Latest news with #TyneAndWear
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Thousands of children to travel for free in the North East this summer
Tens of thousands of children in the North East will travel for free this summer, it has been announced. The return of the Kids Go Free scheme, launched by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, means children can enjoy free bus travel during the school holidays. The scheme will run from July 19 to August 31, 2025, and covers Tyne and Wear, County Durham, and Northumberland. Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, said: "Kids Go Free will see thousands of children across the North East travelling for free this summer. (Image: Mark Savage Photograpy) "From Berwick to Bishop Auckland and beyond, families can enjoy cheaper travel by bus and when using the Metro and Ferry too." Under the scheme, up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free with every fare-paying adult or concessionary pass holder. This makes getting around the region more affordable during the school holidays. Last month, Ms McGuinness announced the scheme will continue until at least September 2026, covering this summer, next summer, and all school holidays in between. Ms McGuinness said: "Since launching last year, Kids Go Free has already helped so many people travel affordably and enjoy their time together during the school holidays. "We're working to make travelling using public transport cheaper and easier and I'm delighted Kids Go Free has now been extended to run during school holidays until at least September 2026. "Affordable travel is great news for everyone, but I know that family budgets are increasingly stretched, so I'm pulling out all the stops to do everything we can to reduce the burden of high transport costs for local people. "Alongside Kids Go Free, we've also rolled out a bus fare cap, which means no single bus journey can be more than a maximum of £2.50 – that's at least 50p cheaper per journey than the national cap." READ MORE: Dad stages Darlington run in aid of suicide charity in memory of his son County Durham schoolgirl goes 'viral' after turning up to prom in HGV 'Exciting new era' for historic Darlington school as redevelopment plans unveiled Bus operators have also voiced their support for the scheme. In a joint statement, Stagecoach, Go North East, and Arriva said: "We're delighted to enable families to have more cost-effective days out by bus this summer, enjoying the attractions and places of interest across the region." To view full terms and conditions and upcoming dates for the offer, visit
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
New Metro trains pulled from service again over air-conditioning leaks
Metro bosses are still trying to correct a fault that is causing water to pour into the carriages of the network's new and Wear Metro's Stadler-built fleet had to be pulled from use during June's heatwave when it emerged their air-conditioning units were problem has reared its head once again as temperatures climbed over recent days, with three trains taken out of Nexus and Stadler said that condensation from the trains' heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system was draining too slowly during long hours of running on hot days - causing it to then leak through the air vents. Transport officials are still "testing solutions" to solve the issue for good, while contingencies including extra cleaning have been put in place in a bid to minimise disruption, according to the Local Democracy Reporting promise of cool, comfortable journeys during hot weather has been touted as one of the main advantages of the new £362m fleet, compared to the outdated Metro trains which have been running since 1980. It is the latest blow to the rollout, which saw new trains being removed from the Metro timetable for more than a week after one of their doors opened on the wrong of the Stadler-built fleet is due to be in service by the end of this year, with all 46 trains due by the end of a joint statement, Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella and Stadler Switzerland CEO Lucius Gerig said they were working "as quickly as possible" to get the HVAC units fixed."The introduction of the new Metro fleet is the biggest and most complex project in the history of the Tyne and Wear Metro and the current phase is the most challenging of any fleet transition project," they said."This is why we are taking a careful and phased approach to fleet introduction to promptly address any arising issues." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- BBC News
Tyne and Wear Metro officially bans vaping
Passengers caught vaping on the Tyne and Wear Metro can now be prosecuted and fined up to £1, Nexus introduced the new byelaw banning vapes and electronic cigarettes on the trains and at stations following customer new rule came into effect on 1 July, but so far no one had been fined, Nexus brings the rules in line with the existing smoking ban, which has been in place since the system opened in 1980. Nexus said vaping was the single most frequent specific issue that Metro customers new byelaw came into effect following a statutory period of consultation which is required by the Department for Transport (DfT). The DfT has now approved the byelaw. A Metro enforcement officer previously told the BBC that most people using vapes were director at Nexus Kevin Storey said: "The overwhelming majority of our customers who vape are considerate and refrain from doing so on Metro."The minority of people who vape on our property should be aware of the introduction of the byelaw and the potential for being issued with a fine." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- The Independent
Horizon IT scandal final report will be ‘monumental', says ex-subpostmaster
