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Network Rail’s orange army will soon be starting the next phase of work to prepare the Great Western Main Line in the Newbury area for a new fleet of electric trains.

Trials of additional ticket barriers will take place at Bristol Temple Meads station in the coming weeks as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan, with the aim of easing passenger congestion during peak travel times.

Over 10,000 children in Wales and the borders have received vital rail safety education in the past ten months.

Employees from Network Rail visited a number of Newport schools this week in a bid to bridge the skills gap and inspire a new generation of children into rail careers.

Passengers and residents in Gloucester will soon benefit from a safer, more reliable level crossing on Horton Road as Network Rail prepares to carry out a full renewal of the crossing’s equipment.

Over 40 tonnes of soot has been removed from the Severn Tunnel – an important milestone in the preparatory work ahead of a six week project to upgrade the railway running through the 130-year-old tunnel this autumn.

• Network Rail staff visit local schools to educate young people on the dangers associated with the railways

• Network Rail is upgrading the lines to support the new electric trains which will be used on the Elizabeth Line and the trains on the Great Western route.

• The new Electric Over Head Line system which carries 25,000 volts will be turned on in 2017 across the Thames Valley.

Residents in Truro, Cornwall, will soon benefit from an upgrade to the Saveock bridge as Network Rail prepares to carry out extensive improvement work that will ensure the future of this vital route for motorists into and out of the city centre.