Improvements and maintenance on the Londons's road, Tube and rail network has been completed successfully by Transport for London (TfL) and contractors over Christmas and the New Year.

On the London Underground , engineers reportedly worked for more than 40,000 hours on various projects that they claim will help improve the service for customers.

Across the capital, various pedestrian safety, cycling and road modernisation work was also completed.

To limit disruption to road, Tube and rail users, the work was carried out over the festive period including on Christmas day when, according to TfL, there was 20% less traffic on the road than usual and less demand on Tube and London Overground services.

On the London Underground network, engineers installed a new underground track section for the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines at King's Cross, which they say will help increase frequency of trains in the future.

TfL also installed 314 metres of new track and 210 metres of new ballast, the crushed stones in between the track, at Paddington .

Eight new electrically-operated points machines were also installed which control the direction of the trains at Heathrow .

This replaced 1960s technology and increases the reliability of services through the area.

Engineers also fitted 120 low noise and low vibration track-securing plates at Earl's Court along with a new station fire escape footbridge at Ealing Common and four sets of points at Hammersmith Depot.

Hundreds of Network Rail staff carried out major work to track, signalling and stations in preparation for the introduction of the new Crossrail trains in 2017 and the opening of the central section of TfL-run Crossrail in 2018.

Work also took place at Whitechapel to rebuild the station in preparation for Crossrail and to enable the recently extended London Overground trains to be able to use the full platform length later this year.

Mike Brown MVO, London's Transport Commissioner, said: "London's population is growing very rapidly so we need to work harder than ever to make sure that our roads, Tube and rail services are modernised, well-maintained and able to keep the city working and growing.

"We planned this work very carefully during this quieter period to limit disruption to road, Tube and rail users, and our staff and contractors have worked flat out to get everything completed.

"My thanks to Londoners for their patience while the work was carried out."