The publication of the long-awaited final report from an inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal will be 'monumental', a former subpostmaster has said. More than 900 subpostmasters were wrongfully prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 in what has been dubbed as the worst miscarriage of justice in British legal history. Many were wrongly convicted of crimes such as theft and false accounting after faulty Horizon software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Subpostmasters' lives were destroyed, with some bankrupted by legal action and sent to prison. On Tuesday, the first volume of the Horizon IT inquiry's final report will be published, covering the devastating impact on the lives of the scandal's victims and the compensation process. Leading campaigner Chris Head was falsely accused of stealing more than £80,000 from his branch in West Boldon, near Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, in 2006 before the criminal case against him was dropped. Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of the report being published, the former subpostmaster, who started running his branch aged 18, said: 'It's a monumental day. 'I do believe it will be damning for both the Post Office and the Government. 'It's quite clear that there has been a deliberate attempt to cover this whole scandal up and now, obviously, the further traumatic experience of people trying to receive redress.' The issue of financial redress has frequently been flagged as an issue by subpostmasters with many still awaiting full compensation. The various compensation schemes have been criticised by victims as unfair and difficult to navigate, processes which lead campaigner Sir Alan Bates has previously described as 'quasi-kangaroo courts'. Mr Head said he hoped the report would push the Government further 'to do more and do it quicker.' ' People will not get closure until accountability is found,' he added. 'Unfortunately, with the wheels of justice, they turn so slowly. 'So I'm always focused on the fact that, let's get the redress for people who were so badly affected.' Retired judge Sir Wyn Williams, the chairman of the probe, will make a public statement following the report's publication. In an interim report published in July 2023, Sir Wyn described legislative changes made to resolve issues with the redress schemes as 'a patchwork quilt of compensation schemes… with some holes in it'. The inquiry was established in 2020, with a number of witnesses giving evidence on the use of Fujitsu's Horizon system, Post Office governance and the legal action taken against subpostmasters. In a previous statement addressing the compensation schemes, the Department for Business and Trade said: 'This Government has quadrupled the total amount paid to affected postmasters to provide them with full and fair redress, with more than £1 billion having now been paid to over 7,300 claimants.'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Yahoo
Horizon IT scandal final report will be ‘monumental', says ex-subpostmaster
The publication of the long-awaited final report from an inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal will be 'monumental', a former subpostmaster has said. More than 900 subpostmasters were wrongfully prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 in what has been dubbed as the worst miscarriage of justice in British legal history. Many were wrongly convicted of crimes such as theft and false accounting after faulty Horizon software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Subpostmasters' lives were destroyed, with some bankrupted by legal action and sent to prison. On Tuesday, the first volume of the Horizon IT inquiry's final report will be published, covering the devastating impact on the lives of the scandal's victims and the compensation process. Leading campaigner Chris Head was falsely accused of stealing more than £80,000 from his branch in West Boldon, near Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, in 2006 before the criminal case against him was dropped. Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of the report being published, the former subpostmaster, who started running his branch aged 18, said: 'It's a monumental day. 'I do believe it will be damning for both the Post Office and the Government. 'It's quite clear that there has been a deliberate attempt to cover this whole scandal up and now, obviously, the further traumatic experience of people trying to receive redress.' The issue of financial redress has frequently been flagged as an issue by subpostmasters with many still awaiting full compensation. The various compensation schemes have been criticised by victims as unfair and difficult to navigate, processes which lead campaigner Sir Alan Bates has previously described as 'quasi-kangaroo courts'. Mr Head said he hoped the report would push the Government further 'to do more and do it quicker.' 'People will not get closure until accountability is found,' he added. 'Unfortunately, with the wheels of justice, they turn so slowly. 'So I'm always focused on the fact that, let's get the redress for people who were so badly affected.' Retired judge Sir Wyn Williams, the chairman of the probe, will make a public statement following the report's publication. In an interim report published in July 2023, Sir Wyn described legislative changes made to resolve issues with the redress schemes as 'a patchwork quilt of compensation schemes… with some holes in it'. The inquiry was established in 2020, with a number of witnesses giving evidence on the use of Fujitsu's Horizon system, Post Office governance and the legal action taken against subpostmasters. In a previous statement addressing the compensation schemes, the Department for Business and Trade said: 'This Government has quadrupled the total amount paid to affected postmasters to provide them with full and fair redress, with more than £1 billion having now been paid to over 7,300 claimants.'
