Tens of thousands of passengers are set to benefit from thousands of additional services being introduced from next year, as a result of Network Rail’s biggest-ever Christmas upgrade programme.
A £160 million investment, which forms part of the £50 billion Railway Upgrade Plan, will see a 32,600-strong workforce work round the clock this holiday season.
Overall there will be less disruption for rail users this time, as most of the work — some 50% more than last year — has been scheduled for when no trains are planned to run, such as on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Over 95% of the network will be unaffected by the work programme, which will see 260 projects at 3,400 sites throughout Britain over the holiday period.
Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail (
www.networkrail.co.uk), said: “We know that our railway is up to 50% quieter than usual during the festive period, so taking on these huge transformational schemes at this time of year minimises our impact on passengers.
"Work on a few vital projects will begin on Saturday 23 December, giving engineers four clear days to make significant progress on major projects that will deliver numerous passenger benefits.”
Meanwhile, the re-introduction of cross-London Thameslink services through London Bridge has moved a step closer, with the completion of new track and signalling between London Bridge and Blackfriars.
From May 2018, Thameslink services will resume calling at London Bridge after a hiatus of three years, during which Network Rail rebuilt the platforms and re-laid track through London Bridge (being entirely redeveloped as part of the Thameslink Programme).
This will be the first time that trains on the route between Brighton and Bedford have called at London Bridge since January 2015.
Mark Somers, project director for railway systems, Network Rail, said: “The completion of this section of track is a huge milestone for the Thameslink Programme, which from 2018 will result in more-frequent and more-reliable services to more destinations and a fully rebuilt London Bridge station fit for the 21st century.”