#transpennine team

[minicabride]

MiniCabRide offering Special Discount During Upcoming London Train Strikes

London, UK, 29th July 2023, Nnewswire , While June may have offered London commuters a temporary break from London Train Strikes action, the respite seems to be short-lived as major industrial action, as warned earlier, is set to resume in both July and August. The strikes are not only occurring nationwide but are also impacting the capital city. As Londoners brace themselves for an upcoming London Train Strikes in upcoming Weeks – 31 July to 5 August and Monday, August 7 to Saturday, August 12 which will seriously disrupt services at 15 rail companies,

Which London train lines will be affected?

A large number of lines will be affected by the London Train Strikes.

Avanti West Coast.

c2c

Chiltern Railways

Cross Country Trains

East Midlands Railway

Greater Anglia

Great Western Railway

GTR

LNER

Northern Trains

South Eastern

South Western Railway

Transpennine Express

West Midlands Trains

MiniCabRide is proud to announce its comprehensive and efficient transport solutions to ensure seamless commuting during this challenging time. With a commitment to providing reliable and convenient alternatives, MiniCabRide is poised to assist commuters in navigating the city without disruptions during the strike.

London Train Strikes, scheduled to commence on 31 July to 5 August and Monday, August 7 to Saturday, August 12, threatens to impact the daily routines of countless London residents and visitors. Understanding the potential hardships that this may cause, MiniCabRide steps forward to alleviate travel concerns by offering an array of transport options to suit everyone’s needs.

Key Features of MiniCabRide’s Transport Options:

Door-to-Door Service: MiniCabRide offers door-to-door transportation, ensuring passengers are promptly picked up from their locations and safely dropped off at their destinations, guaranteeing a hassle-free experience.

Diverse Fleet: With a versatile fleet of vehicles, including standard cars, executive sedans, and spacious minivans, passengers can choose the mode of transportation that best accommodates their preferences and group size.

Experienced and Professional Drivers: MiniCabRide’s team of skilled and courteous drivers are well-versed in London’s road networks, ensuring timely and efficient routes to avoid unnecessary delays.

Real-Time Tracking: Passengers can easily track their rides in real time through the MiniCabRide app, providing peace of mind and allowing them to plan their schedules accordingly.

Affordable Pricing: MiniCabRide is committed to providing affordable pricing without compromising on the quality of service, offering cost-effective options for all passengers.

Airport Transfer Service: MiniCabRide Provide Reliable and Affordable Airport transfer Services in London ensuring passengers are promptly picked up & Drop Off from London Airports (Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport, Luton Airport, Southend Airport, London City Airport , Birmingham Airport, Manchester Airport East Mildands Airport and all UK Airports) and safely dropped off at their destinations, guaranteeing a hassle-free experience.

“We understand the impact that the upcoming London Train Strikes can have on the lives of Londoners. As a dedicated transport service provider, our primary goal is to assist the community during this challenging time,” said Kevin Obrien, spokesperson for MiniCabRide. “With our efficient transport solutions and commitment to customer satisfaction, we aim to offer a reliable alternative for navigating London seamlessly during the strike.”

Booking a ride with MiniCabRide is simple and can be done via their website or mobile app. As demand is expected to be high during the London Train Strikes, passengers are encouraged to book their rides in advance to secure their preferred transport options.

About MiniCabRide

MiniCabRide is a reputable transport service provider that has been serving the London community, offering reliable, safe, and accessible transportation solutions to individuals and families. With a diverse fleet of vehicles and a dedicated team of professional drivers, The Company’s dedication to excellence, reliability, and customer satisfaction has earned it a prominent position in the transportation industry. For additional information and business inquiries, please contact: https://minicabride.com/

Read Full Story here - https://minicabride.com/mcr/minicabride-offering-special-discount-during-upcoming-london-train-strikes/

[pigeonlodgeagent]

Traveling by train from Leeds to London Kings Cross

The duration of a typical project can vary greatly depending on its scope and complexity. Factors such as the size of the team, the resources available, and the timeline for completion can all influence the overall duration of the project. This particular task took 2 hours and 26 minutes to complete because the scope was limited and the resources available were sufficient for the task. The team size was small, and the timeline for completion was tight, so it was completed within a relatively short period of time. Traveling by train from Leeds to London Kings Cross. Having the right resources, a limited scope, and a tight timeline all contributed to the task being completed in a short amount of time. The small team size also helped to reduce the amount of time needed to complete the task since there were fewer people to coordinate with and fewer tasks to complete. There are 2 hours and 11 minutes left in the day. By having fewer people involved, the team was able to identify tasks quickly, delegate them, and get them done faster. This allowed them to finish the task in the allotted time, while also leaving enough time to complete any additional tasks that may come up.

Traveling by train from Leeds to London Kings Cross

Photo by Jonas Tebbe The train journey from Leeds to London Kings Cross takes approximately how long? The train journey from Leeds to London Kings Cross takes an average of two hours and 26 minutes. - When traveling by train from Leeds to London Kings Cross, what is the shortest duration of the journey? In terms of train travel, the shortest journey from Leeds to London Kings Cross takes approximately 2 hours and 11 minutes. - Is there a direct train running from Leeds to London Kings Cross? The answer to this question is no, there is no direct train running from Leeds to London Kings Cross. The journey requires at least one change of train(s) in order to complete. - What is the average number of trains that travel from Leeds to London Kings Cross each day? It is estimated that there are approximately 39 trains traveling between Leeds and London Kings Cross every day between the hours of 8:05 a.m. and 20:45 p.m. - What is the name of the rail company that operates train services between Leeds and London Kings Cross? You will find a number of companies operating trains between Leeds and London Kings Cross, including TransPennine Express, on the route between Leeds and London Kings Cross. If you are going to take a train trip from Leeds to London Kings Cross, you might want to check out and compare rail companies to get a better idea of the kind of service they provide.

  Read the full article

[whistlingstarlight]

Transpennine Express Team are complete!!

