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More than 150 railway workers and engineers will upgrade the railway between London, Gatwick Airport and the south coast this Christmas as one of the biggest investments ever undertaken on the Brighton mainline is completed by Network Rail.

Richard Schofield, route managing director, Network Rail, said: “Fallen trees, debris and over-head line issues from today’s storm have impacted the railway in the region and we’d like to thank passengers for their patience.

The start of a major improvement programme to renew the infrastructure at London Waterloo station is planned to take place during the Christmas period.

Network Rail is due to begin work to rebuild the A509 Pytchley Road in Kettering on Monday 9 December as part of a £70m investment to cut journey times on the Midland Main Line between London and Sheffield.

Network Rail is inviting young people from across the Thames Valley area to its delivery unit in Reading this weekend to experience life as a railway apprentice and meet the people and high-tech kit involved in keeping Britain’s rail network running.

Network Rail is inviting young people from across the Oxfordshire and Thames Valley regions to its delivery unit in Didcot to experience life as a railway apprentice and meet the people and high-tech kit involved in keeping Britain’s rail network running.

The construction of a new 2km viaduct in Reading has reached a key milestone after the first pre-cast concrete beams, which will form the base that trains will run on, were lifted into place.