Festive getaways facing railway disruption

RAIL PASSENGERS planning a Christmas getaway face severe disruption due to engineering work on several lines. Network Rail told The Yorkshire Post that no major disruption was planned on Yorkshire’s routes, but warned that some routes elsewhere will have “significant changes to normal services” and urged people to plan their journeys as early as possible.

But some timetables will only be confirmed six weeks in advance, instead of the standard 12.

Some of the festive improvement work will begin on December 23 – the last working day before Christmas – to give engineers “three clear days to make uninterrupted progress”.

Network Rail said there will be less overall disruption than during the 2017 festive period as most of the engineering work has been scheduled for when no trains are planned to run, such as on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

London lines are expected to be the most disrupted, with major work expected to affect London Paddington between December 23 and December 31, among others.

Engineering work is also taking place at various points around Manchester Victoria, closing lines during the Christmas and New Year period, while track improvements will also take place between Bedford and Kettering.

Andy Thomas, managing director of strategic operations at Network Rail, said: “While most of the network is open for business as usual, some routes are heavily affected and so we strongly advise passengers to plan ahead.”