How trains could look in 2075 - from nap pods to on-board cinema screens
Train travel in the UK can be a rollercoaster if you're unlucky, with passengers facing delays and cancellations.
While most people just want their trains to turn up on time and cheaper tickets, journeys could offer a lot more bang for their buck in 50 years.
To celebrate 200 years of modern railways, experts have created a sneak peek of what passengers can expect from their journeys in 2075.
Future expert Tom Cheesewright has predicted what comforts and features trains will boast as part of an exhibition by the train operator LNERat King's Cross.
These include faster journeys thanks to more aerodynamic trains, quantum computing and AI technology.
Also, long gone might be traditional train carriages we are used to seeing – the future trains could be made of new, slippery composite materials inspired by sea creatures and birds.
The advanced 3D printed metal would allow trains to be lighter, stronger and stiffer, and reach higher speeds with much less energy.
Facial recognition could replace the pesky ticket barriers one day.
The most sci-fi prediction includes robot platform pods that would pick up passengers individually between platforms for onward travel.
Even passengers might have evolved – so much so that train travel might no longer be about getting from A to B, but a wellness journey instead.
Cheesewright, an applied futurist and author of the report Train of the Future, said: 'Imagining train travel in 50 years means thinking about everything that will be possible, such as new technologies and innovations, but also thinking about what we will want and need from the trains of the future.
'Where possibilities and need collide, we see a fantastic vision. The train journey of the future will be smooth from start to finish, aided by AI planning, ticketless travel, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
'The train of the future will look like a science-fiction marvel: swooping and organic, powerful and quiet, and with an onboard experience that connects us to the countryside around us, or the digital world, or even a seamless combination of the two'
But what changes would passengers like to see in the next half a century? More Trending
On top of the list is cinema-style onboard entertainment, a LNER survey of 2,000 people shows.
High up were also wellness carriages, train nap pods, pre-programmed smart seats, pet zones, self-balancing food trays, family playrooms, odourless food, an on-board concierge for destination recommendation and neurodivergent-friendly areas.
Luckily, you don't need to wait for 50 years for train travel to change.
The government has promised a 'shake-up' of Britain's railways as train operators are brought back into public ownership as part of the Great British Railways.
The first company that was renationalised was South Wester Railway, followed by c2c.
The move is set to bring more punctual services, cleaner trains and better Wifi among other perks, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.
However, so far there has been no promise of cheaper train tickets under the Great British Railways company, which is set to be up and running by 2027.
You can read more about what the Great British Railways is here.
Train of the Future exhibition is open 9am-5pm at London's King's Cross station from Wednesday, July 30 until Friday, August 1.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Trains cancelled as Storm Floris set to batter Scotland with 85mph winds
An amber weather warning is in place for the majority of Scotland between 10am and 10pm on Monday, while a yellow warning for wind is also in place as far south as Manchester and north Wales as well as the entirety of Northern Ireland between 6am and midnight on Monday. The Met Office has warned of travel disruption when the summer storm hits, with the Scottish Transport Secretary saying the unseasonable weather makes raising awareness even more important. Trains and ferries have already been cancelled, with Network Rail set to close a number of routes at 12pm on Monday. All other routes will see a reduced timetable and longer journey times due to speed restrictions. Edinburgh – Fife/Perth/Dundee, Perth – Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness, and Inverness – Aberdeen/Wick/Thurso/Kyle of Lochalshare are among a number of lines that will close from noon. Train operator LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle on Monday as a result of the forecast. Those intending to travel on Monday can do so on Sunday, the operator said, with tickets also being valid until Wednesday. Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston on Monday as it expects its Scottish-English routes to be 'heavily affected' by Storm Floris. The operator said services are likely to be impacted in Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Haymarket, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh. Tickets dated for Monday for these areas will be accepted on Sunday and Tuesday, it added. The Met Office said gusts could reach 85mph on exposed coasts or hills north of the border. ⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️#StormFloris to bring unseasonably strong winds across parts of Scotland Monday 1000 – 2200 Latest info 👉 Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ — Met Office (@metoffice) August 3, 2025 Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said a meeting had been held on Friday to ensure the country is ready for the storm, adding: 'Given the unusual timing, and the fact some people will be on holiday, travelling or perhaps unaware, we are trying to raise even more awareness than usual of this potentially disruptive storm. 'Please check with operators as we do expect rail, ferries, roads and bridges to be disrupted on Monday across the country. 