One of London’s major airports is getting night trains for the first time

London jet setters will know the pain of landing at Stansted Airport at an ungodly hour and having to decide between forking out on an Uber or facing the hassle of a coach. But that could be set to change.

Stansted Express is launching a trial overnight service on Fridays this summer to improve connections to the airport. Starting Friday July 3, trains run every 30 minutes between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale on Friday nights until 5am Saturday morning. It’ll take just 36 minutes, linking up conveniently with the Victoria line night tube.

A handful of the early morning trains will continue on to, or depart from, Liverpool Street. The new service will run until Friday September 25 2026, giving holidaymakers more travel options during the busy summer season. 

The new night-time Stansted Express service comes amidst a glow up of the services at STN. Contactless rail travel was extended to the airport back in March and in April tickets were launched for a new coach service from Finsbury Park to the Essex airport, costing as little as £6.32.

The airport also recently announced a change to its e-gates, allowing children aged eight and nine, who are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall and accompanied by an adult, to use them from Wednesday July 8. Previously, children had to be 10 to use the gates.

Rail Minister Peter Hendy said the new services ‘will make a real difference to people arriving late or travelling for early flights – connecting them straight into London via the Night Tube.’

Stansted’s night train isn’t a permanent measure – yet. Stansted Express will evaluate how many passengers use the late-night services during the trial before deciding whether to keep them.

Did you see that this London tube line is officially the fastest – and it’s about to get even faster?

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