diff --git a/.github/scripts/flavor_requirements.sh b/.github/scripts/flavor_requirements.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index ca916d098d..0000000000
--- a/.github/scripts/flavor_requirements.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-exit 0
diff --git a/.github/workflows/develop.yml b/.github/workflows/develop.yml
index cc951687c2..834c1a1026 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/develop.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/develop.yml
@@ -9,20 +9,20 @@ jobs:
   lint:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: "1. Clone repository"
+      - name: "Clone repository"
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: "2. Set up Python 3.9"
+      - name: "Set up Python 3.9"
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: '3.9'
 
-      - name: "3. Install Dev Dependencies"
+      - name: "Install Dev Dependencies"
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           pip install -r requirements/dev.txt
 
-      - name: "4. Lint"
+      - name: "Lint"
         run: |
           pre-commit run --all-files
 
@@ -36,40 +36,39 @@ jobs:
         flavour: ['all']
 
     steps:
-      - name: "1. Clone repository"
+      - name: "Clone repository"
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: "2. Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}"
+      - name: "Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}"
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 
-      - name: "3. Cache python environment"
+      - name: "Cache python environment"
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         id: pythonenv-cache
         with:
           path: ${{ env.pythonLocation }}
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-${{ env.pythonLocation }}-${{ hashFiles('requirements/*.txt') }}
 
-      - name: "(No-Cache) Setup Pip"
-        if: steps.pythonenv-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      - name: "Setup Pip"
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
 
-      - name: "4. Install Dependencies"
+      - name: "Install Dependencies"
         run: |
           # install latest dependencies (potentially updating cached dependencies)
           pip install -U -r requirements/dev-all.txt
 
-      - name: "5. Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
+      - name: "Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
         run: |
           ./.github/scripts/libomp-${{ runner.os }}.sh
 
-      - name: "6. Run tests"
+      - name: "Run tests"
         run: |
           pytest --durations=50 --cov=darts --cov-config=.coveragerc --cov-report=xml darts/tests
 
-      - name: "7. Codecov upload"
+      - name: "Codecov upload"
         if: ${{ matrix.flavour == 'all' }}
         uses: codecov/codecov-action@v4
         with:
@@ -79,45 +78,44 @@ jobs:
   docs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: "1. Clone repository"
+      - name: "Clone repository"
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: "2. Set up Python 3.9"
+      - name: "Set up Python 3.9"
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: '3.9'
 
       # only restore cache but do not upload
-      - name: "3. Restore cached python environment"
+      - name: "Restore cached python environment"
         uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
         id: pythonenv-cache
         with:
           path: ${{ env.pythonLocation }}
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-${{ env.pythonLocation }}-${{ hashFiles('requirements/*.txt') }}
 
-      - name: "4. Install pandoc"
+      - name: "Install pandoc"
         run: |
           sudo apt-get install -y pandoc
 
-      - name: "(No-Cache) Setup Pip"
-        if: steps.pythonenv-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      - name: "Setup Pip"
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
 
-      - name: "5. Install Dependencies"
+      - name: "Install Dependencies"
         run: |
           # install latest dependencies (potentially updating cached dependencies)
           pip install -U -r requirements/dev-all.txt
 
-      - name: "6. Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
+      - name: "Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
         run: |
           ./.github/scripts/libomp-${{ runner.os }}.sh
 
-      - name: "7. Install Locally"
+      - name: "Install Locally"
         run: |
           pip install .
 
