Railway passengers are in line for "smoother journeys" after hundreds of new metres of track was installed.

Workers were very busy over the May bank holiday making improvements to the line near Watford Junction.

Network Rail closed the entire West Coast mainline between Milton Keynes and London Euston so that railway staff could work safely to deliver the changes at the "crucial junction" in Watford.

The junction is being remodelled between May and Easter next year and around half of the work has been completed so far, showcased by a series of photos taken from Watford over the bank holiday.

Network Rail says the work in Watford was part of a major project to improve the track layout and signalling system to improve future journeys for passengers and freight on this major section of the West Coast main line.

Network Rail said renewing the track near Watford will make it more reliable. Credit: London Euston

Network Rail said renewing the track near Watford will make it more "reliable". Credit: London Euston

Engineering trains were used to help complete the work. Credit: London Euston

Engineering trains were used to help complete the work. Credit: London Euston

Earlier this month, six engineering trains were used to lay 1,560 tonnes of new track foundation stone – or ballast, as well as install six hundred metres of new track.

The time was also used to replace 16 switches and crossings.

These are moveable diamond shaped sections of track which guide trains from one track to another and allow them to cross paths.

Because they come under extra strain when trains travel across them, they need replacing more frequently than regular rails due to wear.

Network Rail says the track will now be more reliable. Credit: London Euston

Network Rail says the track will now be more "reliable". Credit: London Euston

Network Rail says this area of track near Watford is a crucial junction. Credit: London Euston

Network Rail says this area of track near Watford is a "crucial junction". Credit: London Euston

London Euston tweeted the while the work was ongoing: "Beautiful new track at #Watford making for smoother passenger journeys."

James Dean, Network Rail’s West Coast South route director, said ahead of the May bank holiday closure: "There is never an ideal time to shut the railway and we have worked hard to minimise disruption across the spring and summer – including moving work over the Easter and Spring bank holidays.

"It is fantastic to see more passengers return to the railway and we want to make journeys as easy as possible for those travelling over bank holidays. We are carefully balancing that with the need to carry out essential railway improvements and maintenance to provide a safe and reliable railway for the future.

"The scale of work planned this May will mean changes for passengers, but we’re working with train companies to minimise disruption to people as much as possible."