Most lines will be affected by works over Christmas

Performing major renewal work during the festive period was expensive, but it was the quietest time, he said.

The railways are being repaired at more than 100 locations over Christmas and New Year, affecting almost all lines.

Closures are expected on some sections, with buses set to replace some trains at least until the end of the year.

'Obvious time'

Mr Howells was speaking at Clapham Junction station on Tuesday as he met engineers replacing a road bridge.

I think if you tell passengers what's going on, they will understand Transport Minister Kim Howells

He said: "This is an obvious time to disrupt the railways and I think the public understand this - it's the quietest time of the whole year and the public seemed to understand the need for work at Bank Holiday times last August."

Mr Howells said the public had been "kept in the dark" about similar work in the past.

"I think if you tell passengers what's going on, they will understand", he added.

He said there were "huge financial penalties" for contractors who overrun their jobs, so most of the work would be done within the planned time.

No services

As usual there will be no services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day other than trains to Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports.

Major works outside of the two days include those on the two main London to Scotland routes.

The Great Western main line will be closed between Taunton and Tiverton from 25 December until 30 December, inclusive.

On the same days the West Coast main line will be closed between Stockport and Manchester, while the line's Stafford-Crewe section is currently closed until 2 January.

Services will be delayed on the East Coast main line between 25 and 28 December, due to points renewal and replacement work at Welwyn Garden City.

And the bridge replacement scheme at Clapham Junction will affect routes to Sussex until the line reopens on 28 December.

Network Rail said alternative travel arrangements, such as replacement buses and diversions, would keep disruption to an "absolute minimum".