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Mainline train stations will stay open in London throughout the night in coming days as transport authorities prepare to look after the huge numbers of people expected to pay their respects at Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral.
Restaurants and toilet facilities will stay open, with special “welfare trains” on platforms to seat vulnerable passengers who may have long waits to travel.
The limited additional night trains promised by operators for the lying in state and funeral will mainly serve destinations within the M25, Network Rail confirmed.
Most who travel into the capital should consider walking from mainline stations, Transport for London (TfL) has advised, as it warned of “unprecedented demand” during one of the biggest events the capital has ever witnessed.
TfL said customers should plan ahead and check on the day if crowds have forced station closures, with areas around Westminster, Waterloo and Trafalgar Square, and along the South Bank likely to be exceptionally busy.
Network Rail and TfL urged people coming to attend the funeral event to return home slowly and stay to eat in the city if possible, to avoid the huge rush expected for many services.
The tube and Elizabeth line will run for an extra hour on Monday night to help people disperse from the capital, and all transport services will run to weekday levels rather than the usual bank holiday reduced operations.
