Trains could run round-the-clock to help well-wishers travelling to London for Queen’s funeral

• Capacity could be boosted by 50 per cent on some lines in run-up to the funeral
• The demand on London’s rail and roads is expected to be ‘unprecedented’
• Southeastern is one rail operator that is preparing to run 24-hour services
• Passengers are being warned to expect long queues and very busy services 
• Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing

Rail bosses were last night drawing up plans for 24-hour train services into London in the run-up to the Queen’s funeral next Monday.

Capacity could be boosted by 50 per cent on some lines. Transport chiefs are expecting demand on railways and roads in the capital to be ‘unprecedented’.

Plans were still being finalised last night, but Southeastern is one operator set to run 24-hour services. Most lines normally stop operating shortly after midnight and do not re-start until 5am to 5.30am.

A rail source said: ‘There will be 24-hour services on some routes by some operators. Specific details will be on journey planners by Wednesday.’

Network Rail will suspend scheduled engineering works so more services can run and operators will draft in hundreds more staff.

Chairman of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy, said: ‘The transport industry is working hard to help people pay their respects in London and across the United Kingdom.

A view of Southeastern trains in sidings near Ashford railway station in Kent as the rail operator prepares to run a 24-hour service

Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is carried into St Giles’ Cathedral on Monday

‘Please make sure you check before you travel as we expect the road and transport networks to be busy.’ A joint statement issued by Network Rail, industry body the Rail Delivery Group and Transport for London (TfL) said ‘well-developed plans with extra staff and services coming on-stream’ were being put in place.

Passengers are being warned to expect long queues and very busy services from tomorrow. They should check real-time travel information to check their services are still leaving on time.

TfL is warning there could be temporary London Underground station closures if there are crowd control issues at particularly busy stations close to Royal landmarks. Trains may also go through stations without stopping.

Travellers are being advised to consider walking into central London from key mainline stations, such as London Victoria, rather than take the Underground. Green Park Underground station should be avoided altogether.

Due to road closures, some bus services will be diverted or will stop short of their destination, and some may be running a reduced service.

Andy Byford, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: ‘At such an important and difficult time for the country, we are doing everything we can to ensure Londoners and visitors can pay their respects to Her Majesty The Queen and welcome His Majesty the King.

‘We are working with our partners to keep our city moving smoothly and to ensure that everyone who needs to get around or is planning to attend the memorial events can do so safely.’ Plans drawn up by Government officials include telling operators to ask travellers not to travel to London if overcrowding begins to pose a ‘threat to life’.

However, sources stressed that they did not expect to have to issue the order, with one saying: ‘We don’t see a threat to life happening. As far as we’re aware, we have the capacity.’ Coach firm National Express said: ‘We have seen a significant increase in both enquiries and bookings on all London routes on our national scheduled coach network for travel throughout this week and the day of the state funeral.

‘We are working hard to increase availability to meet this additional demand but are already busier than normal so our advice is to plan ahead and book in advance of travel.’

National Highways is planning to lift some major motorway roadworks projects and suspend planned road closures to make journeys smoother for those travelling by car.

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