As part of a £196 million investment by Network Rail, they will be making upgrades to the West Coast Main Line during Christmas and the New Year.

They are advising passengers to check before they travel between 24th December and 15th January while they carry out numerous projects.

Some of these projects include:

• Preston’s signalling system – £16 million (1st-5th January)
• Junction upgrades on all four main lines at Hanslope in Northamptonshire – £24 million (24th December-5th January)
• Bridge replacement over the M6 in Penrith – £60 million (31st December-15th January)
• Kingmore signalling upgrades, north of Carlisle – £61 million (1st-7th January)

The rest of the investment will be going towards renewing overhead power lines, platforms, track, signalling and bridges.

To ensure safety during the work, there will be some sections closed for 22 days.

Some services will be using an alternative line or replacement buses.

Passengers should check before they travel via National Rail, which will display the changes 12 weeks in advance.

“This Christmas and New Year we’ll be investing tens of millions of pounds as part of our long-term commitment to make the West Coast Main Line fit for the future.

“Our ambitious programme, with numerous large-scale journey improving projects, will mean certain sections of the route will have to close across 22 days this festive season. For that reason, our advice to anyone planning to travel on the West Coast Main Line between London and Scotland is to plan your journeys as early as possible by visiting National Rail Enquiries.”

Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail North West & Central region Capital Delivery director