Top row:

Nova - Diesel-electric locomotive, he/him

Starla - First class car, she/her

Turner - Dual kitchen/seating car, he/him

Bottom row:

Astara - Standard class car, she/her

Seren - Standard class car, they/them

Switch - Dual luggage/control car, she/her he/him

[joomlapiner]

Shop firstclass

#SHOP FIRSTCLASS UPGRADE#

#SHOP FIRSTCLASS PLUS#

#SHOP FIRSTCLASS TV#

Cultivationīeing a balanced hybrid, its cultivation is not very difficult, but also not suitable for no-experience growers. Marijuana strain ideal for day and night. Starting off with a slight cerebral sensation, the effect of this cannabis strain is also soon felt relaxed but with a boost of energy. Its effect is balanced and light, not immediately affecting the smoker’s head. Highly recommended by the Annibale Seedshop team! Effect of Firstclass F1 Regular In fact, we can find touches of Mango and lime peel, leaving a decidedly spectacular flavor on the palate! It is then accompanied by a complex terpene and aromatic spectrum. With a pungent Rhum flavor, or as a freshly made acid and citric Zabaione. The taste of the seductive Firstclass F1 regular marijuana strain from Annibale Genetics is simply unique. Sakura # 4 x Mountain Temple Taste of Firstclass F1 Loved by the whole Annibale Seedshop team!Īdditional information about Firstclass F1 Regular by Annibale Genetics It has a truly complex and unique taste, which can recall sweet rum, or an acid and citric Zabaione. One of the marijuana strains most recommended by the Annibale Seedshop team for those looking for a rare weed taste, with abundant collections of very strong Bag-Appeal buds, and a comfortable and seductive effect of a perfectly balanced hybrid! One of our favorite 2021 Hybrid Cannabis strains! There are no child or Railcard discounts available.“Firstclass F1” Regular Cannabis Seeds – Annibale Geneticsįirstclass F1 Regular by Annibale Genetics is a simply unique quality of Marijuana! Developing a medium height, the genetic characteristics tend to be of a well balanced hybrid variety. Please note Weekend First is subject to availability and spaces are limited. Seatfrog - if you’ve booked a Standard Class ticket, you can use the free Seatfrog app to bid for a last-minute upgrade. Simply find an unreserved First Class seat and pay the Conductor for your upgrade.

#SHOP FIRSTCLASS UPGRADE#

Ask your Conductor how much the upgrade is for your journey. The price depends on how far you’re travelling either £10, £15 or £20 per person one-way. On the day – upgrade your Standard Class ticket on any TransPennine Express service on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays with our Weekend First offer. Advance tickets have to be used on the specific train chosen at the time you book and offer great value for money. There are a few ways to save on First Class tickets on your next journey with us:īuy in advance - book First Class Advance Purchase tickets and you could save over 50%. Then sit back, relax and enjoy the main event all from your seat. Download the free TPExpress app and connect to the onboard Wi-Fi to start streaming.

#SHOP FIRSTCLASS TV#

Make First Class even more epic with films, TV shows, magazines and much more on Exstream. We serve a range of hot drinks and snacks in first class and have a range of products for retail sale, our menu can be found here. So you can relax and stay connected on your journey.Ĭatering is available on the majority of our services Monday – Friday from 07:00 – 18:30 and from 09:00 – 18:30 Saturday – Sunday.

#SHOP FIRSTCLASS PLUS#

City, Coast and Country - walks and ridesįirst Class rail travel is the way to go if you need to plug in and keep working on the go, or if you fancy treating yourself on an extra special journey.Īll our trains have a First Class area with spacious, comfortable reclining seats and generous legroom plus free Wi-Fi, power sockets and USB points at every seat.

[qubemagazine]

New Post has been published on Qube Magazine

New Post has been published on https://www.qubeonline.co.uk/the-transpennine-route-upgrade-uses-asite-to-support-2-9-billion-programme-of-railway-improvements/

The Transpennine Route Upgrade Uses Asite to Support £2.9 billion Programme of Railway Improvements

NEWS FEATURES FIRE & SECURITY SUBMISSIONS RESOURCES

Asite, the world’s leading data platform for the built environment, is proud to announce its partnership in the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) program. This system of railway improvements will bring better connections in the North between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York.

TRU is a transformative, multi-billion-pound railway program that will bring more frequent, faster, and greener trains. The 70-mile Transpennine railway, which serves 23 stations, crosses over and dips under dozens of bridges and viaducts, moves through six miles of tunnels, and passes over 29 level crossings. It will support economic growth in the North and deliver real benefits for passengers and communities.

The work is funded by the Department for Transport and delivered by Network Rail through dedicated alliances and project teams. Several organisations make up TRU, and each one plays a crucial role in making it a world-class operation.

Asite’s partnership with TRU started in 2020, and it continues to thrive today.

TRU uses the award-winning Asite Common Data Environment (CDE) to standardize, integrate, and manage its data, alongside the Asite Contract Management solution to manage the alliance’s contracts. In addition, the Asite Tender Management solution was recently implemented to optimize TRU’s supply chain processes.

Richard Harrison, Director of Customer Success at Asite, said: “Our partnership with the TRU team could not be stronger.

To date, we’ve helped the team deliver significant improvements across the North of England as part of the TRU program. We have supported their data management at all levels, from transforming their offline process using custom forms to integrating financial data between alliance partners.

The team at TRU are a perfect example of keeping at the forefront of digitalization and evolving their processes, introducing technology to meet demand and ease the burden of managing and delivering a vast project.

As the TRU program continues, we’re looking forward to supporting the project team in creating and delivering a world-class railway system.”

Colin Bagley, Business Systems Lead at TRU East Alliance said: “The Asite Platform is a key component of our business systems strategy which strives to create world-class, shared, and interconnected systems that serve the common interests of all Alliance partners.

It has been particularly refreshing to work with a partner who remains committed to the programme long after a contract has been signed, The Asite team have remained fully engaged throughout.”

Asite’s partnership with the TRU alliance will see the Asite Platform drive improvements to the TRU program as well as increase collaboration, streamline processes, and cut through unnecessary complications.

TRU is speeding up journeys by upgrading and remodeling tracks, installing new signaling systems, and upgrading railway bridges.

The whole railway route will also be electrified. This will enable greener trains to run, reducing the railway’s carbon footprint and improving air quality. In addition, TRU is looking at opportunities to run more freight trains on the route that move critical goods by rail—helping to take lorries off the roads.

Key stations are also being upgraded to improve passengers’ travelling experience and create more accessible stations.

Asite will work alongside the TRU team to ensure they achieve project excellence, providing them with the tools needed to deliver this necessary and transformative work plan.

About Asite

Asite is the world’s leading data platform for the built environment, helping organizations come together, plan, design, and build with seamless information sharing across the entire supply chain.

Founded in 2001, the Asite Platform has been used widely across the globe as the go-to- project management platform for complex, capital projects, including Dubai International Airport, Thames Tideway, and Australia’s Bushfire Recovery Program.

Today, more than 62,000 organizations, including Laing O’Rourke, Goldman Sachs, Transport for London (TfL), Aldar Properties, and the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), utilize Asite’s cloud-based Data Platform with their 127,000 projects and over 53 million files.

Asite is headquartered in London with regional offices in New York, Houston, Amsterdam, Riyadh, Dubai, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Ahmedabad.

For more information, visit www.asite.com.

