Great Western Coffee Shop

Network Rail is calling for photography enthusiasts with a love for the railway in Great Western to take part in a national photography competition ^ a potential opportunity to showcase the route in its 175th year.

Network Rail has joined with renowned landscape photographer, Charlie Waite, and Natural England to support the fourth annual Take a view Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards.

The competition, which is now open to amateurs and professionals alike, includes an additional prize for the best photography of Britain^s railway network, which images are captured by millions every year.

Celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, Great Western offers a large collection of Brunel^s engineering legacies and modern new structures.

They range from the Grade 1 listed Bristol Temple Meads, decorated Box Tunnel in Bath, the Royal Albert Bridge that spans across two counties and the new unique plastic footbridge in St. Austell.

Iain Coucher, chief executive explained why Network Rail is supporting the competition:  ^For over 150 years, the railway has helped connect people across the length and breadth of Britain, with some spectacular structures such as the Royal Albert bridge, Bristol Temple Meads and Paddington station in Great Western.  Network Rail has the special duty of protecting and promoting this legacy as well as building a modern rail network for the 21st century, and we are proud to be part of the visual history of Britain.

^We are very happy to support this competition, and even more so to have a special award for the best photography of our rail network. Travelling by rail is becoming ever more popular, and we hope that, through this competition, even more people will see and appreciate its beauty and importance in Britain today.^

The top prize given to the Landscape Photographer of the Year is ^10,000.

Best entry for the Network Rail ^Lines in the Landscape^ Special Award will be offered a special walking tour of the famous Forth Rail Bridge with a return rail travel and an overnight^s stay in Edinburgh.

Winning entries and select best images will be showcased at an exhibition at the National Theatre on the South Bank.