Passengers travelling over the river Tees will be using a slightly new route after Christmas as Network Rail engineers use the holiday to move track and signals onto a new bridge which has been constructed alongside the old one.
Engineers have been on site since November to install the track on the new structure on the route between Darlington and Saltburn.
The work is being carried out at Christmas when no trains are scheduled to run and will not affect any rail services.
Sixty-four people will be on site from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day to complete the work and re-open the line for services on 27 December.
Warrick Dent, general manager for Network Rail, said:
“Around the network thousands of people are working to complete rail improvements this Christmas.
“This is just one example of how we are using new techniques and equipment to complete that work efficiently and minimise the impact on train services.”
The old bridge will be demolished in due course.
