To help deliver improvement works at Reading station the section of the passenger bridge which links the station to the multi-storey car park will close for good on Friday March 1st as the newly refurbished subway opens on the same day.

In a move unique to the UK rail sector, Network Rail, Atkins, Laing O’Rourke and VolkerRail have formed the industry’s first ‘pure construction alliance’ to deliver the circa £250 million Stafford Area Improvement Programme (SAIP) on the West Coast Main Line.

Trees are to be planted along the railway in Whitstable next week to replace those which were recently removed for safety reasons.

Worcester Foregate Street rail bridge will officially be reopened at 11am on Friday 22 February by Network Rail and contractors J. Murphy & Sons Limited.

Residents will be able to find out about work to build a new stretch of track that will help to take more freight off the roads and onto rail.

Commenting on the Office of Rail Regulation’s quarterly performance monitor, which highlighted the impact of extreme weather on train performance, Network Rail chief executive David Higgins said: "We recognise that this has been a difficult period for passengers, with disruption on many lines due to extreme weather. Our staff worked tirelessly, often in difficult circumstances, to get the railway back up and running and we would like to thank passengers and train operators for bearing with us during this time."

The Rail Delivery Group’s leadership of Britain’s railways has been reinforced by its formalisation as Rail Delivery Group Limited.

Passengers in Reading will have a chance to see the massive improvements due to be completed in early April at a public exhibition in the station on the 19^th and 20^th February.