Network Rail has confirmed that £40 million will be spent on a number of new projects aimed at improving the reliability of passenger and freight services along the busy West Coast Main Line.

The firm's route managing director Dyan Crowther said the organisation is not happy with the recent performance of the infrastructure at the southern end of one of the most important lines in the UK and these developments will go some way towards enhancing the network.

Work has already begun in some places and will include overhead line improvements, as well as security upgrades. Far too many trains are disrupted because of vandals, which is why Network Rail is building new fences.

Ms Crowther highlighted the incredible growth in passenger demand along the West Coast Main Line in the last five years.

"Just like a busy motorway during rush hour, more trains mean that if something goes wrong, the knock on effects can be significant," she remarked.

This announcement comes shortly after the Office of Rail Regulation challenged Network Rail to enhance the punctuality of rail services by 2019.