Tens of thousands of tons of earth can be safely transported within a major rail development site near Stafford and kept off local roads after engineers completed the construction of a new bridge.

Staff from Network Rail and First Great Western will be taking part in a cycling and rowing challenge at Reading station tomorrow to raise money for Samaritans and highlight the invaluable work it does.

The search is on to find the photography that best captures the spirit of today’s rail network as it relates to the landscape around it. Entries are now open for the Take a view - Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards 2015, which celebrates imagery of the best sights our country has to offer.

• Re-shaped alliance to prioritise areas that deliver most for passengers
• Focus continues on joint delivery of major capacity enhancement plans

Demolition has begun at the site of one of the £6.5bn Thameslink Programme’s most crucial improvements.

Commenting on the publication of the Office of Rail and Road’s latest monitor of Network Rail’s performance, a Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail has recognised the scale of the challenge and has been openly reporting performance data regularly.

A new rail link and brand new station providing better services for passengers in Ebbw Vale was officially opened by The First Minister of Wales on Thursday.

A record £3.4bn was invested in expanding and growing Britain’s rail network over the last 12 months, Network Rail revealed today in its full-year results for the 2014/15 financial year.