Network Rail teams will be working at multiple locations in the North East on 19–20 September, 26–27 September, and 3–4 October. The package covers track renewals, switches and crossings upgrades, drainage improvements and replacement of overhead line equipment, alongside a separate £4.6 million scheme between North Berwick and Dunbar in Scotland.

Passengers are urged to plan ahead, check their journey before setting off and allow extra time. Some services will be diverted during line closures, while rail replacement buses will operate for certain stations between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

The improvements include:

- Installing more than 3.2km of new track at Heaton North, Morpeth and Shortridge to support smoother, more dependable journeys.

- Replacing or refurbishing eight sets of points at Heaton North, Morpeth, Alnmouth and Tweedmouth to boost reliability.

- Renewing 1.5km of overhead line equipment to strengthen electric train performance.

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- Upgrading track drainage at Scremerston and clearing over four miles of drainage systems to cut the risk of flooding and weather-related delays.

- Vegetation management to keep signals visible and prevent interference with overhead power lines.

- Mandatory safety inspections of track, points and structures to maintain a safe, reliable railway.

Gunnar Lindahl, joint operations director for Network Rail and LNER, said: "This is a major programme of work that will help deliver a more reliable railway between Newcastle and Scotland for passengers and freight customers. 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.

"By investing in this vital infrastructure now, we can 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."

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.

"Some trains can divert around the work, allowing customers to maintain direct rail connections. However, some stations will be served by rail replacement services. For those travelling on these weekends, we encourage you to check your journey before setting off and allow extra time to complete your journey."