Punctuality on the railways reached 91.3% during Period 5, according to monthly performance data released today by Network Rail.

Rail staff and community volunteers are out in force this week to spruce-up the surroundings of the developing station at Energlyn and Churchill Park in Caerphilly.

Sir Bernard Zissman, Chairman of the original judging panel responsible for selecting the winning design for Birmingham New Street station’s refurbishment has visited the completed first phase of the station transformation and had a sneak preview of what is still to come for this exciting project.

· Proposals targeting 15% capacity increase by 2019
· Work starts to procure more than 135 extra carriages for suburban routes
· Infrastructure investment to help drive reliability improvements

Network Rail and its partners have begun work to create a prototype battery-powered train, part of an industry study into the feasibility of using electric trains on parts of the network which have not been electrified.

A series of essential preparatory works have begun in support of the proposed new railway flyover at Norton Bridge.

Network Rail has been granted planning permission for a major redevelopment of the goods yard at Hexham station and will start on site during August to create a modern £8m retail facility. This investment will also deliver station improvements for passengers.