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• Wilston Samuel Jackson – known as Bill to his friends and family – became Britain’s first black train driver in 1962, and went on to drive famous trains and locomotives such as the Flying Scotsman and The Elizabethan
• Ceremony at King’s Cross attended by Wilston’s family, Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines and ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan
• Rail industry continuing efforts to boost diversity during Black History Month, as ASLEF figures show just 10% of train drivers in England, Scotland and Wales are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds

• The rail industry’s largest free health and wellbeing event, Rail Wellbeing Live, returns online next month (17 to 18 November)
• 100+ inspiring speakers and 75 pick ‘n’ mix free sessions to choose from
• 10pm evening sessions have been added to the 2021 agenda.

• Network Rail launches new ‘Brighter Journeys’ campaign with national mental health charity Chasing the Stigma to encourage those who may be struggling with their mental health to seek help this World Mental Health Day (10 October)
• Campaign launches as new research shows more people now returning to work and using the railway, with nearly half of UK workers (48%) travelling to their workplace for the majority of their working week in August
• This new campaign forms part of Network Rail’s efforts to reduce suicides across the rail network, with train operating companies and the British Transport Police

Network Rail and Vivarail today announced that Vivarail’s next-generation battery train will be launched at COP26 and will run daily services throughout the international climate change conference.

• Network Rail, in partnership with the rail industry, has published the second phase of its Network Operating Strategy aimed at improving operations
• The strategy is designed to help the rail industry provide a better experience for passengers and freight users
• It focuses on a collaborative industry approach to applying the strategy’s recommendations and areas for improvements covering people, change/technology, and processes

Network Rail has awarded a contract to a consortium led by Thales Ground Transportation Systems Ltd to develop and trial Fibre Optic Acoustic Sensing (FOAS) technology that will support improvements in safety and performance on the railway.

• Registration has opened for Rail Wellbeing Live, the rail industry’s biggest free wellbeing event, which returns on 17 to 18 November
• More than 100 speakers and 75 pick ‘n’ mix free sessions to choose from
• New for 2021: 10pm evening sessions to attract frontline workers; and opportunity to nominate colleague for Wellbeing Hero Award.

• Vast majority of the rail network – over 95% – will be open for business as usual over the August Bank Holiday
• Some routes will be affected by the upgrade works taking place, so passengers should plan ahead
• The railway expects people to follow government guidance and out of respect for others, wear a face covering in busy indoor settings unless they are exempt