station. This guide explains what’s closed, what stays open and which alternatives you can use. You’ll also find advice on airport journeys, family visits, Boxing Day football and the days either side of the closure.
Birmingham New Street Christmas closure 2026 at a glance
| Date | What’s happening at New Street |
|---|---|
| Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve) | No trains to, from or through the station |
| Friday 25 December (Christmas Day) | No trains anywhere in Britain |
| Saturday 26 December (Boxing Day) | No trains in the Midlands |
| Sunday 27 December | No trains to, from or through the station |
| Monday 28 December (bank holiday) | No trains to, from or through the station |
| Tuesday 29 December onwards | Services expected to return, subject to final timetables |
Network Rail publishes travel advice, replacement bus details and timetables on the National Rail New Street closure page. Check it before you travel, as Network Rail confirms details closer to the date.
Why Birmingham New Street is closing over Christmas
The overhead power line upgrade
Network Rail is starting a £13 million upgrade of the overhead power lines on the approaches to and through New Street. Over the five days, engineers will renew complex sections of wiring, much of it installed in the 1960s. The aim is to make the railway around Birmingham more reliable. You can read the full announcement on the Network Rail media centre.
Why it happens at Christmas
Christmas is one of the quietest times of the year on the railway, and no trains run on Christmas Day anyway. Closing the station then affects fewer passengers than closing it at any other time. Even so, Network Rail has acknowledged that it will disrupt journeys at an important time of year.
A three-year programme
The Christmas 2026 closure is the first phase of the work. Network Rail plans further work over the Christmas periods in 2027 and 2028. As a result, expect a similar Birmingham New Street Christmas closure in each of the next two years.
What stays open during the Birmingham New Street Christmas closure
The station building
Although no trains will run, the station building will stay open throughout the works. You’ll still be able to walk through the station to reach the city centre, the shops and the restaurants in Grand Central. Our guide to restaurants in New Street station covers the options.
Staff and assisted travel
Station staff will be on hand throughout the works, and the assisted travel lounge will remain accessible. If you need help with an onward journey, speak to staff at the station.
Which train services are affected?
Trains through Birmingham
Many routes pass through New Street, so the closure affects journeys well beyond Birmingham. CrossCountry, for example, has confirmed that none of its trains will call at New Street during the closure. Journeys between the South West, the North and Scotland that normally go through Birmingham will take longer or need replacement buses.
Local and regional trains
The closure also affects services that start or finish at New Street. Some trains may start or terminate at other stations instead. Check the timetable for your route on the National Rail website.
Other Birmingham stations
Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill are separate stations from New Street. However, the Christmas Day and Boxing Day service gaps still apply, so check the timetable for these stations on the other closure dates.
Alternatives to the train over Christmas
Rail replacement buses
Network Rail is working with train operators on rail replacement buses and advice on using local bus services. Journeys will take longer than usual, and replacement buses have less room for large suitcases and pushchairs. Details will appear on the National Rail closure page once plans are finalised.
Local buses and trams
Within the city, buses and West Midlands Metro trams may offer an alternative on some days. However, most public transport doesn’t run on Christmas Day, and Boxing Day services are often limited. Check timetables in advance rather than assuming normal services.
Long-distance coaches
For longer journeys, coaches from Birmingham Coach Station in Digbeth may offer another option on some dates. Coach timetables also change over Christmas, so check the operator’s website before you rely on one. Like replacement buses, coaches have limited space for bulky luggage.
Driving or a pre-booked car
For many families travelling over Christmas, the simplest option is to travel by road. A pre-booked car takes you door to door, with no connections to manage and no queue for a replacement bus. If you’re comparing options for London trips, our guide to chauffeur vs train from Birmingham to London sets out the trade-offs.
Getting to the airport during the closure
Birmingham Airport
Many people fly over Christmas, and the Air-Rail Link from Birmingham International station is a common way to reach the terminal. During the closure, trains from New Street to Birmingham International won’t run. If you’re flying from Birmingham between 24 and 28 December, plan another way to reach the airport.
Flight schedules over Christmas can also differ from normal, so check your departure time with your airline before you plan the journey. Our Birmingham Airport transfers include flight monitoring, and with meet and greet at Birmingham Airport, your chauffeur waits in arrivals when you return.
Travelling from London to Birmingham Airport
If you’re coming from London to fly from Birmingham, some services from Euston may still reach Birmingham International during the closure, as the station is south of New Street. Check the confirmed timetable for your date before you rely on it.
Early-morning flights
Christmas holiday flights often leave early in the morning, when replacement buses may not yet be running. Our guide to early-morning airport transfers explains how to plan your departure time. For timings at the airport itself, see how early to arrive at Birmingham Airport.
