Updated 08.30, 08.35The government’s £45 billion-pound plan to upgrade railways in the north, which includes a new line between Liverpool and Manchester, more electrification and a potential line between Birmingham and Manchester at least partly on the alignment of abandoned HS2 has been welcomed by civic leaders. The Prime Minister said:

The government has announced plans for a new railway between Manchester and Liverpool. The government said its plans will boost economic potential and living standards in the north, with more reliable and more frequent trains serving major cities, adding up to £40 billion a year to the economy.  The first phase of Northern

The government has announced plans for a new railway between Manchester and Liverpool. The government said its plans will boost economic potential and living standards in the north, with more reliable and more frequent trains serving major cities, adding up to £40 billion a year to the economy.  The first phase of Northern

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