Network Rail Media Centre

Work to electrify the railway between Preston and Blackpool will begin next month.

The upgrade, part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan, will provide passengers with better, more reliable journeys and is part of a £1bn+ Northern Programmes investment to enable electric trains to operate on this line of route.

Network Rail volunteer Tom Crosby received the Judges Special Award at last night’s National Rail Awards. Tom was recognised for the fantastic work he does highlighting the dangers of trespass to children and young adults and received a standing ovation for the fantastic work he’s done in his community.

• Network Rail’s Advanced Apprenticeship scheme to expand by 50 per cent in 2017
• 100 extra apprenticeships places will be up for grabs next year boosting the number of places on offer during the year to 300
• Scheme expanded to two apprentice intakes each year in March and September

• Network Rail hosts roundtable discussion with partner organisations to discuss how to further reduce suicide rates ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day
• Health Secretary commits an extra £1 billion in mental health services, which will benefit an additional one million people per year

• Almost 200 sites across the country have been identified as development opportunities to deliver land by 2020 for around 12,000 homes
• A plan has been put in place to deliver land for 5,000 homes in London, 3,600 homes in Manchester and the North, 1,700 homes in the Midlands and the East of England and 1,400 homes in the South of England
• Network Rail continues to assess these sites to maximise their housing potential, and continues to review its assets to see how many more sites can be released