Train services have returned to normal after Network Rail’s major programme of engineering work over the Christmas and New Year break, which blocked some lines.

However, more bad weather is likely to cause disruption again from tomorrow, as Storm Goretti arrives. Scotland is still dealing with the effects of heavy snow, and some trains on lines in the Highlands are cancelled today.

The Met Office has issued snow warnings affecting much of England and Wales from 18.00 tomorrow until midday on Friday, with rain, snow and high winds forecast.

The Christmas programme of railway renewals was not delayed by the weather, which was mostly mild and relatively dry. The largest engineering project to be carried out over Christmas and New Year was completed two days ago at 04.00.

The four running lines along 1500m of the West Coast Main Line north of Milton Keynes Central were replaced after the last trains ran on Christmas Eve.

Network Rail and its partner Central Rail Systems Alliance spent nearly a year planning and preparing for the work at Hanslope Junction, which has 16 sets of points forming its crossovers and is used by up to 500 trains a day.

Hundreds of workers replaced 130 track panels, renewed ballast and overhauled the crossings.

Other work included the renewal of Platform 4 at Milton Keynes Central, resurfacing of platforms at Wolverton, track renewals near Roade, a bridge upgrade near Stafford where the A518 crosses the railway, signalling upgrades at Preston, more work on commissioning a major digital signalling upgrade north of Carlisle, and the continuation of work to replace the 130m Clifton railway bridge over the M6 near Penrith.

There was a boost for rail freight in Scotland, after a nine-day closure at Mossend. During the possession more than 1500m of old track was replaced, 420m of drains were renewed, and signalling and overhead lines were upgraded.

Further south, the lines between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction were also reopened on Monday after an 11-day blockade for the upgrading of track and signalling at Queenstown Road (Battersea), where the platforms were also altered to align with a new track layout.

Meanwhile, two running lines on the Great Western Main Line were reopened on Sunday after engineers had renewed the points and overhead lines on the western side of Dolphin Junction between Langley and Slough, which used by up to 48 trains an hour. Elsewhere on Wales & Western work continued to build a new station in the North Filton area of Bristol. A freight line was closed temporarily to allow engineers to realign the track and improve drainage, while their colleagues worked on new foundations for the platforms.

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