The government has made £7.6 million available for new technology to improve the railways. Rail minister Wendy Morton has announced this year’s First of Kind competition, which invites bids from companies specialising in innovative ways to modernise rail. In partnership with Innovate UK, this year’s competition will award up to £7.6 million to projects creating ideas that are intended to improve rail travel and reduce carbon emissions. The competition will run from 20 April until 8 June.

Opening date set for Reston station

Scottish transport minister Jenny Gilruth has announced that the restored station at Reston will open on 23 May. The two-platform station will be fully accessible, and replaces the original station at Reston which was closed in 1964. Reston is on the East Coast Main Line in Berwickshire, between Dunbar and Berwick-upon-Tweed. The project was the result of a £20 million investment by the Scottish Government and includes 70 park and ride car parking spaces.