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Rail passengers planning to travel through Bedford next week are being warned by the rail industry to expect disruption to train services until the end of next week (28 June) and to only travel on this route if their journey is essential.

Two Network Rail colleagues – Esther Lagden and Tyron Woodford – have been awarded British Empire Medals (BEM) in The King’s Birthday Honours 2026, in recognition of their exceptional contributions to their communities.

• Esther Lagden has been recognised for her dedicated voluntary service supporting young people.
• Tyron Woodford has been honoured for his outstanding contribution to inclusion, public service and community support.

On World Environment Day (Friday 5 June), Network Rail and train operators are setting out how they are helping to make the UK a world leader in clean, green rail travel by reducing emissions, improving air quality, and protecting biodiversity across the network.

• Inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show, Network Rail installs climate change garden at London Victoria
• Display highlights the damaging effects that heat and dry spells inflict on the railway and the innovations used to tackle them

The vast majority of Britain’s rail network will be open for passengers travelling this late May bank holiday – despite planned engineering work.

• 42,000 extra seats per week on London Northwestern Railway services, including more than 14,000 between Birmingham New Street and London Euston, boosting capacity on one of the country’s busiest corridors.
• The return of the ‘Flying Scotsman’ as LNER restores London to Edinburgh departure times that closely reflect the historic mid‑morning timetable of the iconic service.
• New ‘through the night’ services to Manchester Airport by TransPennine Express, providing hourly overnight trains to support early‑morning and late‑night flights.

• Big-screen special effects experts lend their cutting-edge skills to help teach school children about rail safety
• Each week, 77 children put themselves at risk of harm on Britain’s railway
• Schools are getting innovative new hard-hitting films ahead of rail safety becoming a compulsory part of the national curriculum later this year.

Britain’s railway is set to further harness artificial intelligence to improve reliability, efficiency and passenger experience, as the sector launches its first-ever joint AI action plan.