Instead of enjoying Christmas festivities, Network Rail engineers will be working between Bayford and Watton-at-Stone in Hertfordshire on a £250,000 project to improve the reliability train services.

The work will take place between Christmas Eve, 24 and Wednesday, 27 December. Teams of Network Rail engineers will be renewing the overhead line equipment that provides electric powers for trains on the route. Renewal of the equipment will ensure a more modern and reliable railway, with less chance disruption.

The Christmas period has been chosen to do the work as it is the time when it will cause the least impact to passengers, especially as no trains run on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. The line between Bayford and Watton-at-Stone is on the route from Moorgate to Stevenage via Hertford North.

James Wright, senior portfolio manager for Network Rail, will be working on the project over the festive period, and said: “The work we’re doing this Christmas will help to provide a more modern and reliable railway for passengers.

“I’ll be working on site over the festive period to make sure that the work runs smoothly and to support the wider team.

“This work is part of a wider programme of improvements to overhead line equipment in this area, and we look forward to completing this work so that passengers can reap the benefits.”