Christmas railway shutdown to cause travel chaos

Christmas and New Year is expected to bring travel misery for many Britons as train services across the country will be axed.

SEE ALSO: Family rescued by Hogwarts Express in Scottish Highlands

SEE ALSO: Passengers comfort train driver after her emotional reason for delay

London will be the worst affected, with no trains from Charing Cross, Cannon Street Waterloo East and London Bridge stations from 23 December to New Year's Day, the Daily Mail reports.

The majority of Southeastern trains will depart from Waterloo and Victoria instead.

Meanwhile, engineering works will also hit Great Western Railway between Christmas Eve and 27 December when there will be no trains departing from Paddington. Other Great Western services will be reduced over the festive period.

Elsewhere, Manchester will see a Christmas Eve shutdown on lines between Piccadilly and Oxford Road station as engineering works take place.

The Sun reports that the Preston to Lancaster service will be hit between 24 and 27 December.

CrossCountry has also announced plans for maintenance work at Winchester, while Virgin Trains, Caledonian Sleeper, Northern and TransPennine Express services will be affected.

Travellers going to and from London's airports can expect Gatwick Express services to be reduced to one train every 30 minutes and the Heathrow Express will be closed from 23 to 29 December.