Travellers connecting between central London and Heathrow Airport face a 48-hour suspension of the Heathrow Express while Network Rail renews signalling and overhead-line equipment on the fast lines out of Paddington. The shutdown began at 00:01 on 25 December and runs through the end of Boxing Day.
No replacement buses are operating from Paddington because the line does not normally run on Christmas Day, but the lack of Boxing-Day service will catch many return travellers by surprise. Heathrow Express is operating a limited shuttle between Terminals 2-3 and Terminal 4 for airside transfers, yet passengers heading to the city must switch to the Elizabeth Line—which runs a reduced hourly timetable—or book road transport.
![Heathrow Express Suspended 25–26 December for Major Engineering Blockade]()
Business travellers arriving to start assignments on 27 December should allow at least 45 extra minutes for the Paddington–airport leg. Employers with ‘meet-and-assist’ contracts are encouraged to notify chauffeurs of likely taxi-rank congestion at Heathrow’s central bus station.
The work marks the final stage of a £118 million upgrade designed to lift the permanent speed restriction on the airport spur from 70 mph to 90 mph, shaving three minutes off journey times from March 2026.
Network Rail says similar closures will be required over Easter and the early-May bank holiday. Global-mobility teams planning group moves should therefore avoid booking mass arrivals on those weekends.
No replacement buses are operating from Paddington because the line does not normally run on Christmas Day, but the lack of Boxing-Day service will catch many return travellers by surprise. Heathrow Express is operating a limited shuttle between Terminals 2-3 and Terminal 4 for airside transfers, yet passengers heading to the city must switch to the Elizabeth Line—which runs a reduced hourly timetable—or book road transport.
Business travellers arriving to start assignments on 27 December should allow at least 45 extra minutes for the Paddington–airport leg. Employers with ‘meet-and-assist’ contracts are encouraged to notify chauffeurs of likely taxi-rank congestion at Heathrow’s central bus station.
The work marks the final stage of a £118 million upgrade designed to lift the permanent speed restriction on the airport spur from 70 mph to 90 mph, shaving three minutes off journey times from March 2026.
Network Rail says similar closures will be required over Easter and the early-May bank holiday. Global-mobility teams planning group moves should therefore avoid booking mass arrivals on those weekends.
Source: National Rail Enquiries
