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Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful UK seaside town with very own leaning tower 'like Pisa but wonkier'
While the famous tower of Pisa leans at an angle of four degrees, its British counterpart slants at a whopping 15 degrees A charming seaside town renowned for its expansive sandy beaches and unique historical landmarks, is encouraging tourists to come and pose with its very own answer to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Originally a tiny fishing village, Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset offers visitors a classic British coastal experience, blending natural beauty with a rich heritage. One of the town's most distinctive features is the medieval stone tower of St Andrew's Church, which famously leans due to poor foundations laid soon after its construction in the 12th century. The tower stands 78 feet high and leans at an angle of about 15 degrees. The Pisa tower, by comparison, is over 180 feet tall and leans at about four degrees. So while it's not as tall or famous as its Italian counterpart, St Andrew's tower beats it for wonkiness and is a striking sight — especially when viewed from the nearby Esplanade. Ian Jefferies, the manager of Burnham's visitor centre, said of the view from the top of the tower: 'It's amazing up there. It's so tilted it feels like you're going to fall off.' Historically, Burnham's leaning tower was used as a lighthouse for ships, with a lantern on top warning ships of the hazardous sandbanks surrounding the entrance to the River Parrett. Inside, St Andrew's Church boasts remarkable marble sculptures by Grinling Gibbons, originally commissioned for Whitehall Palace — which was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1698 — making it a site of both great architectural and artistic significance. Burnham-on-Sea features a picturesque pier and a wealth of traditional seaside amenities, including numerous fish and chip shops, ice cream parlours and expansive sandy beaches. Burnham Pier is the shortest in Britain, measuring only 37 metres, but more than makes up for its size with its Edwardian charm, various amusements, arcade games and food stalls. It was built between 1911 and 1914, and was one of the very first piers in Europe constructed using reinforced concrete. Over the decades, the pier has been carefully maintained and restored, preserving its original features. The town is situated along a seven-mile stretch of beach, one of the longest sandy coastlines in Europe. Burnham's beaches are divided into three sections — Main Beach, South Beach and North Beach — providing ample space for sunbathers and visitors. The Main Beach is the hub of activity, where visitors can rent sun loungers and enjoy the presence of lifeguards during peak seasons. Its shallow waters are ideal for paddling, but strong currents can make swimming risky. Parking is available near the beach, including a long-stay pay and display car park with no height restrictions and 24-hour access. Street parking is also an option, though spaces can be limited during busy periods. However, dogs are not permitted on the beach throughout the year, so pet owners will need to make alternative arrangements. Burnham-on-Sea is much more than just its beach, pier and leaning tower, boasting a lively centre filled with independent shops, cafes and pubs. For those interested in history and nature, nearby Brean Down is a National Trust site with a 19th century fort and sweeping views across the Somerset coast. The town also features the iconic Low Lighthouse, which has been voted among the world's most beautiful is a favourite among photographers and history buffs. Entertainment options abound, from the retro Ritz Cinema to family-friendly attractions like the Animal Farm Adventure Park, Burnham-on-Sea offers something for everyone, whether you're seeking a quiet family getaway or a lively seaside holiday.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Railroads want feds to scrap 2-person train crew rule
The biggest U.S. railroads are asking the Trump administration to repeal a federal rule requiring two-person crews on freight trains. The trade group representing six Class I railroads in the U.S. and Canada termed the Biden-era rule 'an unsubstantiated mandate that conflicts with the Trump administration's policy goals of regulatory reform, technological advancement, and data-driven rule-making.' The filing marks a resumption of the railroads' campaign for single-person crews they say have been successfully implemented by hundreds of smaller railroads. Comments on the rule, which was finalized by the Federal Railroad Administration in April 2024, were filed by the Association of American Railroads after an April 3 request for information by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The AAR urged the agency to modernize and streamline regulations it claims stifles innovation and discourages investment without improving safety. 'For too long, outdated, arbitrary regulations have stood in the way of implementing data-backed solutions that can further strengthen railroads' already remarkable safety record,' said AAR President and Chief Executive Ian Jefferies, in a release. 'As technology advances, railroads must be empowered to innovate — not be hamstrung by prescriptive rules, including some written more than 50 years ago. As a critical economic enabler, domestic growth and prosperity are contingent upon maintaining freight railroads' ability to safely, reliably and affordably deliver for American businesses and communities.' The AAR in its comments called 'illusory' the rule's special approval process for one-person crews, and claimed the FRA has no data showing such crews are unsafe. The railroads also said one-person crews would save them $264.7 million over the first 10 years of gradual implementation, according to a 2016 analysis by consultant Oliver Wyman. The railroads called the crew rule 'a 2020 campaign promise' by Biden 'that failed to quantify any safety benefit to justify its significant costs.' The railroads also want DOT to relax other safety measures, including finalizing a proposed rule calling for less frequent inspections of train brakes. 'Collectively, these changes would reduce unnecessary regulatory burden while continuing to meet USDOT's responsibility to ensure the safety of the nation's transportation system,' AAR said in the release. Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here. Related coverage: FreightCar America Q1 net better than half of revenue Grupo Mexico rail operations earnings plunge as volume drops BNSF profits rise as volume and rates increase Class I railroads keep optimistic outlooks despite trade uncertainty The post Railroads want feds to scrap 2-person train crew rule appeared first on FreightWaves.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Britain's answer to the 'leaning tower of Pisa' could turn seaside town into popular hotspot
