A castle on a private Scottish island? Yours for £5.5 million
'They must have thought she was eccentric,' says the viscountess's grandson Jim Gully, nearly 80 years on. 'But they said, we've got one island on the west coast of Scotland. Without ever having seen it, she bought Shuna and moved the whole family up. We've been there ever since.'
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The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
Key questions answered on potential rail fares rise
Regulated train fares in England may increase by 5.8% next year, based on a measure of inflation announced on Wednesday. Fare rises are a controversial issue. Here, the PA news agency answers 10 key questions about what could happen. – When will train fares rise? Fares are likely to increase next year, on dates to be determined. This year, prices rose in England and Wales on March 2, and in Scotland on April 1. – Who determines how much more expensive my train ticket will be? The cap on regulated fare rises in England, Scotland and Wales is controlled by the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments respectively. – Which tickets are regulated? Some season tickets, off-peak return tickets and flexible tickets for travel around major cities. – What about unregulated fares? These fares are set by operators, but rises are expected to be similar as their finances are closely controlled by governments. – What was the increase in regulated fares in England this year? It was capped at 4.6%, which was one percentage point above Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation in July 2024. – What will be the cap if that formula is used to set next year's increase? 5.8%. – What has the Department for Transport said? There will be an update on changes to regulated fares later this year, and no decisions have been made on 2026 rail fares. – What about public transport campaigners? Railfuture recently warned a 5.5% increase would be 'outrageous', while Campaign for Better Transport urged the Government to 'deliver a more affordable rail network'. – Is there any way of avoiding the rise in fares? Savvy commuters renewed their season tickets in the days before the annual increase. – Any other tips on limiting the cost of train travel? Passengers can save money by getting a railcard, travelling off-peak, and booking in advance – although these options are not available for many journeys, particularly those made by commuters.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
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Indy Almroth-Wright BBC News, South BBC The battery-powered train completed a return trip from Reading via London Paddington and Oxford A battery-powered train has broken the world record for the longest railway journey on a single charge. The Great Western Railway (GWR) train, a specially adapted former District Line train, travelled overnight along a 200-mile (322km) route from Reading and back again via London Paddington and Oxford. It reached 140 miles (225km), breaking the record on Brunel Maidenhead Bridge at about 04:00 BST. The previous record of 139 miles (224km) was set by German train company Stadler Deutschland in Berlin on 10 December 2021. Great Western Railway The train completed the 200-mile (322km) route overnight The Rail Performance Society was on board to verify the record attempt. Vice chairman Nigel Smedley said: "We can confirm that, subject to final checks, the Great Western Railway Class 230 train travelled 200 miles on a return journey from Reading Train Care Depot without charging its batteries from any external energy source." Great Western Railway (GWR) made the attempt to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the railways. GWR engineering director Dr Simon Green said: "Today's record attempt has been a bit of fun, but it also underlines a serious point: investment in battery technology is essential as we look to replace our ageing diesel fleet." GWR is exploring if battery trains could replace its diesel fleet as it goes out of service over the next seven to 10 years. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Related internet links
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
How good is British Airways in 2025? Here's my verdict based on dozens of flights
In 2018 I wrote a magazine cover story headlined Broken Airways. I reported how lack of investment had left many travellers flying 'ABBA', or 'Anyone But British Airways'. Based on dozens of recent flights – short- and long-haul, in all classes – I'm happy to say things have certainly improved since then. Thanks to investment by new management, hangar-fresh jets with gleaming cabins are taking to the skies, shonky IT systems have been rebooted, and new call centres mean telephone queries are answered faster. Food on board is improving. But BA's overall customer service, the reliability of some older aircraft, its website and app, and some cabins still need work. Scroll down to see my verdict on each aspect of the BA experience, plus my overall rating. The hub airport: London Heathrow Score: 9/10 T5 is the newest terminal at Heathrow and the best large terminal in Europe. Its glass walls flood the main terminal and the satellite