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• Engineers will carry out final stage of work to upgrade 1970s track between Kentish Town and London St Pancras this Christmas and over New Year
• Improvements will bring a more modern reliable railway for passengers and reduce delays
• Reduced East Midlands Railway and Thameslink services from Monday 27 December until Tuesday 4 January – passengers reminded to plan ahead
• Additional Midland Main Line upgrades on Christmas Day and Boxing Day when no timetabled trains are running

Network Rail has submitted a planning application to Mid Devon District Council to reduce the frequency and duration of flooding on the railway at Hele and help prevent a vital link to the South West being cut off.

Network Rail’s purpose-built Rail Innovation and Development Centre (RIDC) reached a major milestone on the East Coast Digital Programme last month with the successful completion of dynamic testing of the Alstom-installed European Train Control System (ETCS) on rolling stock. The test was controlled from the ETCS National Integration Facility (ENIF).

As activity continues to prepare for the start of work on the Levenmouth Rail Link, Members of the Scottish Parliament Jenny Gilruth and David Torrance visited site to see first-hand the progress that has been made.

• Upgrades to the track and signalling on London’s Northern City Line continue over Christmas
• Major work will take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day when there are no timetabled services running
• Trains between Finsbury Park and Moorgate will divert into London King’s Cross on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December - passengers reminded to check their journey
• East Coast Digital Programme will boost reliability for passengers and reduce delays

Work has completed to relocate shops from ramps leading to platforms 8-11 allowing more space for rail travellers to move from the concourse to trains.

Network Rail volunteers teamed up with British Transport Police and train operator MTR to host a Christmas meal for people experiencing homelessness at the Queens Arms pub in Reading, run by local charity New Beginnings.

Rail passengers are being asked to plan ahead and check before the travel this festive period as Network Rail completes its annual planned railway upgrades.