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Network Rail has today announced the preferred bidders for the delivery of its c.£800m conventional track renewals and enhancements programme for the 2014-19 funding period, as well as a change to the way the company’s growing ‘high output’ track programme will be delivered.

The line between Crewe and Chester will be closed next week to allow Network Rail to carry out essential drainage improvement work.

Network Rail will start work to rebuild a bridge in Walsall town centre later this year as part of plans to electrify 15 miles of railway in the West Midlands.

Work has started to extend platforms at five stations between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street to provide the option for longer trains and extra seats on the Chiltern main line.

The search is on to find the photography that best captures the spirit of today’s rail network as it relates to the landscape around it. Entries are now open for the Take a view - Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards 2014, which celebrates imagery of the best sights our country has to offer.

Hassocks station’s new lifts have been formally opened, marking the culmination of a two-year project to improve facilities for the travelling public.

A section of disused railway line in Preston has been tidied and improved thanks to volunteers from Network Rail and other local organisations.

A new bonus scheme for Network Rail's executive directors is being proposed that would see bonuses significantly reduced from the current total bonus opportunity of 160% of salary per year to a maximum of 20%.