  The Transpennine Route Upgrade Uses Asite to Support £2.9 billion Programme of Railway Improvements

NEWS FEATURES FIRE & SECURITY SUBMISSIONS RESOURCES

[elsakdalton]

Over 13000 Fines issued by Transpennine Express

TransPennine Express gave out an unprecedented number of fines to those travelling without a valid ticket during 2021.

TransPennine Express (TPE) want to reiterate their message to customers to ‘buy before they board’ as the number of penalties given reached over 13,400 for people travelling either without a ticket or using an invalid one, the fines result in passengers paying either a higher fare or a fixed penalty.

A huge £570k was recovered by TPE via penalties due to fare evasion and led to 531 people being prosecuted in court, which resulted in substantial fines as well as a criminal record for those who were found guilty.

Darren Higgins, Commercial Director for TransPennine Express, said:

“Fare evasion is an all too real problem for the rail industry, and for our customers. Not only does it remove vital money from the industry – money which could be reinvested into making the network even better – it’s also incredibly frustrating for those who are honest and travel having paid for a valid ticket.”

TPE is dedicated to making rail travel fair for all with staff from their revenue protection team patrolling trains and stations each day in order to deal with continual fare evasion and if necessary, issuing on-the-spot fines.

Darren also went on to say:

“Anyone travelling by train should buy a ticket before they board, ideally using our website or app. Tickets can also be bought from our stations using either the ticket vending machines or our ticket offices. Those who refuse to buy a ticket before travelling from a station where facilities are available may be issued with a Penalty Fare and could face the prospect of a criminal record.”

Penalty Fares are employed throughout the country as a system of on-the-spot fines issued to people who do not have a valid ticket for their travel when there has been an opportunity to buy one.

Penalty Fares are either £20 or twice the amount of the full single fare applicable or whichever is larger.

To find out more about Penalty Fares please visit the TPE website: http://tpexpress.co.uk/help/revenue-protection-policy/penalty-fare

Source

The post Over 13,000 Fines issued by Transpennine Express appeared first on Best Reviews and Recommendations.

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https://hiccupsandkicks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Customer-using-a-ticket-vending-machine-at-the-station-150x150.jpg https://hiccupsandkicksuk.weebly.com/hiccups-and-kicks/over-13000-fines-issued-by-transpennine-express

[darenmbrown]

Over 13,000 Fines issued by Transpennine Express

TransPennine Express gave out an unprecedented number of fines to those travelling without a valid ticket during 2021.

TransPennine Express (TPE) want to reiterate their message to customers to ‘buy before they board’ as the number of penalties given reached over 13,400 for people travelling either without a ticket or using an invalid one, the fines result in passengers paying either a higher fare or a fixed penalty.

A huge £570k was recovered by TPE via penalties due to fare evasion and led to 531 people being prosecuted in court, which resulted in substantial fines as well as a criminal record for those who were found guilty.

Darren Higgins, Commercial Director for TransPennine Express, said:

“Fare evasion is an all too real problem for the rail industry, and for our customers. Not only does it remove vital money from the industry – money which could be reinvested into making the network even better – it’s also incredibly frustrating for those who are honest and travel having paid for a valid ticket.”

TPE is dedicated to making rail travel fair for all with staff from their revenue protection team patrolling trains and stations each day in order to deal with continual fare evasion and if necessary, issuing on-the-spot fines.

Darren also went on to say:

“Anyone travelling by train should buy a ticket before they board, ideally using our website or app. Tickets can also be bought from our stations using either the ticket vending machines or our ticket offices. Those who refuse to buy a ticket before travelling from a station where facilities are available may be issued with a Penalty Fare and could face the prospect of a criminal record.”

Penalty Fares are employed throughout the country as a system of on-the-spot fines issued to people who do not have a valid ticket for their travel when there has been an opportunity to buy one.

Penalty Fares are either £20 or twice the amount of the full single fare applicable or whichever is larger.

To find out more about Penalty Fares please visit the TPE website: http://tpexpress.co.uk/help/revenue-protection-policy/penalty-fare

Source

The post Over 13,000 Fines issued by Transpennine Express appeared first on Best Reviews and Recommendations.

https://hiccupsandkicks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Customer-using-a-ticket-vending-machine-at-the-station-150×150.jpg https://hiccupsandkicks.co.uk/2022/02/24/over-13000-fines-issued-by-transpennine-express/

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[hiccupsandkicksuk]

Over 13,000 Fines issued by Transpennine Express

TransPennine Express gave out an unprecedented number of fines to those travelling without a valid ticket during 2021.

TransPennine Express (TPE) want to reiterate their message to customers to ‘buy before they board’ as the number of penalties given reached over 13,400 for people travelling either without a ticket or using an invalid one, the fines result in passengers paying either a higher fare or a fixed penalty.

A huge £570k was recovered by TPE via penalties due to fare evasion and led to 531 people being prosecuted in court, which resulted in substantial fines as well as a criminal record for those who were found guilty.

Darren Higgins, Commercial Director for TransPennine Express, said:

“Fare evasion is an all too real problem for the rail industry, and for our customers. Not only does it remove vital money from the industry – money which could be reinvested into making the network even better – it’s also incredibly frustrating for those who are honest and travel having paid for a valid ticket.”

TPE is dedicated to making rail travel fair for all with staff from their revenue protection team patrolling trains and stations each day in order to deal with continual fare evasion and if necessary, issuing on-the-spot fines.

Darren also went on to say:

“Anyone travelling by train should buy a ticket before they board, ideally using our website or app. Tickets can also be bought from our stations using either the ticket vending machines or our ticket offices. Those who refuse to buy a ticket before travelling from a station where facilities are available may be issued with a Penalty Fare and could face the prospect of a criminal record.”

Penalty Fares are employed throughout the country as a system of on-the-spot fines issued to people who do not have a valid ticket for their travel when there has been an opportunity to buy one.

Penalty Fares are either £20 or twice the amount of the full single fare applicable or whichever is larger.

To find out more about Penalty Fares please visit the TPE website: http://tpexpress.co.uk/help/revenue-protection-policy/penalty-fare

Source

The post Over 13,000 Fines issued by Transpennine Express appeared first on Best Reviews and Recommendations.

https://hiccupsandkicks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Customer-using-a-ticket-vending-machine-at-the-station-150x150.jpg https://hiccupsandkicks.co.uk/2022/02/24/over-13000-fines-issued-by-transpennine-express/

[jaigeddes]

Balfour Beatty clinches £200m Mottram Bypass

A Balfour Beatty Atkins JV has secured the first major project on the Manchester to Sheffield TransPennine upgrade programme.

The £200m Mottram bypass project is a major element of a £242m package of highway improvements to ease congestion on the 25-mile route connecting the M67 in the North West to the M1 in Yorkshire.

The team will design and construct the bypass to take traffic away from the village of Mottram in Longdendale, South Yorkshire.

