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Rail passengers across Bristol and the south west are being encouraged to check before they travel this Christmas and book their tickets in advance where possible.

A sunflower decorated Christmas tree has been made by staff at Euston station to promote its support for passengers with non-visible disabilities.

Passenger in Wales are being urged to check before they travel as a new timetable comes into effect this weekend with vital upgrades to the railway also taking place in the Cardiff area over the festive period

Network Rail has completed a major £9.8million upgrade to the rail route between Knaresborough and Poppleton which will improve services for passengers for years to come.

• Passengers using the West Coast main line between Crewe and London Euston should plan ahead if using the railway during the government’s Christmas travel window between 23 and 27 December
• People should reserve seats on long distance trains, travel at quieter times and follow all safety advice to stop the spread of coronavirus
• Railway improvement work is taking place to improve future journeys on one of Europe’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight routes

• Passengers in Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire and Cumbria should plan ahead if using the railway during the government’s Christmas travel window between 23 and 27 December
• People should reserve seats on long distance trains, travel at quieter times and follow all safety advice to stop the spread of coronavirus
• Railway upgrades in the North West over Christmas include new track, overhead electric lines and bridge work to improve future journeys for passengers

• Chiltern main line and West Midlands passengers should plan ahead if using the railway during the government’s Christmas travel window between 23 and 27 December
• People should reserve seats on long distance trains, travel at quieter times and follow all safety advice to stop the spread of coronavirus
• Railway improvements include ongoing work at Birmingham New Street station as part of major signalling upgrade on 25 and 26 December

Network Rail, Great Northern and Thameslink are urging passengers to plan ahead if travelling on the East Coast Main Line to and from London between Christmas Day and 30 December (inclusive) as major work takes place.