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Engineers raced to make emergency repairs on the West Coast main line to avoid major disruption to 1m tonnes of freight being moved on the railway line each week.

Network Rail’s Paddington station team have showed their appreciation for the NHS and their neighbours at St Mary’s Hospital by erecting a giant banner to the side of the station.

Network Rail will carry out vital maintenance and upgrades across Wales and the west this Easter to ensure it can continue to move critical freight and passengers, who are reminded to make essential journeys only.

Abseiling teams have been securing a steep railway cutting making it more reliable for passengers on the line between Liverpool and Ormskirk.

Manchester Piccadilly station has opened a collection point for food bank donations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Network Rail and Great Northern are urging passengers to check before travelling over the Easter weekend as an essential project to create a more modern and reliable railway in Bowes Park takes place.

Over the Easter weekend, Network Rail will work to install a new underpass beneath the railway in Bessacarr in a £3.5million investment which will help to improve safety in the area.

• Only essential journeys should be made over the Easter weekend
• West Coast main line upgrades include work at Bletchley, Wolverhampton and Chorley to improve services for passengers
• People who do need to use the railway should check before they travel