Following further public consultation, a planning application will be submitted next year. If the plans are approved by the government, then work on the project could start by spring 2023. 

The new dual carriageway would run from the end of the M67 (junction 4) and through a new underpass to the north of Mottram in Longdendale.

The road would then join the A57 east of the junction with the A6018 (Black Moor). 

A new single carriageway road is also being planned to link the A57 from Mottram Moor to Woolley Bridge, taking traffic away from the current route of the A57 along Woolley Lane. 

Andy Dawson, Highways England’s project manager, said: “The bypass is part of a series of improvements we’re planning to improve journeys on the trans-Pennine route between Manchester and Sheffield, along the A57, A628 and A616. 

“We can now start the detailed design work for the bypass and expect to be able to hold a public consultation on our proposals this winter.” 

Phil Clifton, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Highways business, said: “We are pleased to contribute to the development of the local area by connecting communities and bringing additional social value through the use of local suppliers and supporting employment opportunities within the area; helping to leave a lasting legacy in the communities in which we work.” 

[ebenalconstruct]

Balfour Beatty clinches £200m Mottram Bypass

A Balfour Beatty Atkins JV has secured the first major project on the Manchester to Sheffield TransPennine upgrade programme.

The £200m Mottram bypass project is a major element of a £242m package of highway improvements to ease congestion on the 25-mile route connecting the M67 in the North West to the M1 in Yorkshire.

The team will design and construct the bypass to take traffic away from the village of Mottram in Longdendale, South Yorkshire.

Following further public consultation, a planning application will be submitted next year. If the plans are approved by the government, then work on the project could start by spring 2023. 

The new dual carriageway would run from the end of the M67 (junction 4) and through a new underpass to the north of Mottram in Longdendale.

The road would then join the A57 east of the junction with the A6018 (Black Moor). 

A new single carriageway road is also being planned to link the A57 from Mottram Moor to Woolley Bridge, taking traffic away from the current route of the A57 along Woolley Lane. 

Andy Dawson, Highways England’s project manager, said: “The bypass is part of a series of improvements we’re planning to improve journeys on the trans-Pennine route between Manchester and Sheffield, along the A57, A628 and A616. 

“We can now start the detailed design work for the bypass and expect to be able to hold a public consultation on our proposals this winter.” 

Phil Clifton, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Highways business, said: “We are pleased to contribute to the development of the local area by connecting communities and bringing additional social value through the use of local suppliers and supporting employment opportunities within the area; helping to leave a lasting legacy in the communities in which we work.” 

from https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2020/08/24/balfour-beatty-clinches-200m-mottram-bypass/

[railcamuk]

RAILCAM RECOMMENDS...

Away from the full scale railways we cover, many of our admin teams and members also enjoy the much smaller scale model railways. One name that may have slipped you by in the model railway world is Accuascale, who recently came to our attention, and that attention needs to be shared!

A member of our senior admin team, with a love of all things BR Blue, has recently dusted down the old layout in his loft and is in the market for a quality sound fitted Deltic to lead the resurrection of his layout, this is where we first came across Accurascale. 

The words ‘iconic’ and ‘legendary’ are far to often thrown around these day, but when it comes to the Deltic, these words are truly justified. The size, power and of course sound, of these monsters of the East Coast means to this day, long after they were withdrawn from front line service, they are still adored by many in the railway world.

Accurascale are producing a bumper range 17 highly detailed Class 55s, due for release towards the back end of 2019, and they look good, very very good. Wether you are a BR Blue or Two Tone Green, Pre or Post TOPS, or even the rather striking Porterbrook Purple, Accurascale have you covered, available in both DCC Ready or DCC Sound Fitted.

The specifications list is endless, and for the detailed railway modeller they are a joy to read, but don’t take our word for it, browser the full range at https://accurascale.co.uk/collections/class-55-deltic and see for yourself, but be warned, you will want to buy one!

This brings us on to the next big announcement from Accurascale, and this ties in with our recent visit to Model Rail Scotland in Glasgow. A number of our admin team made the trip up to Glasgow on the Caledonian Sleeper, taking in what could be one final run on the old MK3 stock, before the stunning new MK5s are gradually bought in to service throughout 2019. So what does this have to do with Accurascale you ask? Well take a look here https://accurascale.co.uk/collections/mark-5-coaches 

Stunning coach packs of both the Caledonian Sleeper MK5s and the striking TransPennine Express MK5a ‘Nova 3’ push pull sets. The Caledonian Sleeper packs are split up in to portions that are prototypical of what runs on the nation network, enabling you to build a rake from the 6-coach Aberdeen portion, 8-coach Inverness portion or the 4-coach Fort William portion of the Highland Sleeper. If it takes your fancy you can even build the full 16 coach rake! If your layout is that big, we would love to see it.

If the Lowland Sleeper is your preferred journey, you can also build up the two 8-coach portions that make up the Glasgow and Edinburgh service.

Each coach, even at this early stage, is boasting a multitude of museum quality individual parts, which include a fully detailed and painted/printed accurate interior and stay-alive lighting!

So you have your coaches, what about a locomotive for them? Well Accurascale have your back, with an extensive range of Class 92 locomotives being released at the same time as the coaches (Expected Q1 2020), which will include Caledonian Sleeper and GBRf liveried example that feature regularly on the beds, as well as highly detailed DB Cargo Red, EWS and various Two Tone Railfreight Grey options available. https://accurascale.co.uk/collections/british-rail-class-92

We have seen the TransPennine Express Nova 3 fleet in test on our cameras in recent weeks, and the striking livery and return of push-pull working causing quite a stir. Two uniquely numbered sets of 4 coaches and 1 driving trailer, which will complement your Dapol Class 68, are currently available to order, with an expected delivery dat of Q1 2020.

With prices extremely reasonable for this level of quality and detail, you can’t really go wrong, you can even pay a deposit and spread you payments to suit your needs. In a hobby where the prices seem to only rise, this is a very affordable way of adding to your collection.

From personal experience, via chatting at Model Rail Scotland and during ordering, I have to say the dedication of the team at Accurascale is second to none, and the customer service is amongst some of the best I have ever experienced, and for all that and more, Railcam Recommends….. Accurascale.

https://accurascale.co.uk 

[htstalybridge]

Thought for the day: 24th April

Good morning church,

Today’s post comes from Paula Chester. Enjoy

I’ve been asked by Gary to write a thought for the day to help with our mental health and well-being while we are in this period of confinement.  I believe that God created us to be social beings (in Genesis 2: 18, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone”) and gave us a beautiful world to explore and enjoy; we gain so much from meeting with others, be it at work, meeting up with friends and family or going to church.   So how do we maintain good mental health and well-being when we cannot do these things and be as God intended?

