Stansted Express to trial overnight Friday trains for late-night airport passengers

2nd July 2026

Additional summer services will give customers new rail options after late flight arrivals and for early Saturday departures.

Stansted Express is launching a summer trial of overnight Friday train services, giving passengers arriving late into London Stansted Airport, or travelling for early Saturday morning flights, a faster rail option between the airport and London.

The additional services will run every Friday night into Saturday morning from Friday 3 July until Friday 25 September 2026.

Most trains will run between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale, where customers can connect with the Victoria line Night Tube for onward travel across the capital. Some early morning services will continue through to, or start from, London Liverpool Street station.

The trial will see additional trains run approximately every 30 minutes between around 23:50 and 05:00, helping passengers who may otherwise have fewer public transport options late at night or in the early hours of the morning.

The journey between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale takes around 36 minutes, providing a fast connection with central London.

The trial has been made possible through closer joint planning between Greater Anglia (who operate the Stansted Express) and Network Rail Anglia, as railway teams in the region work under one leadership team as part of GBR Anglia. This has allowed colleagues to review and adjust engineering plans where possible, while still protecting essential railway maintenance, so the additional overnight services can be trialled this summer.

The trial will help Stansted Express understand customer demand for overnight airport rail services before any decisions are made about opportunities for any overnight services operating on a long term basis.

It also follows the introduction of contactless pay as you go at Stansted Airport earlier this year, making travel between the airport and London simpler and more flexible. Customers travelling where contactless is valid can tap in and tap out using a contactless bank card, smartphone or smart device.

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy said:

"This is exactly what public ownership of our railways makes possible. As we build Great British Railways, we're bringing train operators and Network Rail together under one roof so we can plan smarter, work faster and deliver more for passengers.

"These overnight Stansted Express services will make a real difference to people arriving late or travelling for early flights - connecting them straight into London via the Night Tube. Alongside contactless ticketing at every London airport, we're building a railway that works for passengers and drives growth across the country."

Jamie Burles, Managing Director, GBR Anglia, said:

“Stansted Express already provides the fastest and easiest way to travel between London Stansted Airport and the capital. This trial is about giving more passengers that option when they need it, whether they are landing late on a Friday night or travelling to the airport for an early Saturday flight.

“This is a practical example of the benefits of closer working across the railway. By bringing Stansted Express and Network Rail Anglia closer together as part of GBR Anglia, we have been able to review engineering plans and trial these additional services while still protecting essential maintenance. We will monitor demand closely, and alongside contactless pay as you go at Stansted Airport, this is another step towards making the airport rail journey simpler, more flexible and more convenient.”

Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s Managing Director, said:

“The overnight trial of Friday Stansted Express services is a welcome development, and one which I’m sure will prove to be popular with airport passengers and staff, providing more choice, convenience and connectivity when accessing the airport.

“We will continue to work with all parties, Network Rail, Greater Anglia and the Transport Forum to explore any additional options and opportunities to enhance rail connectivity to and from the airport and build on what we hope will be a successful trial that encourages even greater use of train by our passengers, colleagues and the local community.”

Customers are advised to check journey planners before travelling.

Standard Stansted Express tickets can be used on the late-night services, and Railcards and valid discounts apply as normal.

The trial is part of a passenger-driven improvement plan now firmly under way by the fast-growing family of publicly owned operators. Greater Anglia joined DFTO last Autumn, and is now part of a single Anglia organisation alongside c2c and Network Rail Anglia. It is just one of the many practical improvements passengers will see ahead of the formal establishment of Great British Railways by the end of 2027.

For more information, visit our late night services page.