Transport officials have warned that there would be record travel demand in London in the coming days as people travel to the city to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II.
Users of public transportation are warned that the city will be “exceptionally busy” and that, in order to prevent congestion, some Tube stations may briefly close.
According to a joint statement from Network Rail, Transport for London (TfL), and industry group the Rail Delivery Group, pre-planning trips using the most recent information “will be essential.”
The organization said: “As Her Majesty’s coffin travels to London to lie in state at the Palace of Westminster, it is expected that we will see unprecedented travel demand in the capital, especially from Wednesday, Sept. 14.
“Transport providers have well-developed plans with extra staff and services coming on-stream to help people get to where they need to be.”
Green Park station is advised to be avoided by London Underground riders if at all feasible due to “large numbers of people traveling through.”
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The closest station to Buckingham Palace is that one, however Piccadilly Circus, St. James’ Park, and Victoria are also close by.
To relieve the strain on other areas of the transportation system on Sunday, a special service will run on the Elizabeth line railway between Paddington in London and Abbey Wood.
Due to testing and software updates, that portion of the line, which the queen officially opened in May, is typically closed on Sundays.
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Network Rail chairman Peter Hendy said: “The transport industry is working hard to help people pay their respects in London and across the United Kingdom.
“Please make sure you check before you travel as we expect the road and transport networks to be busy.”
London’s transport commissioner Andy Byford said: “At such an important and difficult time for the country, we are doing everything we can to ensure Londoners and visitors can pay their respects to Her Majesty the Queen and welcome His Majesty the King.
“We are working with our partners to keep our city moving smoothly and to ensure that everyone who needs to get around or is planning to attend the memorial events can do so safely.
“I would urge all customers to check before they travel, using the TfL website or TfL Go app, as while we’re planning to run a normal service, there may be short notice changes and diversions as a result of the large number of people travelling and necessary road closures.”
Those who intend to travel to London for the queen’s burial may also encounter skyrocketing accommodation costs.
According to an investigation by the PA news agency, hotel rates are up to four times higher on Sunday night—the night before the funeral—than they are a week later.
During the funeral at Westminster Abbey, hundreds of thousands of people are anticipated to throng the streets of the nation’s capital.
Due of the service starting at 11 am, many guests traveling a distance will need to spend the night before at a hotel (1000 GMT).
However, the least expensive accommodation at Park Plaza County Hall, one of the hotels closest to Westminster Abbey, is £1,299 on Sunday night as opposed to £269 seven days later.
On the night before the burial, Crowne Plaza London Albert Embankment is charging £708.
When compared to Sunday, September 25, when it costs £244, it is almost three times as much.
At the Novotel London Waterloo, rooms are £490 on Sunday and £241 the following week.
For Sunday night, all of the budget hotel properties near Westminster Abbey, including Premier Inn and Travelodge, are sold out.
At a number of its locations, including London County Hall, London Waterloo (Westminster Bridge), and London Victoria, there are no available rooms for the Premier Inn.
Westminster Abbey is 1.2 miles away from the place with availability closest to you, London Leicester Square.
On Sunday, rooms cost £235 as opposed to £160 the next week.
The closest Travelodge hotel is located 3.9 kilometers away on London Central City Road.
While a one-night stay on Sunday costs £160, a visit on September 25 costs just £57.
A spokeswoman for Travelodge said: “As one of London’s largest hoteliers, our teams across our 78 London-based Travelodge hotels are working around the clock and gearing up for a busy period in the lead-up to the queen’s state funeral.
“Our Travelodge hotels in central London and Windsor are literally sold out, and demand is growing strong for our hotels situated near a train or Tube station throughout Greater London.
“Our website is attracting visitors from all corners of the UK and across the globe.”