In the current situation with the spread of the pandemic and the requirement to stay at home, it is easy to feel a heightened sense of anxiety, deeper feelings of depression and frustration at not being able to do the things we want to do (especially as the weather is so good at the moment), so read through my top ten tips on good mental health and well-being (5 today and 5 tomorrow): 

1) * God - possibly goes without saying but stay close to the Lord and look to Him.  God tells us He is our Protector, Refuge and Shelter – Psalms 91 & 121, and we are to trust in Him – Psalm 112; Psalm 94:19 – ‘When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul’ (NIV). Go to God’s Word, pray often, watch Holy Trinity’s services on-line and remember God is greater than Covid-19.  Nicky Gumbel has done a great sermon on Faith over fear: www.htb.org

2) * Bad news - Limit the amount of time you spend on the news (watching, listening or reading), especially the grim statistics that are shown every day or the “doomsday” predictions that are being made.  Balance this out with looking for good news or heart-warming stories.  Some have been put onto Holy Trinity’s facebook page. Search on-line to read about how communities are coming together, who does not love what Captain Tom has accomplished!

Focus on the blessings you have today and thank our Lord for them however small: e.g. thank you that I woke up in my bed in my house; thank you for the sunshine, thank you that I know you Lord, etc.

3) * Exercise - Take advantage of our daily exercise allowance (if you can).  With the weather being so good, it provides encouragement to go outdoors for a walk, run (for the more energetic) or cycle.  It has been researched that regular walking raises your heart-rate and is beneficial for your physical health, but walking in nature (countryside), seeing good views, greenery and hearing the birds sing, is beneficial for your mental health and well-being.  In Stalybridge we are blessed to be near to the countryside – Hobson & Shaw moors, nature reserve in Cheetham Park and reservoirs. For those of you who are further away, have a look on: www.tameside.gov.uk – Libraries and Leisure – countryside – walks and trails. There is the Transpennine Trail which runs through Tameside, Tame Valley Way runs through Denton, Hyde, Mottram, Daisy Nook country park, Stalybridge country park, Werneth Low, the canals running through Mossley, Stalybridge, Ashton, Audenshaw, Droylsden, and Hyde, Hurst Cross, and the local parks.

If you cannot go outside, there are plenty of live-stream workout classes, (Mr Motivator) and gentler classes for the older adults – go to Age UK or try www.activetameside.com/live-active/. Furthermore Wayne Williams at church does some great online sessions through Facebook. Exercise is well known to help improve mental health and well-being.

4) * Relaxation techniques – this can be ones like muscle relaxation – “The Mitchell Method of Physiological Relaxation” as an example, controlled breathing, or a relaxation CD (look for all the above online).  You can also try Mindfulness - visit www.nhs.uk for more information.  Another method is to write down your thoughts onto paper (for your eyes only), and for anxious/fearful thoughts, write these down then rip them up as a sign of getting rid of these anxieties or lay them at the foot of the cross and leave them there.

Another strategy to try is to list the things you cannot control, e.g. if others follow the rules of social distancing, how long the stay at home/social distancing will last, what food is available on the supermarket shelves etc and let go of these things.  Next list what you can control, e.g. follow social distancing guidelines, limiting the amount of news I look at, my hand hygiene etc and focus on these.

5) People - Keep in contact with others. We can’t be together physically but the next best thing is via video link – Facetime, Skype, WhatsApp and Zoom seem to be the most popular at the moment.  There are virtual coffee mornings being set up at church, or why not start your your own?  You Tube online church services, prayer meetings every day at 9am.  If you are struggling with the technology, contact the church - info@hts.church to help you get connected.

Our Father in Heaven makes a point of telling His people to look after the “fatherless and widow” Exodus 22:22; Deut. 14:28-29; indeed looking after the orphan and widow is half of what God will accept as a pure and faultless religion (James 1:27).  The ‘fatherless and widow’ I think can be referred to as the vulnerable in society and in the current climate, this can include those who are isolated and lonely.  The church family can be a big help here and Dave Monday is always looking for people to join the pastoral team to contact those who may be experiencing a more intense isolation due to Covid-19.  Please contact the church office if you’re available to do this (info@hts.church) and therefore help the well-being of others. Equally, you may wish to have someone to phone you.

Part two coming tomorrow,

Paula

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Transpennine Team are all sketched out!

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Huge lorry tailbacks as Operation Stack is rolled out in Storm Gareth

Storm Gareth caused enormous lorry tailbacks today as cross-Channel ferry crossings were hampered by its 80mph winds and heavy rain causing travel chaos.

Operation Stack was implemented in Kent for the first time in four years as the queue for lorries reached seven miles on the south coast of Kent – and P&O Ferries said its Dover-Calais sailings were delayed by up to 90 minutes. 

Met Office wind warnings had been in place for England, Wales and western Scotland until 3pm with forecasters warning people about the risk of fallen trees, flying debris and widespread travel disruption on ‘Black Wednesday’.

The RAC warned drivers conditions will result in huge tailbacks and potential pile-ups, with 31,000 roadside call outs expected across the UK today. There are also 31 flood warnings in place, plus four warnings in the North. 

Gareth, the seventh named storm of the 2018/19 season, hit Britain after undergoing ‘explosive cyclogenesis’ – becoming what is known as a ‘weather bomb’ – as its air pressure plunged by more than 24 milibars in 24 hours. 

The Road Haulage Association said the measure involving closing a section of the M20 to enable lorries to queue was brought in following disruption caused by severe weather affecting cross-Channel ferry crossings. 

Lorries queue to get onto ferries at the Port of Dover in Kent today as cross-Channel crossings were hit by bad weather

Lorries queue on the A20 outside Dover where Operation Stack was implemented today after the queue got to seven miles

The Road Haulage Association said the measure involving closing part of the M20 to enable lorries to queue was brought in 

A woman battles with the high winds as she walks through Liverpool city centre this morning

The River Ouse has broken its banks today in York city centre, causing flooding after heavy rainfall

Today was the first time traffic management scheme Operation Stack has been activated in Kent since June and July 2015, when it was in force for more than 30 days due to disruption at the ports caused by striking in Calais.

Operation Stack is due to be replaced by Operation Brock, which will manage the queues differently in the event of a No Deal Brexit when Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29 – an event to be voted on by MPs tonight.

P&O warned that ‘weather conditions are likely to worsen into late afternoon’. In recent days, there have also been long queues in Calais as French customs officials at the port and Eurotunnel terminal carry out strikes.

They have been working to rule by carrying out more stringent checks in an attempt to demonstrate the impact of tighter border controls after Brexit. The section of the M20 between junctions eight and nine was closed today.  

Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett said: ‘This will ease the flow of traffic into Dover as a result of bad weather causing delays to cross-Channel traffic.

‘But if we leave the EU without a deal and the authorities on the French side use Kent roads as a traffic filter, the repercussions for Kent residents and business could be disastrous.’ 