Heathrow and Manchester
If you’re flying from Heathrow or Manchester, the closure affects rail routes from Birmingham to both. Our Birmingham to Heathrow chauffeur transfers and Manchester Airport chauffeur service take you door to door instead.
If you’d like a fixed price for a journey during the closure, you can get a quote online.
Boxing Day football and the closure
Aston Villa on Boxing Day
Villa are scheduled to host Leeds United at Villa Park on Boxing Day, with a lunchtime kick-off. With no trains in the Midlands that day, fans who normally travel by rail will need another plan. Our guide to getting to Villa Park on match day covers drop-off points and parking.
Away fans and visitors
Supporters travelling into Birmingham will face the same problem. Coaches and cars will be the main options, and roads around the ground will be busy. Allow extra time, and agree a pickup point in advance.
Planning Christmas visits to family
Travelling into Birmingham
If you’re visiting family in Birmingham over Christmas, you won’t be able to arrive by train at New Street between 24 and 28 December. Some travellers may be able to use other nearby stations before the closure begins, then finish the journey by road. Check the timetable before you book.
Travelling with luggage and presents
Christmas travel usually means suitcases, presents and sometimes children’s car seats, and replacement buses aren’t ideal for bulky luggage. For families and groups of up to seven, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class has space for passengers and luggage.
Travelling home after Christmas
Many people travel home on 27 or 28 December, when New Street will still be closed. If you have a fixed return date, check whether services from your nearest alternative station are running, or book your return journey by road.
Business travel over the festive period
Working between Christmas and New Year
Some businesses run reduced operations between Christmas and New Year, with staff still travelling to meetings, sites and airports. The closure takes New Street out of the picture for five days. Our guide to keeping business travellers moving during rail disruption covers practical alternatives.
Corporate accounts
Businesses with regular travel needs can use a corporate chauffeur account, which includes a dedicated account manager, fixed rates and consolidated monthly VAT invoicing. It’s sensible to book early, as demand for cars rises when trains aren’t running.
Christmas in Birmingham during the closure
Birmingham city centre stays open over the festive period, apart from Christmas Day itself. The Frankfurt Christmas Market runs until 24 December, so the closure begins on its final day. For other festive plans, see our guide to Christmas in Birmingham. If you’re planning a night out to see in 2027, our New Year’s celebration chauffeur service explains your options.
Tickets, refunds and changes
If your train no longer runs
Bought a ticket for a train that won’t run because of the closure? Contact the retailer you booked with. When a train is cancelled, you’re usually entitled to a refund without an admin fee, or to travel on an alternative service. Keep your booking reference handy when you get in touch.
Booking Christmas tickets now
Network Rail said it would publish Christmas timetables online from early October. Before you buy tickets for late December, check whether your journey passes through New Street, and look at the replacement options for your route.
Information still to come
Network Rail hasn’t yet published some details, including where rail replacement buses will stop around New Street and how often they’ll run. It has said this information will appear on the National Rail closure page once plans are finalised, so check there in the weeks before Christmas.
The days after the closure
From 29 December
Services through New Street are expected to resume from Tuesday 29 December, subject to the final timetables. Trains may be busier than usual as people return home after Christmas, so book seats where you can and allow extra time at the station.
New Year’s Eve travel
Late trains on New Year’s Eve vary by route and operator. If you’re planning a late night out on 31 December, check the last train home before you go, or book a car for the journey back.
Tips for travelling during the closure
- Check the National Rail closure page before you book any Christmas train tickets.
- Look for alternative stations if your journey would normally use New Street.
- Allow extra time for rail replacement buses, and expect limited space for luggage.
- Don’t rely on public transport on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
- Book cars early, as demand rises when trains aren’t running.
- If you’re flying, plan your route to the airport well before Christmas Eve.
Book your journey during the closure
During the Birmingham New Street Christmas closure, National Executive Transfers provides fixed-price chauffeur transfers across Birmingham and the Midlands, including airport transfers to Birmingham, Heathrow and Manchester. We use Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class and V-Class vehicles, with flight monitoring included on airport journeys. Tell us your date, pickup address and destination, and we’ll plan the journey around the closure. Get a quote and book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
No trains will run to, from or through Birmingham New Street from Thursday 24 December to Monday 28 December 2026. The station building stays open.
No. No trains run anywhere in Britain on Christmas Day, which falls on Friday 25 December in 2026.
No trains will run in the Midlands on Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December 2026. A few operators elsewhere in the country sometimes run a limited service, so check National Rail for your route.
Network Rail is carrying out a £13 million upgrade of the overhead power lines on the approaches to and through the station. Some of the wiring dates back to the 1960s.
Network Rail is working with train operators on rail replacement buses and alternative travel options. Details will appear on the National Rail closure page once plans are confirmed.
Network Rail has said further work will take place over the Christmas periods in 2027 and 2028, so similar closures are likely.