-      - name: "8. Build docs"
+      - name: "Build docs"
         run: |
           make --directory ./docs build-all-docs
 
@@ -127,41 +125,40 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         example-name: [03-FFT-examples.ipynb, 04-RNN-examples.ipynb, 00-quickstart.ipynb, 02-data-processing.ipynb, 01-multi-time-series-and-covariates.ipynb]
     steps:
-      - name: "1. Clone repository"
+      - name: "Clone repository"
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: "2. Set up Python 3.9"
+      - name: "Set up Python 3.9"
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: '3.9'
 
       # only restore cache but do not upload
-      - name: "3. Restore cached python environment"
+      - name: "Restore cached python environment"
         uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
         id: pythonenv-cache
         with:
           path: ${{ env.pythonLocation }}
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-${{ env.pythonLocation }}-${{ hashFiles('requirements/*.txt') }}
 
-      - name: "(No-Cache) Setup Pip"
-        if: steps.pythonenv-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      - name: "Setup Pip"
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
 
-      - name: "4. Install Dependencies"
+      - name: "Install Dependencies"
         run: |
           # install latest dependencies (potentially updating cached dependencies)
           pip install -U -r requirements/dev-all.txt
 
-      - name: "5. Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
+      - name: "Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
         run: |
           ./.github/scripts/libomp-${{ runner.os }}.sh
 
-      - name: "6. Install Locally"
+      - name: "Install Locally"
         run: |
           pip install .
 
-      - name: "7. Run example ${{matrix.example-name}}"
+      - name: "Run example ${{matrix.example-name}}"
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           papermill ${{matrix.example-name}} ${{matrix.example-name}}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/merge.yml b/.github/workflows/merge.yml
index 58db19465a..41cf87f7a7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/merge.yml
@@ -9,20 +9,20 @@ jobs:
   lint:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: "1. Clone repository"
+      - name: "Clone repository"
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: "2. Set up Python 3.10"
+      - name: "Set up Python 3.10"
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: '3.10'
 
-      - name: "3. Install Dev Dependencies"
+      - name: "Install Dev Dependencies"
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           pip install -r requirements/dev.txt
 
-      - name: "4. Lint"
+      - name: "Lint"
         run: |
           pre-commit run --all-files
 
@@ -35,19 +35,19 @@ jobs:
         flavour: ['core', 'torch', 'all']
 
     steps:
-      - name: "1. Clone repository"
+      - name: "Clone repository"
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: "2. Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}"
+      - name: "Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}"
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 
-      - name: "3. Setup pip"
+      - name: "Setup pip"
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
 
-      - name: "4. Install `flavor=${{ matrix.flavor }}` Dependencies"
+      - name: "Install `flavor=${{ matrix.flavor }}` Dependencies"
         run: |
           if [ "${{ matrix.flavor }}" == "core" ]; then
             pip install -r requirements/core.txt -r requirements/dev.txt
@@ -57,18 +57,18 @@ jobs:
             pip install -r requirements/dev-all.txt
           fi
 
-      - name: "5. Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
+      - name: "Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
         run: |
           ./.github/scripts/libomp-${{ runner.os }}.sh
 
-      - name: "6. Run tests"
+      - name: "Run tests"
         run: |
           if [ "${{ matrix.flavor }}" == "all" ]; then
             pytest --durations=50 --cov=darts --cov-config=.coveragerc --cov-report=xml darts/tests
           else
             pytest --durations=50
 
-      - name: "7. Codecov upload"
+      - name: "Codecov upload"
         if: ${{ matrix.flavour == 'all' }}
         uses: codecov/codecov-action@v4
         with:
@@ -81,41 +81,40 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         example-name: [00-quickstart.ipynb, 01-multi-time-series-and-covariates.ipynb, 02-data-processing.ipynb, 03-FFT-examples.ipynb, 04-RNN-examples.ipynb, 05-TCN-examples.ipynb, 06-Transformer-examples.ipynb, 07-NBEATS-examples.ipynb, 08-DeepAR-examples.ipynb, 09-DeepTCN-examples.ipynb, 10-Kalman-filter-examples.ipynb, 11-GP-filter-examples.ipynb, 12-Dynamic-Time-Warping-example.ipynb, 13-TFT-examples.ipynb, 15-static-covariates.ipynb, 16-hierarchical-reconciliation.ipynb, 18-TiDE-examples.ipynb, 19-EnsembleModel-examples.ipynb, 20-RegressionModel-examples.ipynb, 21-TSMixer-examples.ipynb, 22-anomaly-detection-examples.ipynb]
     steps:
-      - name: "1. Clone repository"
+      - name: "Clone repository"
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: "2. Set up Python 3.9"
+      - name: "Set up Python 3.9"
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: '3.9'
 