Storm Gareth will bring 80mph winds and heavy rain to Britain today (left). There are 35 flood alerts or warnings out (right) 

Forecasters have warned Britain is about to be battered by the worst period of weather since last year’s Beast from the East. Pictured: the predicted weather on Thursday and Friday 

Depending on how many lorries queue, the closure of the M20 can be extended to Junction 11. Marston airfield can also be used. Highways England has been carrying out work on the M20 ahead of potential post-Brexit delays.

Mountain goats were seen in Llandudno town centre in Wales amid weather chaos caused by Storm Gareth 

Under Operation Brock, lorries travelling to mainland Europe will be held on the M20 while a contraflow system will aim to minimise the impact on people travelling within Kent. 

After an early racecourse inspection, officials said Ladies’ Day at Cheltenham Festival would go ahead despite previous cancellation fears, but flights struggled to land at airports including Leeds Bradford in West Yorkshire.

Gareth arrived in the UK after travelling across the Atlantic from the west, where a deep low pressure system has resulted in the worst bout of weather since last year’s Beast From The East.

Gusts of up to 75mph were recorded in Scotland last night, while winds of over 60mph were seen widely across western parts of the UK in the early hours of Wednesday. 

As trees were brought crashing down across power lines, nearly 370 homes, shops and offices in Derbyshire’s Peak District were blacked out this morning.

The A5 in Leicestershire was closed in both directions between the M69 and the A47 near Hinckley after a pile-up in which an HGV overturned and shed its load.

The A15 over the Humber Bridge was closed to high sided and ‘vulnerable�� vehicles such as caravans and motorcyclists due to strong winds in the area. 

Amid weather chaos in North Wales, mountain goats roamed freely in Llandudno town centre.  They were seen climbing into people’s gardens and waking along the pavements.   

Lorries queue on the M20 today following disruption caused by severe weather affecting cross-Channel ferry crossings

Today is the first time the traffic management scheme Operation Stack has been activated in Kent since June and July 2015

A ferry arrives at the Port of Dover in Kent as bad weather causes cross-Channel ferry delays

Storm Gareth brought this tree crashing down on the Brentwood Hotel in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, today

A Ryanair plane struggles to land in strong cross winds at Leeds Bradford Airport in West Yorkshire this morning

Storm Gareth has also been taking its toll on cliffs, with 1,000 tonnes of rock crashing onto the beach at West Bay in Dorset

In Dorset yesterday 1,000 tons of rock fell from a cliff made popular by the ITV show Broadchurch. Members of the public have been warned to stay away after huge chunks of the rock were caught on live stream on a council webcam crashing to the beach below.

Three people die after avalanche on Ben Nevis

Hill walkers at Ben Nevis today

Three climbers have died and another has been injured after an avalanche on Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain.

Police Scotland were alerted to the incident shortly after 11.50am yesterday and began coordinating a mountain rescue response at Number 5 Gully.

Initially, police said two climbers had died and two were injured but later yesterday confirmed one of the injured climbers had since died. The other climber was flown to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Ben Nevis, near Fort William in the western Highlands, is a popular destination for experienced climbers, attracting 125,000 visitors each year.

Yesterday’s incident follows two recent fatal accidents on the mountain, which at 1,345m is the UK’s highest.

On New Year’s Day, a 21-year-old German woman, who was a student at Bristol University, died after she fell from a ridge she had been climbing with three other people. She had been hiking on what is known as the ‘ledge route’ when she fell around 500ft.

In December, Patrick Boothroyd, 21, from West Yorkshire, died after falling in the Tower Gully area.

The chunks of cliff fell away at around 5pm yesterday, from East Cliff on West Bay beach in Dorset – known nationwide as a key filming location for Broadchurch. The rock slide was spotted on a Dorset Council video live stream, which is continuously broadcast onto the council’s YouTube channel.

A multi-agency search and rescue operation was launched, and Chief Inspector Lance Cliff, of Dorset Police, said last night: ‘At this stage it is not believed anyone is trapped following the fall.’

The beach remained closed this morning, after being sealed off shortly after 5pm yesterday. 

Giles Frampton, who lives in the area, retweeted a photo of the rockfall, writing: ‘Ever wonder why we Dorset locals don’t sit under the cliffs at West Bay, or anywhere else for that matter? Look no further.’ 

Storm-force winds also created ‘atrocious’ conditions for an operation to rescue six crew from a French fishing vessel off Land’s End.

Two RNLI lifeboats launched after the alarm was raised at 10pm yesterday, but waves of up to 20ft meant it was ‘impossible’ for a tow line to be attached to the 78ft vessel, called La Fanette, and the crew were air-lifted off by the Newquay Coastguard Rescue Helicopter. 

Storm Gareth continued moving across the country throughout the day, with the worst of the winds occurring in the early hours before gradually easing later on in the afternoon as the storm moves out to the North Sea.

Transport links were at risk of being impacted as the squally weather blows through.

Commuters using trains in Wales, Scotland, the north of England and East Anglia were warned that services could be disrupted by high winds, with speed restrictions in place across a wide area.

Trains between Durham and Newcastle were halted until 9am after overhead electric wires were damaged, impacting LNER, CrossCountry, Northern and Transpennine Express services. 

The cliffs at West Bay in Dorset are around 140ft high and the pile of rubble is around 30ft high after falling yesterday

A rescue team searched the rubble at West Bay, a popular spot with dog walkers, but found no sign of any casualties

Sniffer dogs and thermal imaging equipment was used at the West Bay cliff fall in Dorset but found no trace of anyone

Dramatic images from the coastline at Porthcawl in Wales show huge waves crashing against the sea wall today

Waves are pictured crashing near the harbour in Porthcawl today as wind speeds surpass 50mph 

Meanwhile, some Virgin Trains services between Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston and some trains between Glasgow Central and Preston were cancelled.

Six French fishermen are airlifted from stricken boat off Lands End in ‘atrocious’ 20ft waves 

Six crew members were airlifted from a stricken French fishing boat off Land’s End in ‘atrocious’ 20ft waves and storm-force winds.

HM Coastguard was alerted at 10pm last night that 79ft fishing vessel La Fanette had suffered engine failure.

Another fishing vessel went to help and a lifeboat was launched, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

A spokesman said: ‘Despite atrocious weather, Sennen Cove Lifeboat launched but due to 5-6 metre (16-20ft) waves on scene and storm force winds, it was impossible for either the fishing vessel or the lifeboat to establish a tow with La Fanette.

‘The six crew on board were airlifted from the fishing vessel by Newquay Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.’

There were also reports of trees blocking roads and some exposed routes in the North East of England being closed to high-sided vehicles.

