Network Rail has imposed speed restrictions on some lines in the east of England, after prolonged dry weather caused the soil under the railway to shrink. Engineering work to repair the uneven railway which results will be causing some timetable changes from early August.

The RMT is to stage protest strikes at East Midlands Railway on the first three Saturdays in August as the operator continues to struggle with problems affecting its fleet of new Class 810 Aurora trains, built by Hitachi. EMR has cut back its intercity and regional services so that the number of trains available matches the advertised service more closely, with the intention of making last-minute cancellations less likely.