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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

Passengers urged to plan ahead as London Marylebone upgrades continue: London Marylebone.jpg1

Passengers urged to plan ahead as London Marylebone upgrades continue

Friday 20 Mar 2026

Passengers travelling into London Marylebone have been urged to plan their journeys in advance ahead of upgrades taking place on 28 and 29 March.

TWO WEEKS TO GO: Network Rail to carry out essential maintenance of vital rail corridor near Southampton this Easter: Southampton Central Station

TWO WEEKS TO GO: Network Rail to carry out essential maintenance of vital rail corridor near Southampton this Easter

Friday 20 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.

TWO WEEKS TO GO: Network Rail to carry out vital track upgrades between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction this Easter: Waterloo aerial cropped-2

TWO WEEKS TO GO: Network Rail to carry out vital track upgrades between London Waterloo and Clapham Junction this Easter

Friday 20 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.

TWO WEEKS TO GO: Network Rail continues West of England Line improvement works by renewing track between Yeovil Junction and Honiton this Easter: Honiton Tunnel-11

TWO WEEKS TO GO: Network Rail continues West of England Line improvement works by renewing track between Yeovil Junction and Honiton this Easter

Friday 20 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.

ONE WEEK TO GO: Network Rail begins next phase of upgrades on Portsmouth Direct Line: Portcreek Viaduct

ONE WEEK TO GO: Network Rail begins next phase of upgrades on Portsmouth Direct Line

Friday 20 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.

Midway milestone reached in extensive railway upgrade programme: S&C Renewal at Croft Loop near Darlington 2

Midway milestone reached in extensive railway upgrade programme

Thursday 19 Mar 2026

Passengers have been thanked for their patience at the midway point of an extensive programme of East Coast Main Line improvements.

Boosting reliability on the mainline through Suffolk and Norfolk this April: A recent track replacement job elsewhere in the region

Boosting reliability on the mainline through Suffolk and Norfolk this April

Thursday 19 Mar 2026

Network Rail will be carrying out vital upgrades on the line between Ipswich and Norwich on some April weekends, as well as improving three level crossings for both passengers and road users.

Services affected between Leeds and Knaresborough as signalling project nears completion: New collapsible signals at Leeds

Services affected between Leeds and Knaresborough as signalling project nears completion

Thursday 19 Mar 2026

An important milestone in a signalling upgrade project will affect passenger services between Leeds and Knaresborough on Sunday 22 March.