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Train customers in the West Midlands are being urged to plan journeys in advance and allow extra time over the festive period while work takes place to make the railway more reliable.

• Passengers reminded of service alterations in Southampton area from 24 December to 1 January as upgrade work takes place
• Network Rail and South Western Railway advise passengers to plan their journey ahead and travel before Christmas Eve on Sunday 24^th December if possible

Christmas came early for festive travellers today as they were greeted by a merry band of Network Rail volunteers who carried their luggage and heavy bags for them.

Over the weekend, engineers working at West Calder took a massive step forward in the delivery of a new accessible footbridge at the station.

• Network Rail will be working to deliver more than 260 projects across Britain over Christmas
• The £160m investment is crucial to providing more frequent, faster services and help relieve over-crowding
• Service restrictions will be in place from Saturday 23^rd December to 1^st January

Network Rail is advising passengers in Hampshire to check before they travel on Monday morning (18 December) due to over running engineering work.

Network Rail engineers will deliver a £3.5m investment to renew a key junction in Coatbridge this Christmas.

Shoppers at London Waterloo will be able to benefit from a free Christmas wrapping service for gifts bought in station shops on Monday and Tuesday next week.