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Engineers are continuing with major track and signalling upgrades around Manchester this Christmas to boost reliability, allow more trains to run in future and improve connectivity across the North.

• More than 200 railway workers are giving up Christmas with their families to remodel the track layout between platforms 4 and 6 as part of a project to boost reliability
• Major work will take place over 10 days, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day when there are no timetabled train services
• Changes to services from Monday 27 December 2021 to Monday 3 January 2022
• Very limited services to or from Leeds station on Sunday 2 January – passengers urged to check before travelling

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is celebrating the launch of direct Azuma services between Middlesbrough and London King’s Cross with Teesside becoming the latest destination to benefit from the arrival of LNER’s world-class trains.

• Network Rail has made sanitary products available to all who need them at Leeds station
• The new initiative aims to help tackle period poverty and make sure people can travel with confidence
• Products now available from free vending machines in the toilets

Network Rail is continuing with major improvement work around Manchester over Christmas, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

• Engineers will remodel the track layout between platforms 4 and 6 over Christmas as part of a project to boost reliability and reduce the impact of future unplanned disruption
• Major work will take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day when there are no timetabled train services
• Changes to services from Monday 27 December to Monday 3 January 2022
• Very limited services to or from Leeds station on Sunday 2 January – passengers urged to check before travelling

Network Rail and train operators are warning passengers of severe disruption to rail services tonight and into the weekend as wind speeds of up to 100mph are forecast.