Network Rail has awarded EDF Energy a ten-year deal for the supply of low carbon electricity to power Britain’s growing electrified rail network.

The Industry Strategic Business Plans (ISBP) published today brings the rail industry together in setting out a vison for the future of Britain’s railways. Under the leadership of the Rail Delivery Group the ISBPs set out how the industry will increase rail’s contribution to Great Britain’s economic, social and environmental welfare.

Network Rail today committed to continuing the biggest investment in infrastructure since the Victorian era, reducing costs and delivering more passengers on time than ever before – but also warned that tough choices need to be made if the industry is to meet these competing challenges and respond to ever rising demand from passengers.

The rail industry today set out a plan to deliver government priorities for rail and respond to the challenge to provide a better value railway for Britain and help drive economic growth.

Engineers have been working overnight to monitor flooding and to try to keep the railway open.

Period 9 of 2012/13: 11 November 2012 - 08 December 2012

Punctuality on the railways fell to 85.3% during period 9, according to monthly performance data released today by Network Rail. The data for Britain's train services covers the period from 11 November 2012 - 08 December 2012. This compares to 88.4% for the same period last year. The moving annual average is now at 91.5%.

Engineers have been at Hitchin on the East Coast main line since yesterday afternoon working to repair damaged overhead lines.

Network Rail today released station retail sales results showing a 2.37% growth in like-for-like sales from July to September 2012, compared to the same time the previous year. In the same period high street sales, reported by the British Retail Consortium, grew by 0.5%.