People wanting to pay their respects to the Queen are being warned to plan their train journeys to and from London in advance.
The Rail Delivery Group warned that services to the capital will be “extremely busy” over the next week.
The rail industry body is asking people to leave plenty of time for travel during the official mourning period.
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 September 19, which has been declared as a national bank holiday.
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Hundreds of thousands are expected to travel to London to pay their respects to the Queen, who died on Thursday aged 96.
She will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four full days before the funeral, meaning the public will be allowed to view her coffin.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) said today: “The public will be able to file past the coffin 24 hours a day from 5pm on Wednesday 14 September until 6.30am on the day of the funeral – Monday 19 September.
“Those wishing to attend will be required to queue for many hours, possibly overnight. Large crowds are expected and people are encouraged to check ahead, plan accordingly and be prepared for long wait times.
“All those attending the lying-in-state will go through airport-style security and there are tight restrictions on what you can take in, with only small bags permitted. Step-free access will be available for those who need it.”
Rail Delivery Group customer information director Jason Webb 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 19 September, people should plan carefully the timing of their journey home as trains and stations are likely to be extremely busy.”
The rail organisation added: “It will not be possible to view both the funeral in London and travel to Windsor, where Her Majesty the Queen will be laid to rest. People should plan to view one or the other and allow plenty of time to travel to either location.”
The DCMS earlier gave guidance to say: “This bank holiday will operate in the same way as other bank holidays, and there is no statutory entitlement to time off. Employers may include bank holidays as part of a worker’s leave entitlement.
“The bank holiday will be a unique national moment, and we would encourage employers to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take time off.”
No decision has yet been made as to whether there will be another bank holiday for the Coronation of King Charles III, expected to take place next spring or summer.
Picture credit: Shaun Jeffers/Shutterstock.com
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