A Somerset seaside town is hoping to woo in legions of tourists - by offering them the chance to pose with its answer to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The famous Italian landmark - which leans at an gentle angle of 3.9 degrees - attracts more than five million visitors a year. However, the medieval stone church tower of St Andrews in Burnham-on-Sea, which is around the same age as Pisa's tower, leans by an incredible 15 degrees, making it more than four times wonkier. Local tourist chiefs are frustrated that the small Somerset beach town receives a tiny number of visitors compared to Pisa. To add insult to injury, Burnham has just been called the UK's third worst seaside spot by the Which? organisation. The Somerset town was given one star for its tourist attractions, food and drink, and shopping, and two stars for its pier (Britain's smallest) and seafront (which features three lighthouses). The town's visitor centre is dismayed that the survey by the Which? Organisation completely neglected to mention Burnham's hidden claim to international fame: one of the world's most leaning buildings. The 78ft high church tower was built on sandy shore close to the beach in the 14th century – and has been alarmingly wonky ever since. It looks extraordinary from some angles but is considered stable. The tower is only occasionally open to visitors however. Manager of Burnham's visitor centre, Ian Jefferies, has climbed the narrow spiral staircase and stood on the top. He says: 'It's amazing up there. It's so tilted it feels like you're going to fall off.' A plumb line drop from the tower would be three feet away from the tower at ground level. Now a visitors heritage trail has been launched in the town using wall-mounted QR codes that provide more information on 31 of its historic landmarks. Of course, the leaning tower is one of the highlights. With only 18 reviews on Tripadvisor the Burnham tower is lagging somewhat behind Pisa's rival, which has 24,224 reviews. Nevertheless, one Somerset visitor describes that 'the tower leans beautifully'. The pretty stone church is considered an unsung historic landmark by its few visitors. It contains rare and beautiful marble statues by Sir Christopher Wren. Despite the spectacular lean, the tower used to function as a lighthouse with a lantern on top warning ships of perilous sandbanks around the entrance to the River Parrett. Classic photo op: Pisa's tower has attracted tourists who want to see its famous tilt in person for centuries In fact, as well as the Leaning Tower of Burnham, the town also has a bizarre collection of lighthouses. It's picturesque nine-legged 30ft-high wooden one was built in 1832 on offshore tidal flats. It has been voted one of the world's most beautiful lighthouses. Another lighthouse is a bizarre round stone cylinder built by a local vicar 300 years ago as part of a seafront house. The third stands incongruously among suburban houses some way inland – it's 100ft tower is now a private house. SO, WHY DOES THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA LEAN? Theories suggest that the 57 metre (186-feet) tower, which has been a mystery to experts for hundreds of years, began to sink after construction - which began in 1173. The cause was due to a flawed design which meant it had a foundation that was only three-metres deep and was set in weak, unstable subsoil. This base was also softer on the southern side, resulting in the eponymous lean, so builders tried to compensate for it while they built its eight storeys upwards. They did this by making the floors shorter on one side than the other, making the structure curved as well as tilting. The medieval bell tower, a symbol of the power of the maritime republic of Pisa in the Middle Ages, has managed to survive, undamaged, at least four strong earthquakes that have hit the region since 1280.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legislation would coordinate law enforcement response to rail cargo theft
Railroads and retailers are praising a bipartisan bill in Congress that aims to reduce cargo theft. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA), introduced Thursday by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and co-sponsored by nine Republican and five Democratic senators, would create a coordinated federal response to a rising wave of sophisticated cargo thefts, many of which target consumer goods in containers carried on double-stack trains. 'Organized criminal operations continue to evolve and escalate their targeted attacks against our nation's supply chain and retailers,' Association of American Railroads CEO Ian Jefferies said in a statement on Thursday. 'This alarming trend affects every industry – including the nation's largest railroads, which experienced a 40% spike in cargo theft last year.' The AAR says the bill would provide the framework necessary to disrupt criminal networks and safeguard supply chains. Specifically, it would enhance federal law enforcement tools and establish a centralized coordination center that would bring together federal, state and local law enforcement as well as railroad police to counter organized theft the frequency and tactics of cargo theft attempts have rapidly evolved and escalated from what once was a crime of opportunity to one that cost the industry more than $100 million last year, the AAR says. Today, rail cargo thefts are calculated, coordinated and executed by sophisticated perpetrators often with links to domestic and transnational organized crime groups. Because thieves frequently bring trains to a stop by disconnecting brake system air hoses, the thefts pose operational hazards, the AAR says. The rail industry estimates suggest that over 65,000 thefts occurred against the Class I railroads in 2024. Nike shoes have been a frequent target. 'Whether stealing mass quantities of products from retail stores or hijacking consumer goods throughout the supply chain, these gangs are wreaking havoc. And these criminal rings use the profits from retail theft to support larger illicit activities such as human trafficking, gun smuggling, narcotics, and terrorism,' said Michael Hanson, senior executive vice president, public affairs, at the Retail Industry Leaders Association. 'In order to expose and prosecute these sophisticated criminal rings, we need federal, state and local law enforcement to be coordinated, which is exactly what CORCA will do.'Related: Railroads say freight theft cost more than $100 million in 2024 The post Legislation would coordinate law enforcement response to rail cargo theft appeared first on FreightWaves.
