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• Five-year plan continues biggest investment in infrastructure since the Victorian era
• £9bn investment includes electrification of the Great Western main line, paving the way for new trains and more seats

Three rail bridges in Slough and Hillingdon were demolished over the Christmas break as part of preparations for the arrival of new electric Crossrail trains.

Newton Abbot MP Anne Marie Morris today (Friday 21 December) officially opened Britains first grade II listed plastic footbridge at Dawlish station.

A total of 243 people have been involved in slips, trips and falls on stations along the Western route, according to the latest figures published by Network Rail.

Passengers will have a chance to see what changes are in store for 2013 at a public exhibition in Reading station on 11 and 12 December.

153 people have been involved in slips, trips or falls at stations across the Thames Valley in 2011/12 – the majority at Paddington station (53) - so Network Rail is urging passengers to watch their step in the run up to Christmas.

Network Rail has awarded two contracts for works in west London that will deliver important infrastructure improvements for the Crossrail programme, allowing greater numbers of passenger and freight trains to run more reliably once the new rail link opens in 2018.

Cutting-edge camera technology has been introduced by Network Rail and the British Transport Police to crack down on level crossing law-breakers and change drivers’ behaviour across the Thames Valley.