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One of the South West’s busiest stations has been transformed by a £2.7m investment – enhancing customer flow and accessibility.

Network Rail begins significant work to upgrade the railway in and around Chipping Sodbury tunnel next month – and local residents are invited to find out more.

Network Rail, in partnership with heliguy™, has secured approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to operate drones beyond the operator’s line of sight (BVLOS), marking a significant step forward in the use of remote aerial technology across the rail network.

A major milestone has been reached with the installation of the accessible footbridge at the new Bristol Brabazon railway station on the former Filton Airfield site.

Train services are running normally again through Bath and Wiltshire following two weekends of upgrade work in the area, including track renewal, drainage improvements and a range of maintenance work.

Members of the public are invited to a drop-in event later this month to find out more about the work taking place at Tackley station in Oxfordshire which will make it fully accessible for the first time.

• Big-screen special effects experts lend their cutting-edge skills to help teach the South West schoolchildren about rail safety
• Each week, 77 children put themselves at risk of harm on Britain’s railway
• Schools are getting innovative new hard-hitting films ahead of rail safety becoming a compulsory part of the national curriculum later this year.

Passengers at Tilehurst station are enjoying step-free access to all platforms for the first time after Network Rail installed three new lifts.