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• Passengers flock to station retailers in the last three months of 2019
• Network Rail reports 4.48% total sales growth at Britain’s biggest and busiest stations, continuing to buck a negative high street trend
• Food and drink categories led the charge with passengers’ appetites for places to meet, eat, shop and travel continuing to grow

• Network Rail and Southeastern launch landmark day for women in UK rail
• All female train crew and signallers team up in commuter first
• Network Rail to increase female workforce by 50% by 2024
• Southeastern reveals one in five staff are women following pledge to increase diversity
• Watch the film of the landmark event here https://youtu.be/H1RsBBT9bq8

To celebrate World Book Day today (5 March) Network Rail has teamed up with the world’s most famous blue engine and pre-schooler favourite, Thomas the Tank Engine™ and will be giving away special edition books in Smyths stores.

Network Rail is to become an accredited Real Living Wage employer, ensuring that thousands of railway colleagues are paid appropriately to reflect the varied and vital work they carry out.

• Two of the railway’s most iconic feats of engineering will be celebrating their birthdays this week.
• Scotland’s treasured Forth Bridge will be celebrating the 130th anniversary of its opening.
• Whereas Wales’ landmark Britannia Bridge will be celebrating the 170th year since it went into operation.

• £113m to be invested to improve Britain’s rail network this Easter
• Vast majority of rail network open for ‘business as usual’, but passengers on affected routes should check before they travel
• Upgrade work will deliver better and more reliable rail services for passengers

• Three million plastic water bottles have been saved from landfill through the introduction of free drinking water fountains at stations
• Water fountains are now located in every Network Rail station
• Station water fountains can be found on City to Sea’s free Refill app

Network Rail has opened a dedicated STEM learning facility with the aim of inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in the science, technology, engineering and maths sectors and help close skills gaps in vital areas across Britain.