TfL closes Central Line sections as three routes face weekend disruption
Transport for London is closing part of the central line this weekend, with no service between Marble Arch and Leytonstone from Saturday, May 16 to Sunday, May 17. Trains will also skip Mile End, and the same weekend brings wider disruption across the Elizabeth line, DLR and two London Overground routes.
Marble Arch to Leytonstone
The most immediate hit is the Central line section between Marble Arch and Leytonstone, which shuts for the whole weekend, including Saturday Night Tube. That leaves riders on the affected stretch with no through service and forces anyone crossing central London to find another route before they travel.
Trains will not stop at Mile End over the same period. TfL is also warning that Tube travel around Central London is expected to be extremely busy, so passengers using nearby stations should expect extra crowding even where trains are still running.
Homerton and Hackney Wick
Homerton station will not open until 11am on Sunday, May 17 because of the Hackney Half Marathon. TfL has told passengers to use Hackney Wick instead, which gives runners and spectators a clear backup when the station opens late.
That delay sits alongside more trains between Camden Road and Stratford from 6.25am to 9am on Sunday. The timing suggests TfL is trying to move people around east London before the race crowds build, not after they have already arrived.
Elizabeth line and DLR
The Elizabeth line has no service between Paddington and Ealing Broadway until 7.45am on Sunday, May 17. The DLR has no service after 11.30pm each night from Friday, May 15 until Tuesday, May 19, and there is no service between Tower Gateway and Shadwell on Sunday.
Two London Overground stretches are also affected on Sunday. There is no service between New Cross Gate and both Crystal Palace and West Croydon, which removes a direct option for people heading south-east and south-west.
The weekend disruption comes as the Met is planning an unprecedented policing operation on Saturday because two protest marches and the FA Cup final are taking place on the same day. The Jubilee, Metropolitan and Bakerloo lines are expected to be busy before and after the match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
For passengers, the practical move is simple: check the specific line and station before leaving, and build in extra time if you need to cross central London or reach Homerton on Sunday morning.
Central London weekend crowding
The biggest friction point is not one line on its own. It is the overlap of closures, event traffic and weekend crowds across several routes at once.
