As spectators continue to make their way home, the rail industry in Yorkshire is paying tribute to the thousands of passengers who used rail services this weekend for their patience and good humour. Dozens of longer and more frequent trains have run around the region this weekend as the Tour de France Grand Depart took place.

Improved rail services between Blackburn and Manchester moved a step closer as local politicians lent their support to an agreement between Network Rail and Blackburn with Darwen Council to build a new section of track to accommodate more trains on the route.

Network Rail has completed a £5m project to extend platforms and improve Littlehaven station in Sussex. The Southern-managed station’s platforms have been rebuilt and lengthened to accommodate eight-car trains, meaning passengers no longer have to walk down the train to exit the majority of services. This has also reduced congestion and improved safety on the platforms when longer trains arrive.

Almost £1.4bn was invested in improving and expanding the rail network in the West Midlands and north west over the last 12 months, an increase of more than 40% compared to the previous year.

Passengers are being urged to plan their journeys if travelling in or out of Liverpool via St Helens Junction or St Helens Central in July as investment in the network may affect their travel.

London Bridge, one of Britain’s busiest stations, is being completely rebuilt as part of the government’s multi-billion pound investment to transform rail services across London and the south east. When finished in 2018 the Thameslink Programme will enable passengers to use a bigger and brighter London Bridge station served by new spacious trains running every 2-3 minutes at peak times through central London. New robust tracks and signalling will give passengers more reliable journeys to more destinations on an expanded Thameslink network.