EXTENSIVE maintenance work is taking place this Christmas and New Year on the West Coast main line.

Most of the improvements will be taking place from the end of service on Christmas Eve until the railway fully reopens on 27 December.

Tim Shoveller, managing director of Network Rail’s North West and Central region.

“I know there is never a good time to disrupt journeys while we carry out large pieces of work but whenever possible we do this at times when there are significantly fewer people travelling by train, such as Christmas and other bank holidays," said Tim Shoveller, managing director of Network Rail’s North West and Central region.

"I appreciate people have important plans so I urge them to please plan ahead and check before they travel for the latest journey information.”

Major projects on the West Coast route involve Euston station improvements in preparation for HS2 and railway drainage improvements between Preston and Lancaster.

Passengers whose journeys could be affected are being urged to plan ahead and check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator.