Rail closures over Christmas on West Coast Main Line

Rail travellers are being warned to avoid parts of the West Coast Main Line over the Christmas period owing to engineering works.

The line will be shut between London Euston and Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire after the last trains on Christmas Eve until 29th December.

It will also close between Stafford and Crewe after the last trains on Christmas Eve until Sunday 28th December.

Other delays include a 16-day part closure of London Bridge station.

The station will be partially closed while work involving a £6.5bn programme of improvements to the north-south £6.5bn Thameslink service is carried out.

On the roads, National Express is doubling the number of coaches it runs on Christmas Day and it is also running a reduced service on Boxing Day.

Jim Syddall, acting route managing director for Network Rail, said: "There is never a good time to carry out this type of work and we have liaised closely with the train operators to plan for it to take place at a traditionally quieter time on the railway.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused but the work is essential to improve the network and maintain reliable services for the millions of passengers who travel on the West Coast main line every year."

Other expected rail disruptions include:

From Saturday 20th December to Sunday 4th January, Southern and Thameslink trains will not call at London Bridge
On 27th and 28th December work taking place between Edge Hill in Liverpool and Earlestown in Merseyside is closing some lines in north-west England
Buses will replace trains on Arriva Trains Wales services between Shrewsbury and Hereford from 27th December until 29th December
Cross-London Thameslink Bedford to Brighton trains - to, from or though London Bridge - will not run again until 2018
From Monday 22th December to Christmas Eve some Southeastern Charing Cross services will not call at London Bridge at peak morning times
On the Paddington route, engineering work between Southall in west London and Slough in Berkshire, means some lines will be closed from 5pm on Christmas Eve until the end of Sunday 28th December
Delays are also expected between Slough and Reading West and Tilehurst in Berkshire from Monday 29th December to Saturday 3rd January
Buses will replace trains between Ascot in Berkshire and Aldershot in Hampshire between the weekend of 27th and 28th December
From 27th December and 2nd January engineering work between St Albans in Hertfordshire and West Hampstead in north-west London will cause delays to services between Luton and Sutton in south-west London, and between Blackfriars station in London and Sevenoaks in Kent

The train company Southeastern which operates in the south-east of England, and ScotRail in Scotland will also be running some services on Boxing Day this year.