No EMR trains on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Christmas Eve last trains usually leave 7pm to 9pm. December works already booked, and free parking so far.
There will be no trains from Market Harborough on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. East Midlands Railway, which runs the trains through the station, does not operate on either day. On Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December, its last departures usually leave between 7pm and 9pm depending on the route, and services restart on Sunday 27 December.
The Christmas timetable itself is not out yet. National Rail says operators will add their festive details from the beginning of October.
The quick answer
- No EMR trains on Friday 25 or Saturday 26 December. Stations are closed on Christmas Day.
- Christmas Eve: last trains usually between 7pm and 9pm. New Year’s Eve trains may also finish early, and New Year’s Day runs a reduced service that starts later.
- Engineering work is the unknown. In 2024 there were no EMR trains between Bedford and London St Pancras for nine days over Christmas. Nothing has been published for Christmas 2026 yet.
What EMR runs over Christmas
This is EMR’s standing pattern, from its Christmas and New Year travel page and its advice to customers on 10 December 2025. The days of the week are this year’s.
| Day | Date | EMR service |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Eve | Thursday 24 December | Runs, but finishes early. Last departures usually 7pm to 9pm |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December | No trains. Stations closed |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December | No trains |
| Restart | Sunday 27 December | Services resume, possibly to a revised timetable and with engineering work on some routes |
| New Year's Eve | Thursday 31 December | Runs through the day, may finish earlier than usual |
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January 2027 | Reduced timetable, later start, less frequent |
National Rail’s summary covers Thursday 24 December 2026 to Monday 4 January 2027. It says there will be no National Rail services on Christmas Day, that most operators will run nothing on Boxing Day, and that trains on many routes will finish earlier on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. (Christmas and New Year 2026/27, National Rail)
Engineering work: what happened in 2024
Christmas is when Network Rail does its biggest jobs, and the Midland Main Line into London has been one of them.
Over Christmas 2024, from the start of service on Saturday 21 December to the end of service on Sunday 29 December, there were no EMR trains between Bedford and London St Pancras. Network Rail was working between Harpenden and St Pancras. EMR told London passengers to take rail replacement buses between Bedford and Milton Keynes and London Northwestern trains between Milton Keynes and Euston. (Christmas 2024: no EMR trains between Bedford and London St Pancras, East Midlands Railway)
We found no equivalent notice for Christmas 2025 on EMR’s site.
What is already booked for December 2026
National Rail’s list of planned works runs to mid-December so far, and three EMR notices touch Market Harborough’s London trains. (National Rail engineering works)
- Monday 7 to Friday 11 December: amended late-night and early-morning trains across the EMR network, with some London to Nottingham and Derby trains leaving earlier and terminating short. (EMR midweek)
- Sunday 13 December: work between Cricklewood and St Pancras. One train an hour between Sheffield and London and one an hour between Nottingham and London. (EMR to and from St Pancras, 13 December)
- Monday 14 to Friday 18 December: overnight line closures from Monday evening to Saturday morning, with late-night and early-morning London trains retimed. (EMR St Pancras, 14 to 18 December)
Nothing covering 19 December to 4 January has been published yet. We will add the Christmas notices here when they appear.
For the regular timetable, peak fares and parking at the station, see our Market Harborough trains to London page.
Christmas parking in the town centre
Harborough District Council has not announced any free Christmas parking for 2026.
In 2025 it gave free parking on three December Saturdays, 6, 13 and 20 December: four hours free in short-stay car parks and all day in long-stay car parks and in Lutterworth, one free session per vehicle per Saturday, claimed at the machine by entering your registration or through the Pay by Phone app. It announced that on 20 November 2025. (New parking machines set to modernise district car parks, Harborough District Council)
In 2023 it did the same on four Saturdays, 2, 9, 16 and 23 December, and announced it on 25 October. (Free parking in Market Harborough and Lutterworth confirmed across Christmas period, Harborough District Council)
Tariffs, free bays and the car park list are on our parking in Market Harborough page.
Still to confirm
- EMR’s 2026 Christmas Eve last trains from Market Harborough, and any engineering work between 19 December and 4 January: expected from October.
- Whether the council repeats free December Saturday parking: announced in late October in 2023 and late November in 2025.
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