TRAIN passengers between Dumbarton and Helensburgh will see their journeys disrupted early in the new year.

Network Rail has announced "vital" infrastructure improvement works at Craigendoran near Helensburgh on Tuesday, January 2.

Buses will replace trains between Helensburgh Central and Dumbarton Central all day, calling at Craigendoran, Cardross and Dalreoch.

In addition, services on the West Highland line to and from Oban, Fort WIlliam and Mallaig will be replaced by buses between Crianlarich and Glasgow on the same day, while there will be no West Highland service on the Caledonian Sleeper.

Network Rail says it hopes that carrying out the work on January 2 will minimise disruption, since that date is a public holiday in Scotland.

Gerry McQuade, capital delivery director for Network Rail Scotland, said: “Our work over the festive period is designed to protect the railway infrastructure and improve passengers’ experience when travelling by train.

“We are pleased to be able to deliver most of this work without any impact on services as it’s being carried out when trains are not running.

"We are, however, urging passengers to plan ahead and check their journey in advance.”

The works are part of a £15m investment to help to keep Scotland’s railway reliable for passengers and freight services.