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Britain’s rail network open for business this Easter – but passengers asked to check before they travel on some key routes: Library image of new track being installed during engineering work cropped

Britain’s rail network open for business this Easter – but passengers asked to check before they travel on some key routes

Thursday 5 Mar 2026

The vast majority of Britain’s rail network will be open for passengers travelling over the Easter bank holiday weekend, helping them make the most of their spring break. 

Is small talk a thing of the past? Over half of Brits think so as spectacular new campaign launch reveals that more than 2,000 lives were saved through small talk last year: Small-Talk-Saves-Lives-banner-2

Is small talk a thing of the past? Over half of Brits think so as spectacular new campaign launch reveals that more than 2,000 lives were saved through small talk last year

Thursday 5 Mar 2026
  • Stunning ‘Ticket to Talk’ exhibition at London Waterloo station highlights the 2,284 small talk phrases used to save lives last year
  • Yet 52% of Brits think small talk is a thing of the past and 78% of Brits admit to trying to avoid making it
  • Samaritans, Network Rail and British Transport Police are reminding people to practice their small talk skills as it could be a life-saving tool

Latest News

EASTER WEEKEND: Network Rail continues West of England Line improvement works with by renewing track between Yeovil Junction and Honiton: Honiton Tunnel-9

EASTER WEEKEND: Network Rail continues West of England Line improvement works with by renewing track between Yeovil Junction and Honiton

Friday 6 Mar 2026

Over the Easter weekend, Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April, Network Rail engineers will be replacing the stretch of track on the West of England Line that runs through Seaton Junction, to the west of Axminster.

Passengers issued top tips as figures show almost 13,000 travel by rail to Cheltenham Festival: Cheltenham Festival - Picture Credit Cheltenham Racecourse cropped

Passengers issued top tips as figures show almost 13,000 travel by rail to Cheltenham Festival

Friday 6 Mar 2026

Passengers heading to Cheltenham Festival next week have been issued key travel tips to help them stay ahead of the pack.

EASTER WEEKEND: Network Rail to carry out vital track upgrades between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction: Work at Queenstown Road with a SWR train passing cropped

EASTER WEEKEND: Network Rail to carry out vital track upgrades between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction

Friday 6 Mar 2026

A reduced service will operate between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction over the Easter Weekend, Friday 3 to Monday 6 April, while engineers carry out vital engineering work.

EASTER WEEKEND: Network Rail to carry out essential maintenance of vital rail corridor in Eastleigh: Eastleigh new track

EASTER WEEKEND: Network Rail to carry out essential maintenance of vital rail corridor in Eastleigh

Friday 6 Mar 2026

This Easter weekend, from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April, Network Rail will be carrying out essential maintenance work in the Eastleigh area, a vital corridor for passengers and freight.

Small Talk Saves Lives: New figures reveal there were 250 live-saving interactions on the west’s railway last year as Network Rail and Samaritans launch new campaign: NR STSL Phase 8 LinkedIn AreYouAlright 1200x627 cropped

Small Talk Saves Lives: New figures reveal there were 250 live-saving interactions on the west’s railway last year as Network Rail and Samaritans launch new campaign

Thursday 5 Mar 2026

Network Rail and Samaritans are launching the Small Talk Saves Lives campaign today (Thursday 5 March) as passengers in the west are reminded that even small interactions can make a huge difference.

East Anglia railway open for Easter getaway: Anglia Swing Bridge GA Train cropped-2

East Anglia railway open for Easter getaway

Thursday 5 Mar 2026

Passengers wishing to travel across East Anglia this Easter can travel with confidence as the vast majority of the network will be open over the long bank holiday weekend. 

Britain’s rail network open for business this Easter – but passengers asked to check before they travel on some key routes: Library image of new track being installed during engineering work cropped

Britain’s rail network open for business this Easter – but passengers asked to check before they travel on some key routes

Thursday 5 Mar 2026

The vast majority of Britain’s rail network will be open for passengers travelling over the Easter bank holiday weekend, helping them make the most of their spring break. 

‘Small talk’ saves lives on Scotland’s railway: NR STSL Phase 8 LinkedIn AreYouAlright 1200x627

‘Small talk’ saves lives on Scotland’s railway

Thursday 5 Mar 2026

New figures reveal 121 lives may have been saved on Scotland’s railway in the last year thanks to people who took a moment to start a simple conversation.