Latest news with #ChilternRailways
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
Cause of major delays at Birmingham New Street confirmed as problems continue
There has been severe disruption at one of Birmingham's main railway stations due to 'ongoing engineering works'. All services were delayed or cancelled at Birmingham New Street Station on Sunday (July 13) morning due to Network Rail works overrunning. West Midlands Railway announced issues with its services due to 'operational issues' shortly after 8am. And those problems are continuing. READ MORE: Birmingham New Street Station services hit by 'major problems' Now the cause of the major disruption to services has been revealed. A vehicle used to carry out the engineering works has got stuck in Canal Street Tunnel. A spokeswoman for West Midlands Railway said: 'The issues this morning are related to a Network Rail track possession that has overrun due to a broken down vehicle in the Canal St tunnel, meaning that no services have been able to operate in and out of New Street.' 'We have requested rail replacement buses for the Cross City Line and Coventry corridor and ticket acceptance is in place with National Express West Midlands, West Midlands Metro (trams) and Chiltern Railways. 'Customers for Hereford are being advised to travel from Snow Hill.' Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join The trains firm has said that issues on one Birmingham line – Cross City Line South – could be disrupted for a lot longer even after other services resume. 'Current estimates are that services are likely to be disrupted for most of the morning and the Cross City South potentially impacted for longer.' Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox Network Rail has described the problems as being caused by a 'fault with a machine'. A spokesman for Network Rail said: 'We're very sorry to passengers whose journeys have disrupted through Birmingham New Street station this morning, as a result of over-running engineering work. 'This has been caused by a fault with a machine, which was being used as part of the work. 'This has unfortunately affected several routes through the station. 'Rail replacement bus services are in place: please check with your train operator, or on for the latest train running information.'
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Radio stations thrown into chaos and scramble to find last minute stand-ins as both Vernon Kay and Ken Bruce miss their shows in a 'freak twist' after getting 'trapped' on broken down train
The airwaves were thrown into chaos on Tuesday morning, after two major radio presenters were late to their shows due to a broken down train. BBC Radio 2 and Greatest Hits Radio were both forced to find stand-ins and make last-minute shake-ups their schedules after both Vernon Kay and Ken Bruce were caught up in the railway disruption. Vernon, 51, was due to begin his Radio 2 slot at 9.30am, but failed to arrive after becoming 'trapped' on a broken down Chiltern Railways train in the sweltering heatwave. Sara Cox, who is already standing in for Scott Mills, stepped in to take the reigns, extending the Breakfast Show for 30 more minutes and explaining the situation to listeners. The DJ - who coincidentally also hails from Vernon's hometown of Bolton - said: 'Oh no, I've just realised I'm not gonna be in time for reformer Pilates. 'If you just joined in and you're thinking Vernon is sounding a little extra-manly today, don't worry. It's me: Sara, from the same area obviously, though famously. 'Vernon, poor Vernon stuck on a hot, sweaty train with no coffee, no air-con, no deodorant. So he's going to get in at some point, hopefully.' Vernon himself took to his Instagram Stories to lament the situation, sharing a selfie onboard the train with the caption: 'The train isn't training. Hang fire @djsaracox Send deodorant and coffee!' As the delay stretched on, broadcaster Gary Davies took over from Sara at 10am to fill in for Vernon, telling listeners: 'I was supposed to be teeing off around now, but it's just going to have to wait. 'If you just tuned in and wondering were Vernon is, he was on his train like usual and the train broke down and so he has been in sweltering hot heat and they had to send a rescue train which also broke down. 