Changes to services over Christmas and the New Year
Bus services
Normal timetables operate until Sunday 22 December.
Monday 23 December
Most operators will run to a normal Monday (school holiday) timetable, but UNO and Arriva buses in Luton, Dunstable, and Leighton Buzzard areas will run to a Saturday timetable, although buses in Leighton Buzzard will run via High Street. Arriva routes that serve Hitchin and Stevenage will operate a Monday to Friday service. Please check Traveline or operator websites for more information.
Christmas Eve – Tuesday 24 December
Most operators will run to a normal Tuesday (school holiday) timetable, but Arriva, A2B Bus and Coach, and UNO buses will run to a Saturday timetable. Services will end earlier than usual, with last journeys on most routes between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Arriva Busway routes A and Green Line 757 will run a normal Saturday service, including overnight into 25 December. Please check Traveline or operator websites for more information.
Christmas Day – Wednesday 25 December
No buses will operate except Arriva Busway route A (Luton Airport – Dunstable) and Green Line 757 (Luton – Luton Airport – London), which will both run a special hourly service, including an overnight service into 26 December. Please check Traveline or operator websites for more information.
Boxing Day – Thursday 26 December
Most buses will not operate. A Sunday day and night service will operate on Arriva Busway route A (Luton Airport – Dunstable) and Green Line 757 (Luton – London). A Sunday service will operate on Grant Palmer route CX (Luton - Dunstable Amazon). Please check Traveline or operator websites for more information.
Friday 27 December
Most routes will operate to a Saturday timetable. Arriva buses in Leighton Buzzard will run to Saturday times but will run via Leighton Buzzard High Street. Red Rose and Z & S Travel routes will operate a normal Friday timetable. Please check Traveline or operator websites for more information.
Saturday 28 December and Sunday 29 December
A normal Saturday service will operate on Saturday 28 December, and a normal Sunday service will operate on Sunday 29 December.
Monday 30 December
Most routes will operate to a Saturday timetable. Arriva buses in Leighton Buzzard will run to Saturday times but will run via Leighton Buzzard High Street. Red Rose and Z & S Travel routes will operate a normal Monday timetable. Please check Traveline or operator websites for more information.
New Year’s Eve – Tuesday 31 December
Most operators will run to a Saturday timetable, and services will end earlier than usual, with last journeys on most routes between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Arriva Busway route A (Luton Airport – Dunstable) and Green Line 757 (Luton – London) will run a normal Saturday service, including overnight into 1 January. Red Rose and Z & S Travel routes will operate a normal Tuesday timetable. Please check Traveline or operator websites for more information.
New Year’s Day – Wednesday 1 January
Most buses will not operate. A Sunday service will operate on Arriva Busway route A (Luton Airport – Dunstable) and Green Line 757 (Luton – London), and a special service will operate on UNO routes C1 / C11. Other routes will not operate. Please check Traveline or operator websites for more information.
Thursday 2 January and Friday 3 January
Most operators will run to a normal Monday-Friday (school holiday) timetable, but UNO and Arriva buses in Luton, Dunstable, and Leighton Buzzard areas will run to a Saturday timetable, although buses in Leighton Buzzard will run via High Street. Arriva routes that serve Hitchin and Stevenage will operate a Monday to Friday service.
Normal service resumes from Saturday 4 January.
Community transport bus operators
- Flittabus will not operate on 25 and 26 December or 1 January
- Ivel Sprinter will not operate between 25 December and 1 January inclusive
- Villager will not operate between 24 December and 1 January inclusive
- Whitbread Wanderbus will not operate on 25, 26, and 27 December or 1 January
Train services
There is major engineering work on the East Midlands Railway / Thameslink line through Bedford and Luton over Christmas and New Year, with the line closed between London St Pancras and Harpenden from Saturday 21 December to Sunday 29 December inclusive. A limited Thameslink train service will operate only between Bedford and Harpenden via Luton, and East Midlands Railway services to and from the East Midlands will terminate at Bedford and not run to St Pancras.
All train services on Christmas Eve 24 December will be reduced after about 5pm, and last trains will be much earlier than usual. No trains will run in Bedfordshire on 25 or 26 December. Special timetables may apply for the rest of the Christmas/New Year period, and some other lines may be affected by planned engineering work, including between Royston and Cambridge from 29 December to 5 January. Please check with train operating companies or National Rail Enquiries for more information.
Coach services
National Express Coach timetables may be amended over the Christmas/New Year period. A limited service will operate on Christmas Day, including a service between Luton Airport and London, and other services calling at either Luton Interchange, Luton Airport, or Milton Keynes Coachway. Please see the National Express website for more information and to book.
Green Line route 757 (Luton Interchange – Luton Airport – London) will also run every day including Christmas Day – see under ‘bus services’ for more details.
Travelling to London
More information on Transport for London services, including London Buses, Overground, and Underground, can be found on the Transport for London website.