I'd never heard of the "third rail" until last Thursday, but suddenly this mysterious piece of metal was catapulted into the spotlight, blamed for the disruption to our rail network. Country in shutdown mode? Commuters trapped all night on trains in Sussex? Economy losing £1.2bn a day because no one can get to work? When it comes to accepting responsibility for last week's chaos, we're told the third rail must shoulder a large part of the blame.

For the thousands of London commuters who were forced to squeeze into packed Tube trains, stand on overcrowded buses or trudge to work in sub-zero temperatures yesterday, it was scarcely possible to believe their Monday could get any worse.

Network Rail will cut the money it is spending on maintaining and running Britain's train tracks if it loses a court case over the 2002 Potters Bar disaster.

Even the warmest of summer days can turn cold when Iain Coucher is in brusque mood.

Network Rail and the maintenance company Jarvis Rail are to be prosecuted over the 2002 Potters Bar rail crash in which seven people died.

The prosecution of Network Rail and maintenance company Jarvis Rail over the 2002 Potters Bar rail crash was welcomed tonight by the family of one of the seven victims.

The spokespeople for train operators must enjoy themselves. Yesterday they merrily announced that overcrowding on trains is going to get "much worse" without a glimmer of remorse – the equivalent of the BBC announcing their autumn season by saying, "We've got a right lot of old rubbish on between now and Christmas. Still, there we are."

Police and recovery teams were today preparing to remove the wreckage of a 26-tonne cement mixer that plunged on to a train carriage.

An image of Corfe Castle on a frosty morning has scooped the top prize in this year's Landscape Photographer of the Year award, it was announced today.

Survivors of the Hatfield rail crash will join those bereaved by the tragedy to mark the 10th anniversary of the disaster today.

If you're thinking about changing careers, you're not alone: according to some recruiters, this is the busiest time of year for job changes, prompted by months of summer reflection. However, a total career change demands more than planning a valedictory leaving do: research, networking and training or voluntary work experience will boost your chances of standing on the other side checking out the colour of the grass.

The CBI will today launch a campaign for the biggest overhaul of trade union legislation since Margaret Thatcher confronted militant workers in the Eighties. The employers' group will call for a series of reforms to the law, amid concern amongst businesses that the forthcoming public spending review could trigger a wave of strikes.