Latest news with #Shuttleworth
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Steam trains win bank holiday reprieve as Network Rail lifts fire-risk ban
Steam trains will be able to run on the mainline during one of the busiest weeks of the year after heavy rain eased concerns about the threat of track-side fires. Network Rail lifted a steam ban on popular routes in North West England including the Settle & Carlisle and Cumbrian Coast lines, while the operator of the Jacobite train in Scotland said it would switch back to steam from diesel. Amber alerts indicating a risk of fire across the wider network were meanwhile downgraded after downpours on Friday night soaked lineside vegetation that had been tinderbox dry. An expert on Network Rail's special trains team said that months of minimal rainfall had created 'brown corridors' at substantial risk of being ignited by embers jettisoned by steam engines. He said: 'The entire country has been at high alert, but some routes, particularly in the North West, have been forced to ban steam in recent weeks as the risk has just been too great. 'But with the weather turning and rain arriving Friday night and over the weekend, the risk is reducing and steam can once again run on our metals.' This year has seen the driest start to spring in England since 1956, with half the expected rainfall in April and only a quarter of the long-term average in March. The trend continued into May, with warnings of imminent hosepipe bans and a summer drought, and wildfires breaking out in areas including Cumbria, Derbyshire and Dorset. Network Rail responded with a series of curbs on steam trains culminating in a 10-day blanket ban in the North West. However, with the heatwave ending as low pressure systems bring rainy conditions, Network Rail eased the restrictions in time for the spring bank holiday and school break. The decision was based on forecasts from MetDesk, which provides the firm with predictions of fire risk, ice and leaf fall, as well as weather forecasts for every 500 yards of track. North West England was moved from black alert to red status for Saturday, which meant that a steam locomotive could lead a train using limited power, assisted by a diesel engine at the rear. The risk level was dropped to amber on Sunday, simply requiring operators to exercise caution. West Coast Railways, the biggest operator of steam and classic diesel trains on the national network, said the reprieve was vital going into the busiest months for charter operations. James Shuttleworth, the firm's commercial manager, said that the rainfall meant the Jacobite train in the Highlands – dubbed the 'Hogwarts Express' for its appearances in the Harry Potter franchise – will also be able to return to steam traction from diesel. With most of its steam engines based in Carnforth in North West England, the ban had threatened to leave the firm unable to haul trains even in parts of the country that were unaffected. One locomotive in service when the clampdown was announced had been unable to return to base and was abandoned to York. Mr Shuttleworth said the spring had been the driest he had known since 1995, when the newly launched Jacobite service was forced to use diesels. Steam operators responded to months of bans at the time with measures to limit fire risk, including spark arresters and grills on engines. West Coast is now permitted to make its own decisions regarding appropriate traction for the Jacobite in conjunction with managers at Network Rail's Fort William depot. Mr Shuttleworth said: 'You've got to be responsible. It's also about accessibility and whether the fire brigade would be able to get to the site of a potential fire.' In Scotland and other upland areas, he said, there's also the risk of a lineside fire spreading to forestry plantations or seams of peat, with the latter potentially taking months to burn out. West Coast, like other operators, makes clear to passengers that there will be no refund in the event of steam engines being unable to run or breaking down. The reprieve came too late for the Northern Belle luxury dining train, which relied on diesel haulage over the Settle & Carlisle route on Saturday. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cadets recreate WW2 aircraft photo at Luton Airport for VE Day
An aircraft built to train pilots before World War Two has once again flown over its hometown the "Maggie", the Miles Magister was originally built in Luton and is now part of the Shuttleworth collection in aircraft flew into London Luton Airport on Wednesday as part of a series of VE Day cadets recreated a photo taken with the Maggie in the 1940s, and pilot Scott Butler said: "The opportunity to fly the Miles Magister was simply too good to miss." Mr Butler, now an easyJet pilot based at Luton and a volunteer pilot at Shuttleworth, started flying as an air cadet before serving in the Royal Air Force. "Flying the Maggie has many links for me," he said. "We were thrilled that the cadets were all as enthusiastic about the aircraft as their predecessors from all those years ago." Production of the two-seater aircraft began in October 1937, with more than 700 of them entering service in RAF training schools. It said to have a wingspan of 33ft 10in (10.31m) and can fly at speeds of 132mph (212km).After the war, the aircraft were converted for civilian use and re-designed as the Hawk Trainer Miles Magister is now housed near Biggleswade at Shuttleworth, and will be on display at the Shuttleworth Military Air Show on 31 May. Charlemagne Kirk, one of the visiting cadets, said: "We all feel immensely privileged to have been invited to get a close look at a working Miles Magister... and recreate such an important moment."Neil Thompson, chief operations officer at London Luton Airport, commented: "We are extremely proud of the airport's past and it was an honour to have this opportunity to pay tribute to the Second World War generation in this way." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
