Network Rail’s North & East route is preparing for a programme of major engineering works over the Christmas period, as part of £160 million of national railway investment taking place.
Much of the work will be completed while trains are not running, helping to minimise disruption, but some upgrades scheduled for early 2026 will affect services, with rail replacement buses in operation on certain days.
The largest element of the Christmas programme is the £3.3 million project to strengthen two platforms at Chesterfield station. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 40‑metre sections of platforms 1 and 2 will be reconstructed to improve long-term structural integrity, enhance passenger experience and reduce future maintenance costs.
Work begins at 10.30pm on Christmas Eve and continues until the early hours of 27 December, ensuring no impact on passenger services.
Over Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Network Rail teams will also renew switches and crossings – the crucial pieces of track that guide trains safely from one line to another – at Crofton West, South Kirkby, and Whitehall Junction in West Yorkshire.
These essential upgrades will help improve reliability and reduce future delays across the network.
Karen Duffy, North East Route Operations Director at Network Rail, said:
“This Christmas and new year, we’re making major strides on projects across the North & East route, as part of the national £130 million of investment to improve reliability and safety for passengers. These upgrades will help deliver a more resilient railway for the future. We’d like to thank passengers for their patience and encourage everyone to check before they travel.”
These works run alongside the Transpennine Route Upgrade, which is delivering Christmas and New Year improvements between Leeds and York as part of a long-term investment to improve reliability, journey times and capacity across the North.
With the bulk of major work scheduled during quieter travel periods, these upgrades will help ensure a safer, more reliable and more resilient railway for millions of passengers in 2026 and beyond.
Image credit: Network Rail
