These are the dates to aim for or avoid if you want a pleasant train journey (as pleasant as it ever gets anyway) over Christmas.

Apparently, according to ticket provider Trainline based on sales figures, Saturday December 19 will be the busiest day for people heading to see friends and family for the festive break.

On the flipside, Tuesday December 22 will be the best day to travel on and beat the crowds.

London Euston is expected to be the fullest station over Christmas, with stations in the capital making up half of the top 10.

So, good luck staying calm if you’re also travelling from Kings Cross, Paddington, St Pancras or Liverpool Street.

Simon Darling, chief commercial officer at Trainline, said: “Christmas week is one of the busiest times of year for train stations, and packed stations can sometimes be a daunting thought for travellers.

“Not only can people who book now still save money and skip the queues, planning your trip home for Tuesday, December 22 could be an extra little win.”

Overall, train stations across the country are predicted to be busier this year, with 20,000 more passengers already having booked their train travel for Christmas than last year.

Of course, train journeys through London over Christmas and New Year will be blighted by disruption, with closures at four major stations.

Busiest festive travel days for 2015:

  1. December 19
  2. December 20
  3. December 23
  4. December 18
  5. December 21

Top 10 busiest stations:

  1. London Euston
  2. Manchester Piccadilly
  3. London Kings Cross
  4. London Paddington
  5. Edinburgh Waverley
  6. Liverpool Lime Street
  7. London St Pancras
  8. Birmingham New Street
  9. York
  10. London Liverpool Street