Environment Agency staff worked in Cumbria and Lancashire to monitor rain and river levels, with the Met Office expecting up to 2.4in (60mm) of rain over higher ground in the north west.  

The Met Office, who has issued warnings for all of Wales, large parts of England, the west coast of Scotland and Northern Ireland, also advised people to tie down or put away loose items in the garden and to take care outside. 

Racegoers in Cheltenham narrowly dodged disappointment after an early racecourse inspection proved conditions were good enough for Day Two to go ahead as planned.  

The festival in Gloucestershire has already suffered gales and washouts – hitting 250,000 racing fans attending over the four days from today until Friday, with officials still anticipating ‘challenging’ weather today. 

The foul weather will also pile on the misery for millions of allergy sufferers with strong winds set to trigger ‘windstorm hay fever’.

Carpets of pollen left after trees flowered during unusually high temperatures at the start of the month will be whipped up by strong winds.

Settled conditions over the last fortnight caused allergens to settle in layers over roads, pavements and open spaces.

Strong winds over the past two days have started to dislodge this temporarily dormant carpet throwing clouds of pollen into the air.

When does a fierce storm become a weather bomb?

Explosive cyclogenesis, also known as a ‘weather bomb’, is where the central pressure in a frontal depression falls very quickly, forcing violent winds from the system.

The intense low pressure system must fall in pressure by more than 24 millibars in 24 hours to meet the criteria.

Storm Gareth tomorrow is forecast to fall 978mb at 6am today to 952mb by midnight – a fall of 26mb in 18 hours.

The events happen when dry air from the stratosphere flows into an area of low pressure.

This causes air within the depression to rise very fast and increases its rotation, which deepens the pressure and creates a more vigorous storm.

Further stormy weather through the next week will trigger a ‘frenzy of pollen’ spelling disaster for millions of hay fever sufferers, experts warn.

Max Wiseberg, airborne allergens expert, said: ‘Early pollen produced by unseasonable warmth at the start of the month will be blown around leading to an eruption of allergens in the air triggering bouts of windstorm hay fever.

‘Storm Gareth brought gale-force winds at the start of the week creating a frenzy of pollen and spelling disaster for a huge number of Britons suffering with hay fever.’

Strong winds will shake yet unreleased pollen from trees with airborne fungal spores also threatening misery, added Mr Wiseberg, founder of HayMax allergen barrier balms.

He said: ‘Windstorms such as these cause enormous movements in the air, bringing pollen grains down which might have otherwise have been located above our heads, and whipping up pollen grains and fungal spores that originated near the ground.

‘Those living in cities are also likely to suffer; the windstorm can collect all this pollen up from the country and carry it in the air for miles before finally depositing it.’

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'Potentially dangerous disruption': Passengers endured 'appalling services' during rail timetable chaos, MPs' scathing report finds

“Around a fifth of rail passengers have suffered appalling services and been very badly let down by the whole system” – so says the Transport Select Committee in its scathing report on the botched introduction of new timetables in May.

“The statistics cannot do justice to the severe effects on people’s lives,” say the cross-party committee of MPs, chaired by Labour’s Lilian Greenwood. 

“Businesses and local economies suffered. Children were late for school. Anxiety about getting to and from work put a considerable strain on people’s mental health.

“At points it was not clear that significant portions of the railway were operating to any timetable at all.“

Ms Greenwood said: “There was extraordinary complacency about protecting the interests of passengers, who were very badly let down.”

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Everyone from the transport secretary to the train operators knew the May 2018 timetable changes were unprecedented in their complexity. The rail industry had adopted a “big bang” approach to bringing in new schedules in southeast and northern England, affecting 46 per cent of rail passengers. The move was portrayed as a great leap forward.

But within hours of the timetable change taking effect, the plans descended into chaos, with severe delays and wholesale cancellations.

In the weeks following 20 May, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), covering much of London and the southeast, failed to run one in eight of its planned 3,880 daily services.

One in nine services on Arriva Rail North, which operates Northern rail services, did not run. TransPennine Express passengers were also badly affected.

Even now many commuters have a worse service than before the schedule changes.

This is the backdrop for unprecedented criticism by MPs on the cross-party Transport Select Committee.

Watch more

One in five UK rail passengers “experienced extreme inconvenience and costly, stressful and sometimes dangerous disruption to their daily lives”, the report says.

“People who rely on our railways have been very badly let down by the whole system, including Network Rail, the train operating companies, the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

“We endorse the ORR’s finding that ‘nobody took charge’; this is extraordinary and totally unacceptable.”

The root of the fiasco was “the astonishing complexity of a fragmented railway in which interrelated private train companies, operating on publicly-owned and managed infrastructure, have competing commercial interests”.

Network Rail’s infrastructure project teams and the train operators were guilty of “an indefensible optimism bias” in believing the new timetables would work well.

The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, “is responsible for the structure of the system that controls and runs our railways”, says the report, and therefore it was unreasonable for him “to absolve himself of all responsibility”.

“We acknowledge that the secretary of state was not fully informed of serious problems, but he should have been more proactive.”

The board of the rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road, “never held a substantive discussion on Thameslink and the largest timetable change in many years”, says the report – adding: “We found this extraordinary.”

Confusion in overcrowded stations caused by last-minute cancellations and platform changes subjected passengers to “uncontrolled risks”.

“Effective communication broke down. The situation was chaotic.”

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Disabled passengers were particularly hard hit, with witnesses telling MPs “using parts of the railway became simply impossible”.

The committee has demanded punitive fines on train operators who fail to provide appropriate care for disabled travellers during disruption.

The MPs have also called for season-ticket holders who were worst affected to be excused the annual fares rise. Ticket prices are due to increase by an average of 3.1 per cent from 2 January 2019.

The report says the system for “delay repay” refunds should be made much easier to obtain: “The government must now set a measurable target for implementation of ‘one click’ automated compensation schemes on commuter rail routes.”

A DfT spokesperson said: “We have already worked with the industry to deliver special compensation schemes on Northern, TransPennine Express and GTR, which provides the equivalent of up to 8 per cent of the cost of an annual season ticket for those most severely impacted.

“The disruption following the May timetable change demonstrated that significant change is required in the rail industry. That is why we launched the Williams review to consider all parts of the industry in order to put passengers first, with reforms to begin from 2020.”

Patrick Verwer, the new chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “We are very sorry for the disruption the May timetable caused.

“Since July, services on Thameslink and Great Northern have become more stable and reliable. Next week [Sunday 9 December] we will begin to introduce 200 mainly off-peak services to complete the phased roll-out of the May weekday timetable, bringing the total number of daily weekday services to 3,600.”

Robert Nisbet, regional director at the Rail Delivery Group, which represents Network Rail and the train operators, said: “We are learning the lessons from the unacceptable disruption in May and this report will be an important contribution.