'This is a slightly unusual situation for August, however the message is the same as winter – plan ahead, check your journey in advance, allow extra time, and don't take any unnecessary risks. 'Officials will be monitoring the situation and are ready to stand up the Multi Agency Response Team, if required. 'I am grateful to those who are giving up their weekend and time off to help co-ordinate the transport sector's response. 'Traffic Scotland, Police Scotland, Sepa, local authorities and others will communicate any closures to the public and provide real-time updates.' Scottish ferry operator CalMac has issued a series of cancellation warnings ahead of the storm. 'Disruption to sailings is expected across our network on Monday August 4 due to forecasted strong winds across parts of Scotland's west coast,' it posted on X. ⚠️AMBER WEATHER WARNING⚠️ The @metoffice has issued an AMBER warning for WIND🍃 Monday (04/08) 10:00- Monday (04/08) 23:59 YELLOW warnings are also still in place: Monday (04/08) 06:00- Monday (04/08) 22:00 More information can be found here👉 — Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) August 3, 2025 Elsewhere, motorists have been urged to slow down in poor weather and avoid exposed Highland and coastal routes. Rod Dennis, of the RAC breakdown service, said: 'This unseasonable bout of stormy weather will mean drivers in the north and west of the UK need to take extra care at the start of next week. 'It's the height of the holiday season, so those towing trailers and caravans, as well as those with roof and tent boxes, must ensure their loads are properly secured.' Shaun Jones, of the AA, said: 'If you're planning a journey – especially through exposed or rural areas – it's worth checking the latest forecast, allow extra time, and be prepared for the unexpected. 'Keep both hands on the wheel, especially on open roads and motorways, and be mindful of high-sided vehicles and cyclists who may be more affected by gusts. 'Watch out for fallen branches or debris, particularly in rural areas – this could be telltale signs of a fallen tree ahead.' If strong winds are forecast, make sure you keep your home protected. Secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture or anything that could be blown into windows and cause danger. Find out more at — Scottish Government (@scotgov) August 2, 2025 Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: 'Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph, with 60-70mph more likely at higher elevations and around exposed coasts in Scotland. 'There is a small chance that some locations here could even record gusts of 85mph.' The strongest winds will most likely affect Scotland on Monday afternoon and night but 'there remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Floris', a spokesperson added. 'Winds will first ease in the west during later Monday but remaining very strong overnight until early Tuesday in the east. 'Heavy rain may also contribute to the disruption in places.' The warning zone covers Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, north Wales and the north of England. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August, and January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Trains cancelled as Storm Floris set to batter Scotland with 85mph winds
An amber weather warning is in place for the majority of Scotland between 10am and 10pm on Monday, while a yellow warning for wind is also in place as far south as Manchester and north Wales as well as the entirety of Northern Ireland between 6am and midnight on Monday. The Met Office has warned of travel disruption when the summer storm hits, with the Scottish Transport Secretary saying the unseasonable weather makes raising awareness even more important. Trains and ferries have already been cancelled, with Network Rail set to close a number of routes at 12pm on Monday. All other routes will see a reduced timetable and longer journey times due to speed restrictions. Edinburgh – Fife/Perth/Dundee, Perth – Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness, and Inverness – Aberdeen/Wick/Thurso/Kyle of Lochalshare are among a number of lines that will close from noon. Train operator LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle on Monday as a result of the forecast. Those intending to travel on Monday can do so on Sunday, the operator said, with tickets also being valid until Wednesday. Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston on Monday as it expects its Scottish-English routes to be 'heavily affected' by Storm Floris. The operator said services are likely to be impacted in Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Haymarket, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh. Tickets dated for Monday for these areas will be accepted on Sunday and Tuesday, it added. The Met Office said gusts could reach 85mph on exposed coasts or hills north of the border. ⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️#StormFloris to bring unseasonably strong winds across parts of Scotland Monday 1000 – 2200 Latest info 👉 Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ — Met Office (@metoffice) August 3, 2025 Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said a meeting had been held on Friday to ensure the country is ready for the storm, adding: 'Given the unusual timing, and the fact some people will be on holiday, travelling or perhaps unaware, we are trying to raise even more awareness than usual of this potentially disruptive storm. 'Please check with operators as we do expect rail, ferries, roads and bridges to be disrupted on Monday across the country. 'This is a slightly unusual situation for August, however the message is the same as winter – plan ahead, check your journey in advance, allow extra time, and don't take any unnecessary risks. 