A £4.6 million programme to improve the reliability, resilience and long-term performance of the East Coast Main Line will start next month.

The upgrades focus on the section between North Berwick and Dunbar on the route that connects Edinburgh Waverley with London King's Cross, helping to keep trains running smoothly for years to come.

To allow engineers to work safely and efficiently, the line between Edinburgh and Newcastle will be closed from Saturday 19 September to Monday 21 September, and again from Saturday 26 September to Monday 28 September.

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During these closures, one kilometre of track will be renewed at Hedderwick, new drainage will be installed, and a further half a kilometre of rails will be replaced at Ninewar.

A separate project to stabilise a railway cutting at Howburn, near Reston, will also be delivered while the line is closed.

Further engineering will take place south of the border between Newcastle and Berwick on Saturday 3 October and Sunday 4 October.

Ross Moran, route director at Network Rail Scotland, said: "This is an important investment in the East Coast Main Line, helping us deliver a more reliable railway for passengers and freight customers travelling on essential cross-border services.

"We know the closures will be inconvenient for some passengers, and we'd like to thank them for their patience while this work takes place.

"By closing the line over weekends, our engineers can carry out a significant amount of work safely and efficiently, reducing the need for future maintenance and keeping the railway running smoothly for years to come."