'He's not going nowhere. And he's still trying to get here. Will he make it or not? If you spot him let me know where he is.' Vernon then sent several voice notes in to the show to play over the airwaves, where he expressed his gratitude towards 'gentleman' Gary for covering for him. He said: 'Hi Gary, it's Vernon. I'm sat on a train, thanks very much for covering for me' before asking his fellow stuck passengers to say hello. He went on: 'We are trapped on the train. We are still not in good spirits but we are trying Gary, we really are trying. All the best. You're a gentleman. Have a great show.' But it wasn't only Vernon who was caught out by the railway chaos, with Ken, 74, also missing the start of his slot on his Greatest Hits Radio show. The veteran broadcaster hosts the weekday from 10am to 1pm, but didn't make it to the studio until 11.38am after also becoming trapped on the train. Simon Ross stepped in to present the first 30 minutes, saying: 'Ken was stuck on a train and will hopefully arrive in time for PopMaster' before Claire Sturgess then took over. Taking to his X account to apologise to listeners, Ken explained: 'My apologies. Thanks to yet another broken down train from @chilternrailway I will be late on the show @greatesthitsuk this morning. 'Second time in a month. And yes I do leave plenty of time to get in! Thanks to @rossie7dj for holding the fort!' And fans couldn't help but notice that both Ken and Vernon were facing the same battle and guess that the two radio stars were trapped on the same train in a 'freak twist', joking the pair could 'have a catch-up' or 'carpool'. Taking to the replies of Ken's tweet, they joked: 'Same with @vernonkay. Are you two planning a late cheeky breakfast together?'; 'Is Vernon on the same train ?' 'On the same train as @vernonkay by any chance?'; 'Have you seen Vernon Kay, think he's on the same train & is late in too.' 'You and Vernon on the same train !! Did you have a catch up ?!'; 'Are you and @vernonkay on the same broken down train?' 'You and @vernonkay should share a car!'; 'I bet Vernon is on the same train!'; 'You with Vernon kay he's having a similar problem'. 'Chiltern Railways certainly impacting our radio stations… Vernon and Ken both held up by Chiltern Trains' pesky stock being utterly unfit for purpose.' 'In a freak twist Vernon is probably on the same train...'; '@vernonkay must be on the same train #late'. 'should carpool with vernon'; 'Is @vernonkay on the same train? Because he's also late for his show because of the train breaking down'. 'I take it Ken's stranded with Vernon? Are they playing 'battle of the pop quizzes' whilst banged up together?' Adding credence to the suggestion, Vernon previously revealed in November 2023 that he and Ken take the same train to work each day and often bump into each other on the commute. He told The Radio Times: 'We take the same train every morning! He gets on a few stops further down the line but we bump into each other all the time – we say hello and have a chinwag'. The former Family Fortunes host famously took over Ken's Radio 2 show, two months after Ken jumped ship to join commercial rival Greatest Hits Radio after hosting the same BBC slot since 1986. And fans couldn't help but notice that both Ken and Vernon were facing the same battle and guess that the two radio stars were trapped on the same train in a 'freak twist', joking the pair could 'have a catch-up' or 'carpool' Previously he said he had left the BBC after three decades in the same slot because it was 'time for a change' and it felt 'like the natural culmination of some planning I've been doing'. But now Ken has revealed he decided to jump ship before he started to become 'bitter and entrenched', saying: 'It was a long time and I thought I'm doing the same thing every day. 'There was a point of saying that I can't enthuse over all the new music I'm having to play as much as I could over the old music. And I didn't want to get to the stage where I was badmouthing some of the music [or] pretending to like it.' The father of six elaborated: 'I certainly did think I've got a bit more to offer. I didn't want to be declining over the next three or four years and still doing the same show, but everybody around me getting younger and thinking, 'Am I the old bloke in the corner here?' 'I was the youngster on the station and then almost overnight I became the veteran, and I didn't want to become the old grump in the corner saying 'things aren't what they used to be', or [to] any new idea say, 'No, we tried that, didn't work', which does happen. I just felt I would get more bitter and entrenched.' Ken added that the switch to Greatest Hits Radio had given him a new lease of life, insisting: 'I do feel that it's rejuvenated me to a certain extent. 'I loved working for the BBC. I think it's a great institution. But maybe for the last couple of years I can't be blamed for just trying something else.'
