1Work has begun on a major upgrade of the northern rail line.
2The project will replace ageing track and signals along the route.
3Engineers say the line has not been modernised for forty years.
4The work is expected to take around eighteen months to complete.
5Passengers should prepare for disruption, especially at weekends.
6Replacement buses will run while sections of track are closed.
7Journey times may increase by up to forty minutes on some days.
8The rail company has apologised for the inconvenience in advance.
9A spokesperson said the short-term pain would bring long-term gains.
10Once finished, trains should run faster and more reliably.
11New signalling will allow services to run every fifteen minutes.
12Stations along the route will also get longer platforms.
13That will permit longer trains with more seats at peak times.
14Commuter groups have broadly welcomed the investment.
15However, they want clearer information about timetable changes.
16One passenger group criticised the cost of replacement bus tickets.
17The transport minister defended the project during a visit today.
18She said delays on the line had reached unacceptable levels.
19Nearly one in five trains arrived late during the past year.
20The first phase of work will be completed before the winter.