RAIL passengers in England and Scotland face major disruption next month due to a £7.1 million upgrade project between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
Essential engineering work will take place over three weekends, with line closures affecting travel on September 19 and 20, September 26 and 27, and October 3 and 4.
The project includes track renewal, upgrades to switches and crossings, drainage improvements, and renewing overhead line equipment.
"This is a major programme of work that will help deliver a more reliable railway between Newcastle and Scotland for passengers and freight customers," said Gunnar Lindahl, joint operations director for Network Rail and LNER.
"These three weekends of work will see us deliver a significant package of improvements, renewing track, points, drainage and overhead line equipment across the route."
More than 3.2km of new track will be laid at Heaton North, Morpeth, and Shortridge.
Eight sets of points will be replaced or refurbished at key locations including Alnmouth and Tweedmouth.
A total of 1.5km of overhead line equipment will be renewed, and track drainage at Scremerston will be improved, with more than four miles of drainage systems.
Mr Lindahl added: "By investing in this vital infrastructure now, we can improve reliability, reduce the risk of delays caused by flooding and failures, and help provide smoother, more reliable journeys for passengers and freight services.
"We know that engineering work causes disruption to passengers and we're sorry to anyone whose journey will be affected.
"We want to thank passengers and residents for their patience while this essential work takes place."
Services will be significantly affected.
CrossCountry will operate replacement buses between Newcastle and Edinburgh, calling at Morpeth, Alnmouth, and Berwick-upon-Tweed.
LNER will divert trains via Carlisle, with extended journey times, and stations including Morpeth and Berwick will be served by replacement buses.
Passengers are urged to check their journeys in advance through National Rail Enquiries or their train operator.
A spokesperson for the train operating companies said: "These improvements will help deliver a more reliable railway for our customers, and we're working hard as an industry to keep people moving over these weekends."
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