PASSENGERS are being advised to avoid a main London to Scotland rail line over Christmas due to one of a series of engineering projects set to cause severe disruption over the holiday period.

PASSENGERS are being advised to avoid a main London to Scotland rail line over Christmas due to one of a series of engineering projects set to cause severe disruption over the holiday period.

The work on the West Coast main line, which connects Glasgow to London, means the line will be shut between Euston station in London and Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire four four days between Christmas and New Year.

The line will shut after the last trains on Christmas Eve and will not reopen until Monday December 29.

It will also be closed between Stafford and Crewe from late on Christmas Eve until Sunday December 28 as part of a £250m investment to provide faster services and capacity for more trains.

To minimise disruption Network Rail and Virgin Trains, who operate the West Coast franchise, are urging passengers travelling between London and Scotland to use alternative routes. Journeys on the West Coast line will take longer than usual over this period due to detours and replacement bus services on some sections.

Jim Syddall, acting route managing director for Network Rail, said: ??There is never a good time to carry out this type of work and we have liaised closely with the train operators to plan for it to take place at a traditionally quieter time on the railway.

??We apologise for the inconvenience caused but the work is essential to improve the network and maintain reliable services for the millions of passengers who travel on the West Coast main line every year.??

The four day closure is part of a series of short-term fixes brought in by Network Rail to minimise disruption on the key rail route.

Network Rail had originally planned a 16-day closure in August 2014 and nine-day closure in February 2015. However, following negative feedback revised this to eight weekend and bank holiday closures resulting.

There will also be weekend closures in February and April 2015.