Works to bring rail travel disruption

Rail passengers planning a Christmas getaway may be forced to travel earlier than planned after a series of engineering projects were announced.

Many of Britain’s mainline routes will be partially shut during the festive period as Network Rail carries out its biggest ever Christmas investment programme. Some 260 schemes will be completed by 32,600 workers.

Great Western Railway advised passengers to complete journeys by 23 December “at the latest” as London Paddington will be closed between Christmas Eve and 27 December. Passengers travelling between London and Glasgow during this time are advised to go via Edinburgh.

The London end of the Great Eastern main line will be suspended from 23 December to New Year’s Day.

The West Coast main line will be halted between Preston and Lancaster from 24 to 27 December, with buses replacing trains.

Southeastern will not be able to run trains to London Bridge, Charing Cross and Cannon Street between 23 December and 1 January. More than 95 per cent of the network is unaffected by the work, according to Network Rail.