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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.

Passengers travelling from Manchester Piccadilly at weekends are being asked to allow extra time for their journeys and take extra care on the station due to the increase in passengers using the station over the Christmas period.

Network Rail engineers have begun the huge task of repairing railway lines in north Wales damaged by Thursday’s storm surge.

Passengers travelling from Birmingham New Street station on Friday nights and weekends are being asked to allow extra time for their journeys and take extra care on the station owing to the huge increase in passengers using the station to visit the city over the Christmas period.

The majority of the rail network in Scotland and the north of England has reopened this evening following the devastating impact of th e severe storm that has battered the north of the UK today with winds in excess of 140mph.

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.

As train services in Scotland start to run again as we clear routes of debris, ensuring they're safe, and opening them up for services, preparation is now underway for the storm surge expected to hit the east of England and East Anglia tonight and into the early hours of Friday morning.

Network Rail is warning passengers that a number of lines will be suspended from 16.30 today until 12.30 tomorrow in response to a severe flood warning.