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• Approximately 1,500 litres of white paint - the equivalent of 30,000 square metres - will be applied to sections of the rail network to help keep passengers moving in very hot weather

• Last year buckled rails due to hot weather caused over 240 days (350,006 minutes) of delays for passengers

Rail passengers are being reminded to plan their journeys in advance over this Easter bank holiday period (Friday 18 - Monday 21 April) as Network Rail delivers an £86m investment programme consisting of more than 300 upgrade projects across the country.

Network Rail has awarded contracts worth up to £1.1 billion to four suppliers of on-track maintenance machines vital in maintaining and renewing Britain's railway network.

• New survey data reveals 59% of Brits don’t know what the ‘third’ or electric rail is
• 38% believe that electrocution from rail tracks can hurt but won’t cause serious injury
• “It's heartbreaking to see preventable injuries devastate lives”. New hard-hitting campaign is launched to educate people of the horrific consequences of straying onto the tracks as railway trespass spikes during British Summer Time

Network Rail and partners Drone Major Limited and Dronecloud have begun trials of “beyond visual line of sight” aerial operations on the railway to test a concept that could bring major improvements for passengers and rail freight customers.

Sir Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of Network Rail, has advised the Board that he has decided to retire from the company in October 2025. 

Railway 200 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.

So far, over 300 events celebrating the past, present and future of the railway have been scheduled across Britain over the coming year. More events are being added to Railway 200's website every week.

The following is a list of events in April and May.

• Mind the ‘generation gap’: only 54% of Gen Z know fly-tipping is a crime compared to 92% of boomers
• Network Rail releases new research to highlight the negative impact fly-tipping has on the railway and wildlife habitats