“While we are truly sorry for what happened this summer, our ambition remains to deliver thousands of new trains and extra services, improving journeys for customers and helping grow the economy.”

The most damning sentence in the report concludes: “Far from marking the intended substantial improvement for rail passengers across the north and in London and the south of England, the 20 May national rail timetable change and the weeks that followed will live long in the memories of a large proportion of rail users as a prolonged period of intensely inconvenient, costly and, on occasions, potentially dangerous disruption.”

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The Daily Thistle

The Daily Thistle

Friday 27th January 2017

"Madainn Mhath” …Fellow Scot, I hope the day brings joy to you… Reading the papers before I write The Daily Thistle I somehow missed the news on the 24th that a Clydesdale horse which was one of the models for The Kelpies sculpture had died, aged 19. Baron was one of two horses to inspire artist Andy Scott when he began work on the project. The horse was rescued by an animal charity and later rehomed by Glasgow City Council, reading this short obituary made me realize that no matter where you come from success is sometimes just around the corner, in the case of Baron, rescued and saved and then made immortal.. not a bad obituary…. And the fame is certainly loner than Andy Warhol’s fifteen minutes…

THE COURT CASE for a Scottish pensioner who was arrested for holding up a nuclear convoy has begun. In March 2016, Brian Quail, 77, ran out in front of a military convoy near Stirling as an act of protest against nuclear weapons. �Campaigners claimed the armoured trucks were carrying 100 kiloton warheads. The retired teacher, who is now a passionate anti-nuclear campaigner, appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to face a breach of the peace charge. John Ainslie, co-ordinator of Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), claimed, “the convoy was made up four lorries carrying either one or two nuclear bombs in each.” Scottish CND campaigners were outside the court house to support Mr Quail.

NORTH SEA OIL PRODUCER EnQuest is to become the operator of BP’s Sullom Voe terminal in the Shetland Islands as part of an $85 million (£68m) deal with the oil major. The firm said there would be no cash outlay under the agreement, which will also see it take a 25 per cent stake in BP’s Magnus oil field. Instead, the deal – which also gives EnQuest the option to buy the remaining 75 per cent of Magnus – will be funded by cash flow from the assets. In addition, EnQuest has the option to receive $50m from BP in exchange for managing the physical decommissioning activities for the Thistle and Deveron fields. Chief executive Amjad Bseisu said: “This transaction capitalises on EnQuest’s strengths in realising value from the management of maturing oil fields, as underlined by BP’s confidence in proposing a change of operatorship to EnQuest. “Magnus is a good quality reservoir; it has large volumes in place, with potential for infill drilling and for the revitalisation of wells, and scope for field life extension. It is a producing asset that would materially increase EnQuest’s reserve base. We are a natural strategic partner to BP for maturing assets and this innovative structure represents a natural evolution of EnQuest’s business.” The deal will add 15.9 million barrels of oil equivalent to EnQuest’s reserves and boost its net production by 4,200 barrels per day, based on production figures for 2016.

ABERDEEN-BASED transport giant FirstGroup is to jointly bid with Trenitalia to run high-speed trains on the HS2 network. The two firms will enter the competition for the West Coast Partnership franchise, which will cover services on the existing West Coast route from 2019 and initial HS2 trains between London and the West Midlands from 2026. They will also bid together for the East Midlands franchise starting in July next year. FirstGroup, former operator of the ScotRail franchise, runs Great Western Railway, TransPennine Express and Hull Trains. Earlier this month, Italy’s Trenitalia took a significant step to becoming the latest European state-owned operator to run services in the UK after striking a £70 million deal with National Express for its c2c rail operation. First Rail managing director Steve Montgomery said the company has “a strong track record in delivering continued modernisation and investment” in rail services. He said: “Both ourselves and Trenitalia have extensive expertise of running commuter, regional and long-distance services such as those that make up the East Midlands franchise. “Their knowledge will add further depth and understanding as we develop our proposals to deliver passenger benefits that take full advantage of the significant investment that government and the industry are making in the region’s rail infrastructure. Our proposals will keep people moving and communities prospering.” Montgomery said Trenitalia has “transformed the customer experience” on Italy’s railways through the high-speed Frecciarossa routes, and both companies would deliver “the best solutions” for HS2 while “reducing crowding on the existing network”.

THE VALUE OF being part of the UK single market is four times as lucrative to Scotland as being in the EU, official figures today show. And the increase in the exports to the rest of the UK has also been significantly higher in the past year. Scotland’s international exports rose from £27.7 billion in 2014 to £28.7 billion in 2015. Nicola Sturgeon is poised to call a referendum on Scottish independence in order to remain part of the EU single market. But it has prompted fears this could jeopardise the country's place in the UK single market, although the SNP insists Scotland would remain part of this after a Yes vote. Today's figures show that, in 2015, Scotland's trade with England, Wales and Northern Ireland amounted to £49.8 billion. This compared to £12.3 billion for the EU internal market. Tory finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said: "Once again, the facts are making it clear that our own Union of nations is Scotland's essential union on which our prosperity depends. "Europe is a vital market place for us too - which is why we want to see a comprehensive free trade deal with the EU following Brexit. But these figures show that to prioritise the EU market before our own Union - as the SNP wants - is absurd. "Quite simply, thousands of jobs depend on our ability to trade within the UK without any barriers in our way."

DRIVERS DROPPING OFF passengers at Glasgow Airport will be charged £2 from April - twice the fee at rivals Edinburgh The charge is part of a new dedicated pick-up and drop-off area unveiled by the airport today. The airport said the move was to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. It said the current pick-up and drop-off areas would move just east of the multi-storey car park opposite the terminal. The current free drop-off area is west of the terminal, a few minutes further away. The £2 charge will allow a ten-minute stay, compared to £1 for five minutes at Edinburgh Airport. Edinburgh caused a huge outcry when it introduced its charge in 2010. Glasgow also  introduced pick-up fees in 2010.

SCOTTISH CUP HOLDERS Hibernian face a potential Edinburgh derby at Hearts in next month’s fifth round, but it was the exuberant antics of Sir Rod Stewart that proved the main talking point of yesterday afternoon’s draw. Stewart, who was invited to pick out the home teams during proceedings at Excelsior Stadium – where the club he supports, Celtic, had just beaten Albion Rovers 3-0 in the fourth round – enthusiastically dived into the bowl when selecting balls, shouted out the numbers he had drawn and even cheered when he handed Brendan Rodgers’ side a home tie (against Inverness Caledonian Thistle).

On that note I will say that I hope you have enjoyed the news from Scotland today,

Our look at Scotland today is of Baron the model for the Kelpies

A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Friday 27th January 2017 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00am…on the streets of Estepona…

All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in ….. Be safe out there…

Robert McAngus