Network Rail has announced a new series of contracts with several freight operators to clear leaves from the railway and deal with icy winter weather. The new contracts, which start in August and run until 2030 at least, will be worth around 850 million pounds altogether. They will also cover weed killing as well as leaf-blasting, ice removal and snow plough trains.

Eurostar has called for investment to fuel international rail growth, as the debate over capacity at Temple Mills depot continues. Eurostar said a new ORR report ignored its own growth ambitions, and that although there is some space at Temple Mills it would not be enough for new operators as well as an enlarged Eurostar fleet.