Queen’s death: How will travel in London be affected during the mourning period?

Mourners wishing to pay their respects to the Queen are being asked to plan their journeys in advance.

A period of national mourning is now in place and will last until the end of the day of the Queen’s state funeral on Monday, September 19.

Her Majesty, who died on Thursday, aged 96, will lie in state in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster in central London between Wednesday, September 14, and Monday, September 19.

During the lying in state, parts of central London will be closed to normal traffic.

Bus routes will be curtailed and some station access points may be closed.

Transport for London (TfL) has asked people to allow plenty of extra time for their journeys and to avoid driving where possible.

Several Tube stations are expected to be busier than usual with some possible closures.

Stations affected include: Westminster, Green Park, Charing Cross, Embankment, Victoria, Waterloo, St James’s Park, Lancaster Gate, Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch.

Around the Queen’s funeral, at 11am on Monday, September 19, there will be extensive road closures, and some Underground and national rail stations could close.

Andy Byford, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “Our thoughts are with his Majesty the King and all members of the royal family following the death of her Majesty the Queen.

“Thousands of people from all over the UK and beyond are expected to make their way to London to pay their respects.

“We are working with our partners to keep our city moving smoothly and to ensure that everyone who is planning to attend the memorial events can do so safely.”

He advised all Londoners and visitors to the capital over the coming days to check before they travel using the latest real-time travel information, which is available on the TfL Go app and on the website tfl.gov.uk.

The Rail Delivery Group has warned that services and stations are likely to be extremely busy during the mourning period.

Jason Webb, the Rail Delivery Group’s customer information director, said: “Understandably, many people wish to pay their respects to her Majesty the Queen during this period of national mourning.

“On the day of the funeral, Monday, September 19, people should plan carefully the timing of their journey home as trains and stations are likely to be extremely busy.”

The rail operator said it would not be possible to view both the funeral in London and then travel to Windsor where Her Majesty will be laid to rest.

The advice is to choose to view one or the other, and to leave plenty of time to get there.

A number of rail strikes have been postponed during this period “out of respect for her Majesty’s service.”

The RMT union called off their planned railway strike action on September 15 and 17, which was to involve about 40,000 workers at Network Rail and 14 train operating companies.

The train drivers union Aslef also postponed their strike planned for September 15.

While the TSSA rail union also cancelled planned industrial action for September 26, and said it would be “respecting the period of public mourning”.