       # only restore cache but do not upload
-      - name: "3. Restore cached python environment"
+      - name: "Restore cached python environment"
         uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
         id: pythonenv-cache
         with:
           path: ${{ env.pythonLocation }}
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-${{ env.pythonLocation }}-${{ hashFiles('requirements/*.txt') }}
 
-      - name: "(No-Cache) Setup Pip"
-        if: steps.pythonenv-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      - name: "Setup Pip"
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
 
-      - name: "4. Install Dependencies"
+      - name: "Install Dependencies"
         run: |
           # install latest dependencies (potentially updating cached dependencies)
           pip install -U -r requirements/dev-all.txt
 
-      - name: "5. Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
+      - name: "Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
         run: |
           ./.github/scripts/libomp-${{ runner.os }}.sh
 
-      - name: "6. Install Locally"
+      - name: "Install Locally"
         run: |
           pip install .
 
-      - name: "7. Run example ${{matrix.example-name}}"
+      - name: "Run example ${{matrix.example-name}}"
         working-directory: ./examples
         run: |
           papermill ${{matrix.example-name}} ${{matrix.example-name}}
@@ -123,44 +122,43 @@ jobs:
   docs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - name: "1. Clone repository"
+      - name: "Clone repository"
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: "2. Set up Python 3.9"
+      - name: "Set up Python 3.9"
         uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: '3.9'
 
       # only restore cache but do not upload
-      - name: "3. Restore cached python environment"
+      - name: "Restore cached python environment"
         uses: actions/cache/restore@v4
         id: pythonenv-cache
         with:
           path: ${{ env.pythonLocation }}
           key: ${{ runner.os }}-${{ env.pythonLocation }}-${{ hashFiles('requirements/*.txt') }}
 
-      - name: "4. Install pandoc"
+      - name: "Install pandoc"
         run: |
           sudo apt-get install -y pandoc
 
-      - name: "(No-Cache) Setup Pip"
-        if: steps.pythonenv-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
+      - name: "Setup Pip"
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
 
-      - name: "5. Install Dependencies"
+      - name: "Install Dependencies"
         run: |
           # install latest dependencies (potentially updating cached dependencies)
           pip install -U -r requirements/dev-all.txt
 
-      - name: "6. Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
+      - name: "Install libomp (for LightGBM)"
         run: |
           ./.github/scripts/libomp-${{ runner.os }}.sh
 
-      - name: "7. Install Locally"
+      - name: "Install Locally"
         run: |
           pip install .
 
-      - name: "8. Build docs"
+      - name: "Build docs"
         run: |
           make --directory ./docs build-all-docs
diff --git a/.github/workflows/update-cache.yml b/.github/workflows/update-cache.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e6cfa2cace
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/update-cache.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+name: update-cache
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - master
+
+jobs:
+  # This workflow updates the python environment cache so that other workflows in different branches have access to it
+  build-cache:
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        os: [macos-13, ubuntu-latest]
+        python-version: ['3.9']
+        flavour: ['all']
+
+    steps:
+      - name: "Clone repository"
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: "Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}"
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+
+      - name: "Cache python environment"
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        id: pythonenv-cache
+        with:
+          path: ${{ env.pythonLocation }}
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-${{ env.pythonLocation }}-${{ hashFiles('requirements/*.txt') }}
+
+      - name: "Setup Pip"
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+
+      - name: "Install Latest Dependencies"
+        run: |
+          # install latest dependencies (potentially updating cached dependencies)
+          pip install -U -r requirements/dev-all.txt