B and C gates with natural light. Before sunrise or after dark, it glows invitingly. Even though it handles some 35 million passengers a year, I find check in and security checks are fast. That's because most customers check in before heading to the airport and use the fast bag-drop service, and all but a few security lanes now have the new scanners which means you're unlikely to have to take liquids or a laptop or iPad out of your bag. First Class passengers and BA Club Gold members can use super-fast, exclusive First Wing check in and security checks. There's the usual retail and restaurant offerings found at major international airports, though Paul Smith, Fortnum & Mason and The Macallan offer something different. Arrivals are swift, thanks to the large number of passport eGates. My tip: I find it is often quicker to take the lift to level -4 and between the main terminal and the B Gates than wait for the shuttle train. The route network Score 8/10 BA soars above all its UK-based rivals with direct, non-stop long-haul services from London to 77 cities via Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as 130 destinations across Europe from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports, with some seasonal departures from airports such as Stansted and Edinburgh. BA is the only British carrier to fly direct to South America. However, unlike its rivals – Virgin Atlantic, Delta, United, JetBlue, Aer Lingus, and many Asian and Gulf carriers – it does not offer direct long-haul flights from airports in the north of England and Scotland. My tip: I often pick up bargain World Traveller Plus and Club World fares to the US in summer by flying via New York JFK because business travel slumps in July and August and airlines cut fares to boost sales. The fleet Score 8/10 BA operates an Airbus and Embraer short-haul fleet (no troubled Boeing Max jets) and on long-haul routes it flies Boeing 777s and 787 Dreamliners, Airbus A350s and double-decker A380 superjumbos. The Dreamliners and the A350s are the newest and most comfortable. The A380 is best avoided because it suffers maintenance problems and has the oldest seats, including the old back to front seat configuration in business class. The A380s will be refurbished with all-new cabins starting next year. You can check the aircraft type when you book online. It will be listed for each flight on each route. The cabins BA is the only UK carrier to offer two classes in short haul – EasyJet has one class only and Virgin Atlantic has no short-haul services. BA is also the only UK carrier to offer four classes on long-haul services. BA alone offers first class on transatlantic routes from Britain. Virgin's Upper Class is halfway between business and first class. All US carriers have abandoned or are about to abandon first class across the pond. Short haul Euro Traveller (economy) and Club Europe (business class) Score 7/10 BA operates out of hub or primary airports, not secondary airports as budget carriers often do. Unlike budget carriers, hold baggage is included in the price of the ticket unless you choose a hand-baggage-only 'basic' fare. Seat selection is free for those in the BA Club loyalty programme with bronze status or above. BA's Airbus and Embraer fleet is young and most planes come with Wi-Fi and all new leather seats. But the legroom in economy is uncomfortably close to Ryanair and EasyJet on the Airbus jets and the newly-introduced offer of a free bottle of water and snack is cheap and not at all cheerful. Bring back a free cuppa in the morning and a cheeky G&T in the evening! Short-haul business class is not worth the substantial fare premium since the seat is the same as in economy with the same legroom – albeit with the centre seat in the set of three on each side of the cabin blocked off to make sure I don't have to rub shoulders with a 7am stag three pints in by 8am. At a glance: Better than EasyJet and much better than Ryanair (and often as cheap when bags are included), but lacks sparkle. Long haul Economy (World Traveller) Score: 6/10 Virgin Atlantic and the major US carriers offer a few rows of seats at the front of the cabin with extra legroom for a little extra cash. Instead, BA has standard economy seats around 17 inches wide, throughout the cabin. They are arranged 3-4-3, 3-3-3 or 2-4-2 depending on the aircraft, with a meagre 31-inch pitch – the measure of legroom airlines use. I'm 6ft tall and if the person in front of me reclines, I have no room at all, not even enough to read a magazine. The headrest wraps around my head, so I do not need to take a neck pillow. There are no plug sockets to charge phones: USB ports only. The headphones are flimsy. BA's food in economy is as good as any across the pond. Expect pea and broad bean salad, roast chicken with tomato and spinach or vegetarian pasta, and sticky toffee pudding, with wine, beer, spirits or soft drinks. At a glance: A basic economy product with surprisingly good food. Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus) Score: 8/10 British Airways was quick to follow Virgin Atlantic's lead in introducing the class between economy and business and I think it remains BA's best cabin when compared with rival carriers. The seats – configured 2-3-3 or 2-4-2 – feature navy-blue fabric which creates a warm ambience (First and Club World are too grey). They come with a foot rest, a hook to hang a jacket, and a sturdy headrest that wraps around my head, so I don't need to take a neck pillow. The seat pitch is 38in and the width is 18.5in-19in. I always try to book the front row seats so no-one can recline into my face. All seats have a plug socket, except the front-row seats which have a USB slot only. There are pre-lunch or pre-dinner cocktails or mocktails, followed by, typically, a green salad, chicken curry and passion fruit panna cotta or cheese, with wines, beers or spirits. At a glance: It feels special, and if you shop around it can be great value for money. Business Class (Club World / Club Europe) Score: 7/10 The Club Suite, available on most jets except the A380, is a mini suite arranged 1-2-1 across the cabin. The seat, upholstered in charcoal cloth similar to BA's first class, is 21 inches wide and folds down into a 6ft 6in long bed. It has a door that fully closes. The TV screen is a decent 18.5 inches. The table is sturdy – it does not flex when I type on my laptop. All seats have a plug socket plus USB slots. The suite feels as spacious as all its competitors bar Qatar Airways, with its class-leading Q Suite. It's great for day flights but I find it worse than the competition overnight because, once folded down into bed mode, it is not as smooth and as flat a bed as on other carriers. Memo to BA: give us a thicker mattress. There are cocktails to whet the appetite for poached prawn salad, grilled Scottish salmon, and warm chocolate and walnut cake or cheese. Drinks include English sparkling wine, Whispering Angel rosé, and wiry pinot noirs. The only duff notes are the bread, the coffee, and the breakfast, which are all terrible. At a glance: It is a big improvement on BA's old business class with the back-to-front seat pairs but lags newer offerings from Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific. First Class (First) Score: 6/10 There are 8-14 suites, depending on the aircraft. The door fully closes for privacy and there is a small wardrobe to hang a jacket and trousers. The seat reclines to create a smooth, comfortable 6ft 5in-long bed. There's an excellent Elemis amenity kit with enough grooming products to last me a long weekend. Food includes lobster, beef Wellington, Dover sole and a selection of British cheeses, served with Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame 2015, Nyetimber Rosé, Chablis Premier Cru and Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux. The bespoke crockery is stylish. But even with these perks, BA is outgunned by the latest offerings from Lufthansa, Air France, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad. These all have more luxurious suites and better food and wine. Emirates and Etihad offer on-board showers. Air France, Lufthansa and Delta will chauffeur drive me from the lounge to the steps of the aircraft. Emirates and Etihad have chauffeur drive to and from the airport. At a glance: BA's new first-class suite (due in 2026) can't come fast enough. The service Score: 7/10 After years of 'chicken or beef' service, BA is beginning to live up to its old slogan: To Fly, To Serve. But it still lags Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, all of whose staff at the airport and on board always look genuinely pleased to see me – regardless of what cabin I'm travelling in. When it comes to reliability of its services, anecdotal and statistical evidence suggest that BA suffers more flight cancellations and disruptions than its rivals. The loyalty programme Score: 8/10 Travellers who join the BA Club can earn tier points for a Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gold Guest List status, plus Avios (BA's air miles). I think Silver is the best value tier because you do not have to spend a fortune to obtain it and you can choose the best seats on board for no extra charge, use fast track security at UK airports, access lounges in the UK and overseas, and board jets early. The lounges Score 7/10 There are five BA lounges at T5, BA's hub. All offer all-day dining and you can have a shower. The Club lounges are for those travelling in BA Club World or BA Club silver card holders and above travelling in any class. Gold card holders flying in any class can use the bright and airy First lounge. It has a terrace, albeit an indoor one, where you'll find an ice-cream cart. The Concorde Room works best in the evening where I like to dine in the private booths, with full table service. The menu includes air-dried ham with truffle, followed by chalk-stream trout, served with Hattingley Valley English sparkling wine, Chablis premier cru and claret. BA's lounges tend to be crowded. Changes to the BA Club, which make it more expensive to earn tier points, will help to fix the problem by reducing the number who attain gold or silver status. BA has some great overseas lounges, notably Boston, but tends to lag its competitors, including not just the deep-pocketed Gulf carriers, Singapore Airlines and Qantas, but also Delta whose Delta One lounge at JFK is the best business-class lounge in the US. Overall rating 7/10
