Fury as public transport is closed down for Christmas

There is mounting anger over the national rail network being closed for more than 48 hours from 8pm on Christmas Eve as well as there being no Tubes or buses in London on Christmas Day.

Trains will not come back into service until Thursday morning despite heavy demand for at least a basic service on Boxing Day.

Britain is the only major European country that does not have a national rail service over Christmas.

Around 25 per cent of British households, who have no access to a car, will be left stranded during the shutdown.

A cross-party group of 28 MPs has signed a Commons motion criticising the Department for Transport and rail companies.

It calls on them to "ensure that from 2008 an adequate rail and bus service is provided on Boxing Day at least".

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has been accused of being a "Scrooge" for not providing public transport tomorrow.

He has previously promised to consider a skeleton service for Londoners who work on Christmas Day or want to visit family and would prefer not to drive or pay for a taxi.

Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Brian Paddick condemned Mr Livingstone, saying thousands of Londoners have to work on Christmas Day and that people of other faiths, who do not celebrate Christmas, still have to get around.

Other international cities, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Madrid, New York, Paris and Rome, all operate Sunday services on Christmas Day.

Mr Paddick said: "Our Scrooge-like Mayor promised to run a Christmas Day bus service but all Londoners are getting this year is bah humbug. A recent survey showed twice as many people have to work on Christmas day as a few years ago - how are they expected to get to work?

"I live in Vauxhall and my mum lives in Sutton, not many miles away, but the only way I can get there on Christmas Day is by hiring a car, which is costing me more than £100.

"Many people cannot afford that sort of money and are effectively grounded in their homes over Christmas.

"In our city of many faiths, many transport workers do not celebrate Christmas and would only be too happy to provide this service. If Rome, the home of Catholicism, can provide public transport on Christmas Day, I'm sure London can."

After a rise in demand last year, the Association of Train Operating Companies promised to consider running some services on Boxing Day this year.

But yesterday a spokesman for the association dismissed the idea, saying it would require extra subsidy.

John Grogan, the Labour MP for Selby who tabled the Commons motion, said: "It's completely inconsistent for the Department for Transport to say you should use public transport and then shut down the system-for 58 hours. Companies should be obliged, in their franchise agreements, to run services over Christmas."

Mr Livingstone has exempted drivers from the congestion charge over some of the festive period.

But non-drivers or those who wish to drink on Christmas Day must take a taxi unless their journey is short enough to walk or cycle.

Black cabs charge £4 extra per journey, while many minicab firms add hefty anti-social hours charges. Most operate with fewer drivers.

TRAVELLING IN LONDON OVER THE HOLIDAY

There are no trains from 8pm tonight until 27 December and reduced service until 2 January.
There will be no congestion charge from tomorrow until New Year's Day.
Tube: no service Christmas Day, Sunday service on 26 December and Saturday service until New Year's Eve when there will be free travel from 11:45pm to 4:30.am on New Year's Day.
Black cabs will charge £4 extra per journey on Christmas Day.
Victoria line trains are not stopping at Victoria Tube station until 6 January.
The East London line is closed now until the summer of 2010 Replacement buses are in operation.
There will be no service on the Metropolitan line on Boxing Day and no trains between Wembley Park and Northwood/Uxbridge on 27 and 28 December.
On the London Overground line, services are suspended between Hackney Wick and Stratford until 2 January.
Services on the Docklands Light Railway are suspended between Stratford and Bow Church on Boxing Day.