Rail delays to plague travellers

Rail passengers in the Black Country trying to reach relatives over Christmas and New Year will face more disruption than usual because of engineering work.

Busier routes around the region will see trains replaced by buses as part of an £8.6 billion programme of work by Network Rail to replace outdated track along the West Coast London Euston to Glasgow route.

There will also be no London Midland trains on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and Saturday services will operate on other days over the period.

London Midland managing director Steve Banaghan said: "All train operators including London Midland are accommodating a significant programme of engineering work across the rail network in the coming weeks.

"Although this work is vital to ongoing network improvements, it will create some short-term disruption for passengers."

Meanwhile passengers using Arriva CrossCountry services are being urged to book in advance for any journeys between December 22 and January 1.

Information of the changes is available at www.londonmidland.com on 0845 6024277 through National Rail Enquiries on www.nationalrail.co.uk or telephone 0845 7484950.