RAIL passengers heading to Blackpool this winter are being warned of several months of upgrade works which will affect travel to and from the seaside town.

Network Rail will be carrying out 19 weeks of work as part of the Great North Rail Project from November 11, including new signals and other track and platform upgrades.

Network Rail will be closing the railway between Blackpool and Preston and Northern will be providing bus replacement services in and out of Blackpool.

Trains from Bolton to Blackpool will terminate at Preston, where passengers will have to then get a bus from.

Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: “We recognise there will be temporary disruption, but the benefits for passengers will be significant when complete.

“We are investing billions of pounds in transport across the region and I am delighted that this project is on track to deliver what passengers have told us they want to see.”

For more information visit networkrail.co.uk/blackpool