A new approach to railway engineering this Christmas has helped reduce delays for passengers and saved taxpayer-funded Network Rail hundreds of thousands of pounds by allowing trains to run at high speed after Network Rail’s recent £150m Christmas engineering programme.

Network Rail today apologised to rush-hour train passengers delayed by a fault with signalling equipment.

UK Government Rail Minister Claire Perry and Scottish Government Transport Minister Derek Mackay joined Network Rail managing director for Scotland Phil Verster at Lamington today to see the ongoing operation to repair a vital viaduct on the West Coast Mainline.

Passengers travelling on the line between Stansted Airport and London at weekends in January are being advised to check before they travel as Network Rail will be installing new track as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan.

Passengers travelling between Carlisle and Newcastle are advised of disruption to journeys following a second landslip near Hexham.

Schola Green Lane footpath crossing in Morecambe is to be improved and made safer for local people crossing the railway thanks to a £30,000 investment by Network Rail.

Across Britain, hundreds of thousands of passengers and businesses will now be feeling the benefits of the successful completion of Network Rail's £150m Christmas Railway Upgrade Plan resulting in better, more reliable train services and improved passenger facilities.

Network Rail has begun the work needed to enable the reopening of Plumpton level crossing, in Sussex.