'Officials will be monitoring the situation and are ready to stand up the Multi Agency Response Team, if required. 'I am grateful to those who are giving up their weekend and time off to help co-ordinate the transport sector's response. 'Traffic Scotland, Police Scotland, Sepa, local authorities and others will communicate any closures to the public and provide real-time updates.' Scottish ferry operator CalMac has issued a series of cancellation warnings ahead of the storm. 'Disruption to sailings is expected across our network on Monday August 4 due to forecasted strong winds across parts of Scotland's west coast,' it posted on X. ⚠️AMBER WEATHER WARNING⚠️ The @metoffice has issued an AMBER warning for WIND🍃 Monday (04/08) 10:00- Monday (04/08) 23:59 YELLOW warnings are also still in place: Monday (04/08) 06:00- Monday (04/08) 22:00 More information can be found here👉 — Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) August 3, 2025 Elsewhere, motorists have been urged to slow down in poor weather and avoid exposed Highland and coastal routes. Rod Dennis, of the RAC breakdown service, said: 'This unseasonable bout of stormy weather will mean drivers in the north and west of the UK need to take extra care at the start of next week. 'It's the height of the holiday season, so those towing trailers and caravans, as well as those with roof and tent boxes, must ensure their loads are properly secured.' Shaun Jones, of the AA, said: 'If you're planning a journey – especially through exposed or rural areas – it's worth checking the latest forecast, allow extra time, and be prepared for the unexpected. 'Keep both hands on the wheel, especially on open roads and motorways, and be mindful of high-sided vehicles and cyclists who may be more affected by gusts. 'Watch out for fallen branches or debris, particularly in rural areas – this could be telltale signs of a fallen tree ahead.' If strong winds are forecast, make sure you keep your home protected. Secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture or anything that could be blown into windows and cause danger. Find out more at — Scottish Government (@scotgov) August 2, 2025 Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: 'Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph, with 60-70mph more likely at higher elevations and around exposed coasts in Scotland. 'There is a small chance that some locations here could even record gusts of 85mph.' The strongest winds will most likely affect Scotland on Monday afternoon and night but 'there remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Floris', a spokesperson added. 'Winds will first ease in the west during later Monday but remaining very strong overnight until early Tuesday in the east. 'Heavy rain may also contribute to the disruption in places.' The warning zone covers Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, north Wales and the north of England. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August, and January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent.
Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Storm Floris set to batter NI with 70mph gusts but how long will stormy conditions last?
Gusts of up to 50mph are predicted across much of Northern Ireland, with 70mph in some places. A yellow warning for wind is set to conclude at midnight on Monday. It had initially been due to end at 6am on Tuesday. Floris is the first storm to hit the UK and Ireland since Storm Eowyn in January, which sparked a rare red warning here. The Met Office said: 'Storm Floris will bring a spell of unusually windy weather for the time of year across the northern half of the UK on Monday. 'The highest winds are expected across Scotland between late morning and early evening. In some areas high winds will be accompanied by heavy rain. Wind will then slowly start to ease from the west later. 'Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40 to 50 mph with 60 to 70 mph possible along exposed coasts and high ground, especially Scotland.' Storm Floris to bring 'unseasonably strong winds' to parts of UK However, as the week progresses the Met Office has forecast temperatures to increase, with Tuesday ranging between 12C and 19C. On Wednesday, a maximum of 21C is to be expected with a chance of showers on Thursday morning. Light winds will prevail throughout the week with strong gusts of up to 39mph slowly decreasing as the weekend approaches. Saturday will see sunny intervals and mild temperatures with a small chance of rain throughout the day. The Met Office said Storm Floris' gusts could reach 85mph on exposed coasts or hills in Scotland. An amber weather warning is in place for the majority of Scotland between 10am and 10pm on Monday. Train operator LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle on Monday. Services are likely to be impacted in Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Haymarket, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh. Motorists in those regions have been urged to slow down in the poor weather and avoid Highland and coastal routes. Shaun Jones, of the AA breakdown service, said: 'If you're planning a journey – especially through exposed or rural areas – it's worth checking the latest forecast, allow extra time, and be prepared for the unexpected.' In the Republic, Irish forecaster Met Éireann has issued Status Yellow weather warnings, which are due to come into effect from early tomorrow morning. The forecaster issued a wind warning for counties Clare, Galway, Mayo and Sligo, valid from 2am tomorrow until 1pm. Another such alert was announced for counties Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan and Leitrim, in place from 4am until 4pm tomorrow. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August.
