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Passengers planning a getaway this bank holiday weekend are reminded to check before they travel as Network Rail will be replacing a bridge at Barnard’s Lock near Newbury in Berkshire which will help speed up journeys.

Network Rail have earmarked £1million to improve facilities at London Paddington, Reading and Bristol Temple Meads as part of their drive to put passengers first and improve their experience of travelling by rail.

This afternoon (Tuesday 16 April) Teignbridge District Council approved Network Rail’s plans to deliver a new sea wall at Dawlish that will provide increased protection from extreme weather and rising sea levels for generations to come.

Four railway stations across Network Rail’s Western route, which runs from Paddington to Penzance and as far north as Worcester, will benefit from a share of £300 million ‘Access for All’ funding.

Thirty years ago, on 4 April 1989, Her Majesty the Queen officially opened ‘The New Reading Station’, following upgrade work to improve passenger facilities.

A new pedestrian and cycle route will open in Reading later this month after two railway bridges were upgraded to create more space for a new cycle path and footpath.

Are you interested in finding out more about what it’s like to work on the railway? Members of the public are invited to attend an open day at one of Network Rail’s maintenance depots in Swindon, a historic railway town with links to the industry dating back to 1843 – almost 180 years.

Network Rail’s Western route is celebrating the hard work of all the fabulous mothers working on the railway, who balance being a full time mum with careers in an industry which runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – including times when most people are enjoying time off with their families, such as Christmas, Easter and bank holidays.