Swanage Railway steam train 'causes seventh summer fire'
According to its website on Tuesday, the line is currently running heritage diesel rather than steam trains due to a "high fire risk".In a statement, the fire service said: "It is believed to have been caused by the steam train."Since 1 June 2025, we've had seven similar incidents reported in this area."Temperatures have now cooled following the UK's third heatwave of the year. Highs of 20C (68F) are expected in Corfe Castle on Tuesday.
You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
10 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Rail fares in England could rise by ‘outrageous' 5.5% next year
Train fares in England could rise by as much as 5.6% next year, as campaigners said passengers could be priced off the railway. Increases in train ticket prices are calculated using the inflation reading for July, which will be announced on Wednesday. The retail prices index – the measure of inflation used for the calculations – will hit 4.6% in July, according to consensus forecasts by City economists. Regulated fares, which account for about half of rail journeys, would rise by 5.6% in 2026 if the increase follows the same pattern as last year. Although the government has not yet confirmed how it will calculate fares for 2026, they last rose by 4.6% in March, which was one percentage point above the RPI reading from July 2024. Bruce Williamson, a spokesperson for the campaign group Railfuture, said such an increase would be 'outrageous'. 'What would be the justification for jacking up fares above inflation? There isn't any,' he said. 'It's ripping off the customer, driving people off the trains and on to our congested road network, which is in no one's interest.' The government is working on plans to bring rail services into public ownership, and Williamson said he would support a government freeze on fares. 'One would hope that there would be some efficiency savings and economies of scale that you get from having a more integrated railway,' he said. 'But of course, I strongly suspect that if there are any savings to be had, they'd be swallowed up by the Treasury and not passed back to the passengers, which I think is wrong.' Almost half of rail fares in England are directly set by Westminster. The devolved Scottish and Welsh governments usually cap fares at a similar level. Regulated fares include season tickets on most commuter journeys, off-peak returns on long-distance routes and flexible tickets for urban rail. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion The prospect of higher travel costs comes amid a broader rise in the cost of living. Economists expect that the consumer price index, the headline measure for inflation, will be 3.7% in July, up from 3.6% in June. The government is expected to provide an update on changes to regulated fares later this year. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: 'The transport secretary has made clear her number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them. 'The government is putting passengers at the heart of its plans for public ownership and Great British Railways, delivering the services they deserve and driving growth. 'No decisions have been made on next year's rail fares but our aim is that prices balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers.'
Daily Mail
10 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Inside the most expensive Airbnb in the UK - where a night's stay is more than the average person's yearly rent
The UK's priciest Airbnb listings have been revealed - and topping the list is a luxury estate in Berkshire that'll set you back an eye-watering £20,000 for one night's stay. Harford Manor, a sprawling private estate that sleeps up to 14 guests, costs a jaw-dropping £20, 564 per night to rent. This means those who are looking to enjoy week-long stay during the height of summer will have to fork out no less than £143,951. The 40-acre estate features landscaped gardens, a private spa, a gym, and enough indoor and outdoor entertainment space to throw Gatsby-style parties. To put it into perspective, the average monthly rent for a new tenancy in the UK was £1,308 in June 2025 - meaning one night at Harford Manor is the same as more than 15 months' rent for average tenant. The estate features landscaped grounds, spa and fitness facilities, and extensive indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces. Another big-budget property on the list is The Artists House in London's Marylebone, which comes in at £121,170 for a week - enough to cover more than seven years of rent in the average UK home. The research, carried out by looked at the 20 most expensive Airbnb rentals currently available in the UK. Another big-budget property on the list is The Artists House in London's Marylebone, which comes in at £121,170 for a week The research, carried out by looked at the 20 most expensive Airbnb rentals currently available in the UK Prices per night range from £2,965 to £20,564, with the average nightly rate sitting at an eye-popping £7,249. For a seven-night stay, guests should expect to pay anywhere from £20,790 to £143,951 - with the average cost for the week tipping over £50,000. Unsurprisingly, London dominates the list, with 13 of the top 20 listings located in the capital, most notably in boroughs renowned for their opulent homes, such as Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Soho and Westminster. Other pricey stays are scattered across the Cotswolds, Dorset, Northern Ireland, Denbighshire and Buckinghamshire. Some of the properties are historic estates in the countryside, while others are are ultra-modern penthouses in the heart of the city. Either way, they all share a seriously high price tag. Even if they're only rented out for half the year, these properties could still generate substantial income through short-term rentals. Harford Manor could make around £3.7 million annually at just 50 per cent occupancy. At the other end of the list, a country estate near Windsor Castle - once owned by Spice Girl Geri Halliwell - could rake in over £540,000 a year. A CompareForexBrokers spokesman says: 'It is difficult to justify some of these costs in practical terms. A seven-night stay at Harford Manor is equivalent to 15 months of average rent in the UK. 'The properties are extraordinary, but the prices highlight just how disconnected parts of the short-term rental market have become from traditional measures of value. 'London's dominance is clear, but when you look outside the capital, the types of high-cost listings shift. In rural areas, the premium is driven by scale, history, or exclusivity. In cities, it is about location and finish.
The Independent
39 minutes ago
- The Independent
New £218m Essex railway station to open this autumn
A new £218 million railway station is on track to open in the UK this autumn. Beaulieu Park Station in Chelmsford, Essex, is expected to welcome commuters later this year following a two-year multi-million pound construction project. Operated by Greater Anglia, the station will ferry commuters to and from London Liverpool Street in just 40 minutes. With three platforms, two car parks and a taxi rank, the stop will be served by the Beaulieu Parkway relief road and the Chelmsford North-East bypass. The railway hub is the first new station to be built on the Great Eastern Main Line in more than 100 years. Essex County Council, in collaboration with Chelmsford City Council and Network Rail, secured £218 million of government funding to begin construction in March 2023. According to Essex County Council, Beaulieu Park will 'ease pressure on the existing train station and reduce car journeys into the city centre.' The Beaulieu Park project was originally scheduled for completion in 2026 as part of the new Chelmsford Garden Community. Chelmsford's Garden Community has planning permission for 4,350 homes, local shops, health services and the first all-through primary and secondary school in Essex. Councillor Louise McKinlay said: 'Essex is pioneering the type of infrastructure-supported growth that's on the national agenda, being bold and ambitious in our commitment to future-proofing the county and putting investment where it's most needed. 'The new Beaulieu Park station is a testament to this, and the role it will play in transforming travel in this part of Chelmsford and surrounding areas will have a positive impact for years to come. 'The progress being made to build the station is remarkable and I want to thank everyone involved for their hard work to get the project to this stage. I'm very much looking forward to the station opening later this year.'
