The new chair of Network Rail has warned that the creation of Great British Railways and associated reforms must never be at the expense of safety and performance. Richard George was speaking after his appointment had been announced by transport secretary Heidi Alexander. She has also named former Network Rail chief

Most lines have been cleared and reopened following Storm Goretti last week, but problems caused by winter weather are continuing in some places. Trains between Shrewsbury and Llandrindod on the Heart of Wales line are being replaced by buses following weather damage, while buses are also replacing trains on two Cornish

Train services have returned to normal in most places after the disruption caused by Storm Goretti, but there are still problems in the West Midlands, Wales and Cornwall. There are still no trains today between Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street, while National Rail said services between Birmingham New Street, Lichfield Trent

Network Rail engineers are checking lines in many parts of the country for damage and obstructions after Storm Goretti moved east last night. Winds of up to 160km/h (100mph) were reported, with a rare red warning in force in most of Cornwall. Passenger services west of Plymouth are still suspended this morning, and

Train services in many parts of Britain are being reduced in preparation for the arrival of Storm Goretti. There are amber snow warnings affecting Wales, the Midlands, the South West and Yorkshire & Humber, while an amber wind warning has been issued for Cornwall, where gusts could reach 145km/h (90mph) this

Train services have returned to normal after Network Rail’s major programme of engineering work over the Christmas and New Year break, which blocked some lines. However, more bad weather is likely to cause disruption again from tomorrow, as Storm Goretti arrives. Scotland is still dealing with the effects of heavy snow,

Snow and ice are continuing to obstruct train services in Scotland, as the cold snap continues. Some lines in the Highlands have disappeared under the snow and Network Rail is using a fleet of snow ploughs to clear the tracks, but more heavy falls are predicted today, with temperatures at Inverness

This year is going to be an important one for the railways. More former franchises are to be renationalised soon: the next will be West Midlands Trains on 1 February, to be followed by Govia Thameslink Railway on 31 May. Because WMT and GTR both had more than one brand, these

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey is calling for urgent talks over the future structure of Great British Railways, following the Second Reading of the Railways Bill on 9 December. Industry commentators have criticised the vague terms used in the Act, with many important decisions being delegated to ministers in Westminster, Cardiff

Northumberland County Council is bidding to improve the train service from Newcastle upon Tyne to Ashington, by continuing trains beyond Ashington to the line’s original terminus at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. Passenger services to Ashington and Newbiggin were withdrawn in 1964, having been included in the Beeching report, but freight traffic has continued beyond