Latest news with #King's Cross
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Nap pods and on-board cinemas: The rail travel of the future
You certainly can't fault them for optimism: a British train company organising a Tomorrow's World -style exhibition featuring artistic renderings of how train travel might look by the year 2075. If you asked the typical train passenger, they'd probably be happy just to see the end of rail replacement buses and faulty loos. But LNER's eye-catching exhibition – which was on display at King's Cross last week and inspired some discussion online – may have helped them to be more ambitious with their vision. From specially designed 'nap pods' to floating video screens, the designs are about as far from the typical British train journey as the Hogwarts Express. That's down to the influence of Tom Cheesewright, a self-styled 'applied futurist' whose name has been attached to some of the more headline-grabbing travel predictions in recent years – including low-cost space travel and battery-powered planes. This time around, Cheesewright has turned his prodigious talents to Britain's railways, foreseeing a total revolution in terms of design and service. In a report accompanying the exhibition, he predicts that the new generation of trains will have aerodynamic, almost bird-like designs, and will be manufactured by 3D printers. The interior of the train has also been totally overhauled, with cramped carriages replaced by nap pods, floating video screens and cinema rooms. Meanwhile, the installation of 'smart seats' will mean that passengers can choose their preferred temperature and seat firmness, with the train remembering their preferences for next time. The entire boarding process has been replaced too, with facial recognition making ticket barriers obsolete. Instead, passengers will be able to arrive at their station and go straight to the platform – provided, of course, they've remembered to book their ticket in advance. 'The study findings aren't necessarily what we are working on right at this moment,' says an LNER spokesman, just in case there was any ambiguity on that front. Though they say that the exhibition wasn't just pure science-fiction, given that the designs were inspired by a real-world survey in which passengers set out their travel wish list. While it's true that 22 per cent of respondents gave a thumbs up to the idea of smart seats, the more common answers were more down-to-earth. Two thirds of passengers said the speed of the train itself was the most important thing, while 44 per cent wanted to be able to relax when travelling. Common bugbears like bad Wi-Fi and a lack of available seats weren't included in the options. What are the chances of anything like LNER's vision coming true? While the renders might look like fantasy, they aren't a million miles away from Japan's famous Shinkansen N700S, which uses its distinctive bird-like features to reach speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. (If we were being uncharitable, we might even ask if the Shinkansen may have 'inspired' the artistic renderings). Likewise, a lot of the technology that features in LNER's exhibition is already in use – at least in some capacity – elsewhere in the world. Abu Dhabi's impressive Zayed International airport already uses facial recognition instead of document checks, for example, while Tesla cars have 'smart seats' that enable drivers to save their preferred settings for things like seat and mirror positions. Some features aren't even really futuristic: Switzerland's Golden Pass Express has floor-to-ceiling windows, for example, while Germany's ÖBB Nightjet has some very impressive sleeper pods. Though, of course, both services will cost you more per mile than your typical ticket from London to Manchester. If you want a more realistic vision of future trains, you may want to look at China's dizzying progress with so-called 'maglev' (magnetic levitation) trains. Rather than run on traditional rails, these modern marvels levitate above the tracks using magnetic forces. 'This enables extremely high speeds, exceptionally smooth journeys, much lower maintenance requirements, and greater energy efficiency,' says Dr Johannes Kluehspies, president of the International Maglev Board. The Shanghai Maglev (also known as the Shanghai Transrapid) has been in operation for 20 years now, with a record operational speed of 268 miles per hour. Last month, engineers in Hubei tested a new prototype that managed to exceed 400 miles per hour – more than twice the expected maximum speed of HS2, and not far behind your typical passenger jet. Another thing the exhibition ignores – perhaps understandably, given the state of industrial relations on the railways – is the concept of driverless trains. While smaller closed-loop metro systems have been unmanned for years, rail engineers are now looking to automate much bigger networks. Rail experts at Siemens have been experimenting with self-driving trains that can respond in real time to their environment (for example, if there is a red signal), and even schedule their own maintenance. LNER's vision might not be the future of train travel, then, even if some of its ideas aren't totally pie-in-the-sky. But, hey, at least it makes for something interesting to daydream about next time you're stuck on a delayed service on a sticky summer afternoon.
