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Mackerel in May, asparagus in autumn and figs in February - the demands of Britain’s shoppers for goods out of season, rapid delivery and specialist produce are today helping to fill 80 more freight trains per week compared to this time last year, according to new research from Network Rail.  Figures show this demand has been steadily increasing over the last decade, with a 75% uplift in the volume of consumer goods travelling by train since 2005.

Passengers and station users spent more than £11m at coffee retailers at Britain’s biggest and busiest railway stations from April to June 2015, purchasing the equivalent of 5.1 million cups of coffee. This is up more than 6% on last years’ figures and helped Network Rail achieve a 13^th successive quarter of station retail growth, with all profits reinvested in the railway.

The six-week project to lower and replace track in Bath and the surrounding area ready for electrification of the Great Western main line has been confirmed as the single biggest track renewals project  ever undertaken by Network Rail.

The first of a new fleet of engineering trains which will revolutionise the way Network Rail’s ‘orange army’ carries out railway maintenance and repair work enters service this week.

Network Rail’s 14,000-strong orange army completed a £47m package of investment works as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan over the August bank holiday.

Network Rail today pledged to change its approach as it seeks to boost the number of women working on the railways after new research revealed that girls as young as seven have an ‘unconscious bias’ against engineering and by 14, many have fully switched off from it as a career option.

Network Rail has today published new and updated information on its online transparency portal, including payments made for disruption on the railway and its performance under Freedom of Information.

Four railway workers – from an apprentice to a track manager who has given more than 30 years’ service – are to feature in a new series of adverts advising passengers about engineering work at bank holidays.