Network Rail has delivered over £30 million worth of improvements at Paddington, Hayes & Harlington, Acton, Royal Wootton Bassett and Chippenham stations.

The work was carried out over 10 days during the Christmas period and included platform extensions, signalling works, and piling work. The projects were delivered ahead of electrification of the network.

Mark Langman, Network Rail's route managing director, said: "The new electric trains running from Hayes & Harlington to London Paddington are a true upgrade – to have thousands of extra seats, more frequent trains and a more reliable service is just the start of an exciting time for the railway in our region.

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"The upgrade will also see wider benefits with bottlenecks reduced and significant work delivered in preparation for electrification on the Great Western main line."

Nick Crossfield, Managing Director at Alstom UK & Ireland, who helped deliver the Paddington upgrade, added: "Alstom is proud to have supported Network Rail's orange army this Christmas, successfully delivering vital signalling upgrades on the western route near Paddington.

"Passengers will see immediate benefits to their journeys, and together we have also laid important groundwork for the successful introduction of Crossrail and the digital railway on this route. We look forward to continuing our close partnership with Network Rail in 2017."

(LM/JP)