TRAIN users across the region face festive travel chaos as Network Rail carries out improvements.

Increased work on the crossrail, electrification and Reading projects will see services reduced.

High speed and long distance routes from Swindon Station will be affected from 5pm on Christmas Eve.

Some regional services will be disrupted between Saturday, December 27 and Saturday, January 3.

First Great Western has advised commuters to check train times and plan their routes.

The £45m Reading viaduct is one of the final phases of the Reading redevelopment project which will separate fast moving trains between London and the West from slower moving freight trains travelling between the South Coast and the Midlands.

The new Reading viaduct is due to be in use from Sunday, January 4.

The entire redevelopment will be completed next summer. This will follow the final installation of track, after the railway to the west of the station is remodelled over Easter.

“Given the amount of work that they have to do it is fair and reasonable that they need to do it around this period,” said Graham Ellis, of TransWilts community rail partnership.

“They are working towards a 24-hour rail service and this work helps make things more robust.”

Network Rail has apologised to the public for any issues they encounter.

Patrick Hallgate, Network Rail’s managing director for the Western route, said: “This work represents a major investment in this part of the rail network and will lead to huge improvements for passengers, including more services and reduced journey times, enhancing their travelling experience.

“We have been working closely with First Great Western to minimise disruption and ensure the work is completed in as short a time frame as possible.

“This is an exciting time for the Great Western route and we ask that you bear with us over the Christmas period as we undertake this extensive improvement work to create a better railway for passengers and those living near to the railway line.”

First Great Western’s managing director, Mark Hopwood said: “We have been talking to our passengers about these projects for some time and we are grateful to them for their understanding while we work to keep disruption to a minimum.

The upgrades are important to improve our customers’ travel experiences both now and for the future, paving the way for faster and more reliable services.”