Latest news with #Hotseat
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Northern pins reliability hopes on new trains
The reliability of rail operator Northern will improve when up to 450 new trains start to come into service at the end of the decade, bosses have claimed. The company's regional stakeholder manager Owain Roberts, quizzed by BBC Radio Cumbria listeners on Wednesday, said he was "very, very sorry" passengers had experienced high numbers of cancellations over recent years. Earlier this year, the publicly-owned operator invited manufacturers to begin negotiations for supplying new trains to run across the north of England. Mr Roberts said the new trains would be a "game changer" but admitted: We still have a long way to go." "That's no excuse or consolation for customers who's journeys are being disrupted," Mr Roberts said on BBC Radio Cumbria's Hotseat programme. Northern Trains is owned by the Department for Transport through a holding company [PA] In July, the company was issued a "breach notice" by the Department for Transport for cancelling too many trains. Performance figures for April showed about 64% of services ran on time. In its latest improvement plan, Northern said that by 2027 it wanted 90% of its trains to be on time, with only 2% cancellations. Mr Roberts said some routes, including the Cumbrian Coast Line, get "battered by the weather". He said single track sections meant, even if there is just one cancellation, users could "potentially be waiting two hours for a train". The company is working with Network Rail to improve infrastructure following recent issues, including on the Furness Line which has seen sinkholes, landslips and floods, Mr Roberts said. Mental health support The rail boss said 60% of Northern's fleet was between 32 and 40 years old and those carriages operated in various parts of the region, including on the Tyne Valley route. "They are reaching the end of their lives," Mr Roberts said. Tenders were submitted in January for a mix of electric and multi-modal (diesel/electric) powered trains to enter service in 2030. "They will be fantastic when they arrive," Mr Roberts said. He also told listeners that train crew availability was "less of an issue than at the end of last year". He said Northern had worked to improve its "pipeline of training" and insisted it had "enough drivers within the business to operate the train plan". It was also working on "suppressing sickness levels" by partnering with mental health support groups like Andy's Man Club to encourage people to "work through their issues and to promote good wellbeing". He said mental health issues were affecting society and were "not just within railways". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. More on this story Related internet links
North Wales Chronicle
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Who Wants To Be a Millionaire to return to ITV in May
The popular game show originally ran from 1998 to 2014, with Chris Tarrant at the helm. It was then re-booted in 2018 with former Top Gear presenter Clarkson taking over the role as host. The most recent series of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? came to an end in March. That's it for tonight and the current series! Join us again, later in the year for more #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire… Good night! But fans of the show won't have long to wait for new episodes, with the hit game show set to return to ITV with new episodes in May 2025. Brand new episodes of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? will begin airing on ITV1 and ITVX from Sunday, May 4 at 8pm, according to The Sun. The new series has been split into two parts, the news outlet reported, which is why these episodes are able to air so quickly. If you fancy sitting in the world-famous Hotseat in an upcoming series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, applications are open via the Stellify Media website. RECOMMENDED READING: Jeremy Clarkson told to 'stop working' by doctors following heart procedure You must be over 18 and a British citizen to apply. "YOU could be just 15 questions away from becoming a Millionaire," the website reads. New episodes of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? begin on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday, May 4 at 8pm.
Rhyl Journal
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Who Wants To Be a Millionaire to return to ITV in May
The popular game show originally ran from 1998 to 2014, with Chris Tarrant at the helm. It was then re-booted in 2018 with former Top Gear presenter Clarkson taking over the role as host. The most recent series of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? came to an end in March. That's it for tonight and the current series! Join us again, later in the year for more #WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire… Good night! But fans of the show won't have long to wait for new episodes, with the hit game show set to return to ITV with new episodes in May 2025. Brand new episodes of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? will begin airing on ITV1 and ITVX from Sunday, May 4 at 8pm, according to The Sun. The new series has been split into two parts, the news outlet reported, which is why these episodes are able to air so quickly. If you fancy sitting in the world-famous Hotseat in an upcoming series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, applications are open via the Stellify Media website. RECOMMENDED READING: Jeremy Clarkson told to 'stop working' by doctors following heart procedure You must be over 18 and a British citizen to apply. "YOU could be just 15 questions away from becoming a Millionaire," the website reads. New episodes of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? begin on ITV1 and ITVX on Sunday, May 4 at 8pm.
BBC News
13-03-2025
- BBC News
Sussex PCC says 'number of warnings for shoplifters is crazy'
It is "crazy" how many warnings shoplifters get before they are punished, says the Sussex Police and Crime Bourne was on BBC Radio Sussex on Thursday morning as part of the "Hotseat" series, where authority figures are asked about their biggest challenges over an hour-long conversation. She discussed shoplifting in the region and urged the government and courts to help the force crackdown on the Bourne, who is the national lead for retail and business crime among PCCs, said: "Our prisons are full, the courts are so backlogged its unreal and so they will do everything they can to keep them out of going to prison." The Ministry of Justice and HM Prison Service have been contacted for a PCC said: "The whole point of stopping somebody from doing crime is to deter them in the first place. "They've got to know they're going to get caught, they've got to know that there's repercussions."A crime survey by the British Retail Consortium also found retail abuse and violence had risen by around 50% in the past year. 'Not surprised at all' In Sussex, shoplifting figures rose by 13.5% in Sussex in the past year, according to ONS Bourne said she was "not surprised at all" by the Conservative politician added: "It has almost become accepted by people that individuals, particularly adults which surprises me immensely, can just walk into a store, pick up a supermarket trolley or basket, fill it, and then just walk out."Mike Adamson, from the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, says shoplifting is "absolutely rife in the Sussex area". He added: "Its not a victimless crime, but it's being treated that way."The PCC said some large supermarket chains were concerned with organised gangs, which they believed were costing them up to £2bn a a result, some chains put £1m into starting an independent national police unit to tackle the unit had already arrested more than 30 organised gangs in about seven months, Ms Bourne added.
BBC News
13-03-2025
- BBC News
Sussex PCC Katy Bourne to discuss shoplifting on BBC Radio
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne is due to appear on BBC Radio Sussex to discuss shoplifting. It comes after businesses across the South East said shoplifters have become "much more brazen", with staff experiencing verbal and physical abuse. Ms Bourne, a Conservative politician, previously said people were taking their chances because they thought police forces were turning a blind eye. "It's very important that police forces like Sussex continue a real focus on this," she said in February. Large rise in shoplifting levels in past year Ms Bourne will appear on air as part of the BBC Local "Hotseat" series, where authority figures are asked about their biggest challenges in an attempt to get to know them better over an hour-long conversation. Ms Bourne will speak on Thursday to presenter Danny Pike between 09:00 and 10:00 GMT on BBC Radio Sussex. Listeners will also have the opportunity to ask their own can listen to BBC Radio Sussex live here.