Scotsman
08-06-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Himalayan Railway steam locomotive's return to Glasgow for Commonwealth Games
Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A steam locomotive built in Glasgow for a mountain railway in the Indian Himalayas is to return to the city for the first time since it was exported 137 years ago under plans to showcase it during the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The narrow gauge engine, simply named 19B, was among 40 constructed to haul passengers and freight from the plains of India up to Darjeeling, some of which are still running on the classic line. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Locomotive 19B is being restored at Statfold Barn Railway | Andy Savage It is being restored at a heritage railway in England. A new boiler designed by the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway in Wales is due to be fitted early next year so the locomotive can operate again from next summer. Built in 1889, the locomotive was withdrawn from service with a boiler fault in 1960, then sold to an enthusiast in America, where it remained for more than 40 years. The engine was acquired in 2002 by Adrian Shooter, the-then managing director of English train operator Chiltern Railways, who died three years ago. The locomotive was then bought by the Darjeeling Tank Locomotive Trust, a charity established to preserve it. Once restored, it is hoped that 19B will run again at the Statfold Barn Railway, near Tamworth in Staffordshire, where it has been based for the past two years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Trust vice-president Andy Savage said: 'It is part of an iconic class of locomotives, recognised worldwide, and a design of 1889, built at the Sharp, Stewart works in Springburn, that is still doing what it was built for in 2025. 'All other working B-class locos are still in use on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - ours is the only one to have left India since arrival there. The locomotive visiting the Ffestiniog Railway in 2005 | Andy Savage 'The trust particularly wants to take the locomotive back to Glasgow at the time of the Commonwealth Games, when we hope that its long history in India will be of interest to those who have links with that country, as well as being a wonderful example of how Glasgow built and exported locomotives across the world.' Mr Savage said the trust was seeking possible venues in Springburn to display the locomotive during the Games in July next year, which could be accompanied by a theatrical production. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad John Messner, curator of transport and technology at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, said: 'It is an amazing survivor and its service history in India and latterly back here in the UK sounds unique. 'Sharp, Stewart, and latterly the North British Locomotive Company, produced thousands of locomotives that were exported across the globe. Loco 19B represents that legacy and if it were to visit the city of its birth, I am sure that it will receive a warm welcome.' Mr Messner said the giant Glasgow-built South African Railways locomotive 3007, acquired by Glasgow Museums which is on show at the Riverside Museum, was 'another example of the global impact made by Glaswegian locomotive builders'. Glasgow Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said: 'I have been working with the trust to bring 19B back to the site where it was built, now the Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Times
11-05-2025
- Times
How expensive are British trains compared with Europe and the US?
How much does it cost to take the train between Britain's two biggest cities? Simple answers to such questions are elusive. It could be as much as £98.50 (the 06:10 from London Euston to Birmingham New Street, booked for tomorrow on Avanti). It could also be as little as £6.40 (the 13:36pm from Marylebone to Snow Hill, booked several weeks in advance through Chiltern Railways). On measures ranging from punctuality to the wi-fi signal, Britain's trains get a bad rap — but is the price another problem? You can book a flight to New York (for next year at a time nobody wants to travel, if you are happy to forgo meals and dignity) for less than the most expensive fare between London and Manchester.
BBC News
21-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rail warning for Aston Villa fans ahead of Wembley FA Cup match
Aston Villa supporters travelling to Wembley by train have been collectively issued with travel advice from rail are set to play Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final, which kicks off at 17:15 BST on were advised that train travel on the day was expected to be "very busy" with "limited rail services in operation" from London to Birmingham post-match, Chiltern Railways operators in the region have also reminded customers to check their journeys and to plan ahead and purchase tickets in advance of travelling. Chiltern Railways will operate direct services from Warwick Parkway to Wembley Stadium on the day, with Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway operating services from Birmingham New Street to London Chiltern added fewer services would be in operation back to the West Midlands, should the match go into extra time and Wootton, head of the Grand Railway Collaboration, said she wanted to remind Villa fans that rail travel to and from the match would be "extremely busy"."The kick off time of 17:15 BST means that there will be limited rail services after the match for supporters returning to the West Midlands," she added."Please plan your trip in advance of travelling and you may want to consider extending your stay into the following day."No Chiltern train services would be in operation from Birmingham Moor Street, Solihull, Dorridge, Hatton, Lapworth or Warwick to London, a spokesperson added. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
