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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

PORTSMOUTH: Network Rail to carry out urgent track repairs on a railway bridge on Sunday: The broken wheel timber on Portcreek viaduct

PORTSMOUTH: Network Rail to carry out urgent track repairs on a railway bridge on Sunday

Friday 13 Mar 2026

On Sunday 15 March, buses will replace trains between Havant, Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour from 9am due to urgent engineering works.

Glasgow Central Station closure continues into next week as demolition work progresses: Union Street fire-6

Glasgow Central Station closure continues into next week as demolition work progresses

Friday 13 Mar 2026

Glasgow Central Station’s high‑level platforms will remain closed until at least Wednesday 18 March, as demolition and safety work continues at the fire‑damaged building on Union Street.

Emergency crews test out railway incident response plans with major exercise at the Severn Valley Railway: Network Rail and partners at Exercise Saber

Emergency crews test out railway incident response plans with major exercise at the Severn Valley Railway

Friday 13 Mar 2026

Teams from across the emergency services and the railway played out a full-scale simulated emergency yesterday (Thursday 12 March) in order to stay as prepared as possible to keep people safe.

TWO WEEKS TO GO: Network Rail begins next phase of upgrades on Portsmouth Direct Line: Southern train passing over Havant level crossing

TWO WEEKS TO GO: Network Rail begins next phase of upgrades on Portsmouth Direct Line

Friday 13 Mar 2026

Network Rail is continuing its major investment in the Portsmouth Direct Line and will carry out the next phase of signalling and track upgrades later this month. While this work takes place, buses will replace trains between Havant, Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour from Saturday 28 March to Thursday 2 April.

Safety work progresses around Glasgow Central Station after Union Street fire:  Gordon Street

Safety work progresses around Glasgow Central Station after Union Street fire

Thursday 12 Mar 2026

Work towards reopening Glasgow Central Station high‑level is continuing following the fire at a building on Union Street on Sunday 8 March.  

Railway 200 ‘Inspiration’ exhibition train returns to Wales: The touring exhibition train Inspiration Credit Jack Boskett and Railway 200 (1)

Railway 200 ‘Inspiration’ exhibition train returns to Wales

Thursday 12 Mar 2026

Next stop, Swansea! Network Rail and Transport for Wales (TfW) are pleased to announce the return of the Railway 200 ‘Inspiration’ train to Wales this April. 

Work underway on new £100m TrainCare Centre in Shipley: Shipley - Bradford Cllrs

Work underway on new £100m TrainCare Centre in Shipley

Thursday 12 Mar 2026

The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has this week welcomed Leader of Bradford Council, Susan Hinchcliffe, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw and Councillor Liz Rowe to its Shipley site, where the programme is investing over £100m in the construction of a new TrainCare Centre.

Majority of railway in the south west open for Easter getaway, but some journeys altered as upgrade work takes place: Engineers on track with GWR train passing by cropped

Majority of railway in the south west open for Easter getaway, but some journeys altered as upgrade work takes place

Wednesday 11 Mar 2026

Most rail services on the Great Western network will be running as normal over the forthcoming Easter bank holiday weekend, though some journeys will change as Network Rail carries out important upgrade work.