There will be no Gatwick Express services between London's Victoria station and Gatwick airport from Boxing Day up to and including New Year's Day.
The shutdown has been caused by the need for essential improvement work between Redhill and Purley in Surrey, as well as by new platform, track and signalling work at Gatwick station.
The closure of Gatwick Express, which provides frequent 30-minute non-stop services between London and the airport, will affect thousands of passengers heading for post-Christmas breaks, including those going on winter sports holidays.
Passengers will still be able to get to Gatwick using services run by the Southern train company, but some of Southern's services will be affected by new signalling work between Victoria and Battersea in south London.
Rail links to another airport - Manchester - will also be disrupted by Christmas engineering works between the airport and Manchester Piccadilly station.
Some First TransPennine Express services between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly will not run between December 23 and 27, with buses replacing trains.