RAIL passengers travelling north are facing a month of disruption with the start of major engineering work on the West Coast Main Line.

All weekend north-bound services from Preston have been cancelled until February 8.

Services from Virgin West Coast, Virgin Cross Country and First North Western will all be affected by the work to upgrade the line.

Local services will be replaced by a bus service between Preston, Lancaster and the North.

The West Coast Main Line trains will be diverted through Blackburn and then up to Carlisle.

Those planning to travel at the weekend are advised to contact National Rail Enquiries or Trains from Bolton

RAIL passengers cannot make advance bookings on Virgin Trains because of engineering work on the tracks.

Virgin says Network Rail, which is responsible for the large programme of repairs along the West Coast Main Line, could not tell them when work would be completed.