Network Rail and National Express East Anglia have announced a joint scheme with the aim of improving punctuality to trains across the East.
Over the last year punctuality on all of its services between London and the east of England has increased from 87.1% to 90.2%, National Express said and it hopes to improve on this over the next 12 months.
The joint plan aims to tackle technical faults overnight to improve punctuality on morning services.

In addition, the scheme aims to see work carried out to modify electric unit trains to reduce failures, 35 miles (56km) of track and overhead power cables between London and Chelmsford renewed and a remote monitoring system to provide early warning of any equipment failure.

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Network Rail chiefs could see their bonuses reduced following a report commissioned by rail regulators.
The report suggests amending the firm's bonus scheme and making it easier for board members to be dismissed.

Executives were to receive their bonuses despite engineering work overrunning, and causing problems which has lead to criticism from users and politicians

Last month, Network Rail decided to set up an enquiry into how it has been run.
Network Rail's  board of directors are held to account by the members who are drawn from the rail industry and general public.
Earlier this year, Network Rail announced that its top three executives would receive bonuses running into hundreds of thousands of pounds, despite public anger over cancelled and delayed journeys during the new year. (see our story Network Rail Announces Profits – 6 June 2008)

A rail link between two West Midlands stations could be axed after the government said it is ending its funding.

According to The Department for Transport the 15-minute long Walsall to Wolverhampton link is "lightly used".

However West Midlands transport bosses are urging the government to reconsider, saying the number of passengers using the line has grown to 60,000 per year.
A spokesman said commuters would then have to face a 40-minute bus journey instead.

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Crossrail, which is the largest addition to the transport network in London and the South East for over 50 years has completed its Parliamentary process, with the Crossrail Bill receiving Royal Assent on July 22 and now becomes a Parliamentary Act.

Following the Prime Minister's announcement last October that a £15.9bn funding package had been secured for the construction of Crossrail, Parliamentary approval of the Bill means that the project is on course to be carrying passengers in 2017. This will mean more capacity and faster journeys for passengers, as well as a £20bn boost to the wider UK economy.

Douglas Oakervee, Executive Chairman of Cross London Rail Links said: 'Royal Assent is the most significant milestone in the history of Crossrail. After years of planning and discussion, we are ready to move into the delivery phase of a project that will benefit London, the south east region and the UK as a whole.

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Network Rail's No Messin' campaign to warn children about the dangers of playing on or near railway lines has been launched by Bolton's champion boxer Amir Khan. The campaign began as it was revealed that Leeds is the worst place in the UK for railway crime, including trespass and vandalism followed by Coventry, Willenhall (near Coventry), Edinburgh Waverley, Darlington, Newton (near Glasgow), Swindon, Weston-Super-Mare, Moston (Manchester), Castleford . . .  Read More >