Railway tunnel under city shuts

Southampton train passengers are facing disruption as the railway tunnel beneath the city is due to close for 10 days from Christmas Day.

Work is being carried out to increase the height of the tunnel.

It is part of a £71m upgrade to allow the new generation of larger freight containers to travel to the docks by rail instead of road.

Work began in November and Network Rail said the upgrade would mean 50,000 fewer lorries a year on the roads.

It recognised that the work would cause some disruption for passengers over the festive period.

The tunnel will reopen again on 4 January.

A revised timetable affecting off-peak and weekend services will be operated until 10 January.