Daily Mail
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sir Elton John shuts down rumours of ABBA-style hologram show with X-rated joke
Sir Elton John has poured cold water on rumours he's planning a flashy ABBA-style hologram concert, despite fans thinking the tech-filled spectacle could be next on the cards. Hopeful supporters began speculating after spotting trademark documents for his name covering holograms, video projections and immersive 3D virtual reality experiences. But according to reports, those close to the Rocket Man, 78, have made it clear there's no such show in the pipeline. Elton has long made his stance clear, previously admitting in 2018 that the idea wasn't for him. However, during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, he did briefly dabble in the digital world with a London pop-up at King's Cross, which featured an augmented reality version of him playing the piano. When quizzed about the stunt at the time, according to The Sun, the music legend laughed off the suggestion, branding himself a 'Luddite' and joking he'd never downloaded anything in his life - 'not even porn.' While acts such as KISS and The Rolling Stones have embraced the futuristic hologram trend – with Mick Jagger cheekily noting you can 'have a posthumous business now' – Elton is sticking firmly to the real deal. Fresh from wrapping his mammoth final tour, he's been back in the studio, releasing Who Believes in Angels with Brandi Carlile in April. It comes after the Rocket Man star joined thousands of mourners to lay Black Sabbath singer, Ozzy Osbourne to rest in a private funeral at his Buckinghamshire home on Thursday. The heavy metal icon, who died last week aged 76, shared a decades long friendship and even credited singer Elton for helping his recovery following a horrific quad bike accident in 2003. The pair also collaborated on Ozzy's 2020 track Ordinary man, with Elton providing the piano and vocals, alongside Slash on guitar and Red Hot Chili Peppers Chad Smith drumming. Elton, 78, even appeared on the family's MTV show The Osbourne's in 2005, giving fans a rare glimpse into the pairs unique bond. While visiting their home in LA the Crocodile Rock icon removed a huge gold and diamond necklace from his neck to gift to his shocked pal. Clearly shocked by the gesture, Ozzy said: 'No! f**** off!' and said he 'felt bad' for accepting the trinket, Elton quipped: 'Don't be so stupid you silly old b******'. During his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, Eltoon did briefly dabble in the digital world with a London pop-up at King's Cross, which featured an augmented reality version of him playing the piano Elton, once appeared on the family's MTV show The Osbourne's in 2005, giving fans a rare glimpse into the pairs unique bond as he presented his friend with a lavish necklace Following his death Elton shared a snap of himself and Ozzy alongside an emotional tribute to his 'dear friend which read: 'So sad to hear the news of @ozzyosbourne passing away '. 'He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love. Elton xx'. It comes after the music legend celebrated 35 years of sobriety last month with handmade cards from his sons Zachary and Elijah. The singer who once admitted he 'would be dead' had he not have asked sought help with his addictions, rang in the milestone with his family. Sharing his gratitude in an Instagram update, Elton marked the milestone at home with his husband David Furnish and their sons Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11. He uploaded a photo of the cards and flowers he had received from his close friends and relatives. 'Grateful for all the love on my sobriety birthday,' Elton captioned. The musician has been very open about his battle with alcohol and drugs which nearly derailed his career and cost him his life. Speaking in an interview in December, Elton said he treated former lovers 'like hostages,' behaved like an 'a**hole' and was unable to operate household appliances without help until he was well into his forties because of his issues with addiction. The legendary singer-songwriter made a series of startling admissions about his personal life in TIME magazine. Discussing at length a crippling addiction to alcohol and cocaine at the height of his fame in the 1970s and '80s, Sir Elton admitted there were numerous casualties before his eventual rehabilitation in the '90s - among them his former partners. 'You make terrible decisions on drugs, he explained. 'I wanted love so badly, I would just take hostages. 'I'd see someone I liked and spend three or four months together, and then they would resent me because they had nothing in their life apart from me. 'It really upsets me, thinking back on how many people I probably hurt.'
Daily Mail
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant says he was sexually abused as a teenager by the head of the National Youth Theatre and has been attacked by five male politicians at Westminster
Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant says he was sexually abused as a teenager by the head of the National Youth Theatre as well as five male MPs during his time in Westminster. Sir Chris said he has not named or reported any of the male MPs who sexually assaulted him. The 63-year-old also said Michael Croft, who died in 1986, had invited him to dinner every evening while he was attending the company in London during the summer of 1978. Mr Croft was 40 years the then 16-year-old's senior and Sir Chris said one evening, having returned to Mr Croft's house, he came back from the toilet to find his host naked except for a silk robe. The MP said Mr Croft then asked him for sex, which he felt he had no option but to go through with, leaving him feeling like he was 'a 16-year-old whore'. In an interview with The Sunday Times ahead of the release of his book A Life And A Half: The Unexpected Making Of A Politician, Sir Chris said: 'I don't like telling this very much because I've not told it very often. 'It was always the same Italian in King's Cross. He would eat and drink, I would eat, then he would theoretically give me a lift home, except I always ended up at his house.' Sir Chris says Mr Croft never made an advance towards him again, with the pair remaining friends. An ordained minister, he conducted Mr Croft's funeral. 'He behaved absolutely appallingly, it's despicable,' Sir Chris added. 'Michael, in my case, managed to spot somebody who was gay at a time when nearly all homosexuality was illegal - certainly very frowned on - so presumed that people would keep a secret.' He said at least one friend during his National Youth Theatre days was also abused by Mr Croft. Asked why he has not reported any of the MPs who allegedly sexually assaulted him, Sir Chris said there was 'no system for doing so' and added he was frightened it 'would make me look bad'. He added that he felt homophobia in Parliament has declined during his 24 years as an MP. A statement on the National Youth Theatre website said: 'We are grateful to Chris Bryant for disclosing to our team the historical abuse he suffered in the company in the 1970s. We are very sorry that this happened to him and to others who have previously shared with us their accounts of historic abuse by the same perpetrator. 'As we set out in a public statement on the case in 2017, we stand in solidarity with all victims of abuse and encourage anyone who has experienced abuse, no matter how long ago, to speak to someone and access support. 'In this case the perpetrator has been deceased since 1986, but all reports made to us will be dealt with in accordance with our robust and formalised safeguarding policy and practice. 'While Chris writes he doesn't feel damaged by what happened, we recognise that being subjected to an abuse of power can have lasting consequences for many, in different ways. 'Anyone getting in touch will be listened to and treated with care and respect by trained professionals, in line with our certified trauma-informed practice. 'We are grateful to Chris for his support of our organisation today, and acknowledgement of how different a charity we are in 2025 to the one he encountered in the 1970s, with thorough safeguarding practices and policies in place.'
