A bridge in the centre of Kendal which has been refurbished and repainted by Network Rail has reopened a week early.

The communities and businesses of south and west Devon and Cornwall were celebrating today as their rail link with the rest of the country was restored in time for the Easter holidays, following eight weeks of painstaking repairs to the storm-ravaged railway at Dawlish.

Four improved level crossings and 19 miles of new signalling will be brought into use in April as rail engineers carry out the next phase of investment to modernise the Great Northern Great Eastern (GNGE) line between Peterborough and Doncaster via Lincoln.

Rail passengers in the West Midlands can expect more trains, more seats, reduced congestion and improved stations as Network Rail today embarks on the largest national railway spending programme since Victorian times.

Rail passengers in the north west of England can expect more trains, more seats, reduced congestion and improved stations as Network Rail today embarks on the largest national railway spending programme since Victorian times.

Yorkshire’s rail passengers can look forward to more trains, more seats, reduced congestion and bigger, better stations as Network Rail embarks on its next five year investment programme.

Rail passengers in the North East can look forward to more trains, more seats, reduced congestion and bigger, better stations as Network Rail embarks on its next five year investment programme.

EMBARGOED UNTIL 01:00 MONDAY MARCH 31

Scotland’s passengers are set to benefit from an ambitious five-year, £5bn spending and investment programme that will transform today's railway.