Almost the entire Elizabeth line will close for a full weekend at the end of November, Transport for London has announced, with no trains running on most of the line on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November.
TfL announced the closure on Wednesday 11 November. The only service running will be a two-trains-an-hour shuttle between Reading and Maidenhead.
No Elizabeth line trains will run between Paddington and Abbey Wood, Paddington and Shenfield, or Paddington and Heathrow Airport and Maidenhead across the weekend.
Services in the east and central sections are closed to allow for rail and crossing renewals, and maintenance of the overhead line equipment that powers the trains.
Services in the west are closed because Network Rail is carrying out a major overhaul of Dolphin Junction near Slough, meaning no trains on any service can enter or leave Paddington. That also means no Great Western Railway or Heathrow Express services either.
Key facts
- When: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026
- What: Almost the entire Elizabeth line closed; only a two-trains-an-hour shuttle between Reading and Maidenhead runs
- Paddington: London Paddington station will be closed, with no trains entering or leaving
- Heathrow: No Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express trains to the airport; use the Piccadilly line
- Why: Rail and crossing renewals, overhead line maintenance, and Network Rail work at Dolphin Junction near Slough
Rail replacement buses
TfL rail replacement bus services will operate on affected sections of the Elizabeth line, including Stratford to Romford, Shenfield to Chadwell Heath and Newbury Park, Ealing Broadway to Slough, and Slough to Maidenhead.
Replacement buses will not serve Iver — passengers should use Langley instead.
Getting to Heathrow
For people heading to Heathrow Airport, the Heathrow Express from Paddington will not run, but the Piccadilly line to Heathrow will be running normally.
Greater Anglia services will also be affected between Shenfield, Southend Victoria and Southminster and Liverpool Street — passengers should use Central line connections between Ealing Broadway, West Acton, Central London, Liverpool Street, Stratford and Newbury Park.
Some Great Western Railway trains from the west of England and Wales will be diverted to Euston station, with limited long-distance services running to and from Euston.
What TfL says
Trish Ashton, TfL’s Director of Rail, said: “We understand that these closures can impact customers’ journeys and would like to thank them for their patience while this essential work takes place. The work we’re carrying out is essential to maintaining the safety and reliability of the Elizabeth line for the millions of customers who rely it on every year. We encourage customers to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys and check before they travel on TfL’s Journey Planner or the TfL Go app. Rail replacement buses and alternative travel options will be available throughout the closure.”
Plan ahead
The closure covers only Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November. Services are expected to resume as normal on Monday 30 November.
Passengers are advised to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys. The Elizabeth line is the busiest mainline railway in the UK, and the closure will affect large numbers of weekend travellers, including anyone heading to Heathrow Airport.
London’s rail network is already facing disruption today, with severe delays on the Northern line and services suspended between Gatwick Airport and Purley.
