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Life-size railway track, rail inspection helicopter presentations and apprentices talking about their work experience will all be part of an open evening for parents and young people hosted by Network Rail as part of its partnership with UTC Reading – a new University Technical College specialising in computer science and engineering for 14-19 year olds, opening this September.

Passengers in Reading are being asked to prepare themselves for 10 days of changes to train services as their new station arrives this Easter.

Network Rail has awarded a major contract, with a value of approximately £130m, to Balfour Beatty Rail for the construction of a two-mile section of the Crossrail route from Plumstead to Abbey Wood in southeast London.

To help deliver improvement works at Reading station the section of the passenger bridge which links the station to the multi-storey car park will close for good on Friday March 1st as the newly refurbished subway opens on the same day.

Worcester Foregate Street rail bridge will officially be reopened at 11am on Friday 22 February by Network Rail and contractors J. Murphy & Sons Limited.

Passengers in Reading will have a chance to see the massive improvements due to be completed in early April at a public exhibition in the station on the 19^th and 20^th February.

It could have been a rude awakening for a pair of hibernating grass snakes discovered by Network Rail contractors in Slough last week – but thanks to expert advice the relaxing reptiles are continuing their slumber at a specialist wildlife centre until the spring.