Media centre

Network Rail has teamed up with Newcastle University, Met Office and MetDesk to run a Weather Academy pilot programme, bringing together rail operations staff, asset engineers and meteorology experts to identify ways of delivering a safer, more reliable service for passengers during adverse and extreme weather.

• Vast majority of the rail network – more than 95% – will be open for business as usual for passengers travelling by train over the festive period
• Most of the £120m upgrade work planned for when passenger trains don't run – such as on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and overnight – to keep passengers moving over the holidays.
• Some routes will be affected by essential work, passengers advised to plan journeys in advance

• More than 1,800 bridges were hit in 2021/22, with the most bashed - Stonea Road bridge in Cambridgeshire - struck 33 times

• Bridge strikes cost Network Rail almost £12 million in delay and cancellation fees in 2021/22

• Network Rail has released a new animation urging lorry drivers to ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ by knowing the height of their vehicles and choosing suitable routes before they head out on journeys

• Professor Green, Gail Porter, Simon Weston, Paul McKenna and Tracey Cox were amongst the star line-ups
• More than 60 speakers and 50 pick ‘n’ mix sessions
• Winners of the Wellbeing Hero Awards: Andy Healey, Siemens Mobility and the Core Valley Lines team, Amey
• All sessions are available on demand for two weeks until Thursday 17 November.

• Passengers are being reminded to only travel if necessary on Saturday 5, Monday 7 and Wednesday 9 November, as RMT strike action is set to severely impact train services across the country

• Disruption to services also likely in the early morning of the day after each strike – Sunday 6 November, Tuesday 8 November, and Thursday 10 November – as workers return to duties.

• Trains will start later and finish much earlier than usual on these dates, between 7.30am and 6.30pm. Those who must travel should expect disruption, plan ahead and check when their last train will depart

Space-age technology using lasers and plasma jets are being trialled as a more sustainable way to vaporise autumn leaves from railway lines and minimise passenger delays in the future.

The parents of a young boy who was electrocuted by overhead power cables have launched a new rail safety campaign film in conjunction with British Transport Police, Network Rail and the wider rail industry.