M&S cyber attack: What we know about it and the impact it's having
The country may be enjoying the sunny weather, but the storm clouds that have been gathering over Marks & Spencer currently show no sign of are now well into the second week of a cyber attack that has hit one of the UK's oldest and biggest retailers, causing problems in store and shutting down its online what we know about the attack and the impact it's having. Online orders have been paused for nearly a week M&S's problems began over the Easter weekend, with customers reporting problems with Click & Collect and contactless company confirmed it was dealing with a "cyber incident" and although those services have resumed, last Friday it paused online orders on its website and nearly a week on, there is still no word on when online orders will stores are also missing certain food items, as the firm took some of its systems offline as it tries to manage the cyber on empty shelves read: "Please bear with us while we fix some technical issues affecting product availability."It had been thought that food availability would be back to normal by the end of the week, although it is unclear if that is still the case. It was a ransomware attack There has been silence from M&S on what or who was behind the attack on its systems, but we now know it was a ransomware is a type of malicious software used to scramble important data or files after gaining access to a business' computer systems, essentially locking them away unless a ransom is is ransomware and how does it work?Hackers often threaten to leak or sell the data to pressure a business to pay experts told the BBC on Tuesday that a ransomware group that goes by the name "DragonForce" was behind the group lets other cyber criminals rent its malicious software to carry out attacks - leaving questions over who may have done many believe it was a loose network of teenage hackers known as Scattered Spider. It's costing the company millions The cyber attack has already had a significant impact on the retailer, and the longer it takes them to deal with it, the bigger the hit to its bottom share price has fallen 6.5% since the technical problems started, with more than half a billion pounds wiped off the company's accounts for about a third of M&S's clothing and home sales. On average, £3.8m is spent on clothing and home products on its website and apps every with the website problems, it's possible customers may have gone to an M&S store to buy something. But it's also likely that shoppers have turned to rival online retailers problems have coincided with a period of warmer weather, when people are likely to want to buy new summer Shuttleworth from Savvy Marketing says the online impact is immediate. "Given the 'buy it now' culture other retailers will benefit from this opportunity."Analysts say M&S's reputation has suffered a "bruise", but they also say there is a lot of affection for the High Street stalwart so customers are likely to give it some leeway. So far there has been no obvious backlash, with one customer telling the BBC staff were "perfectly charming" considering the cyber attack. Suppliers are affected too Suppliers to M&S say they have been in daily contact with the retailer, but so far say there has been little impact on Thea Green, chief executive of beauty brand Nails Inc, told the BBC her company had a major launch coming up and she was nervous about it, given the problems at M&S."It does have an impact on us – but it's a single-digit percentage of our business, so it's not a major impact. But they are a very relevant UK customer," she M&S has also had to manage disruption to a small proportion of products that it supplies to Ocado, which delivers M&S online food orders and which is part-owned by M&S. M&S isn't speaking While the retailer was initially quick to inform customers of the breach, subsequent updates have been lacking. It has only put out two public statements, the last one on Friday 25 has not commented on the nature of the cyber attack, which is not unusual in cases like this, but experts say the uncertainty and ongoing silence risks damaging consumer trust in the brand."In today's hyper-connected world, silence can be unsettling, particularly when trust and transparency are the most valuable commodities a brand can offer," says Kate Hardcastle, a consumer expert and business Streeter from financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown says there is no indication that M&S is not meeting its legal obligations, given there is a holding statement on its website."However, good communication and transparency will be vital to restore confidence in the company and its systems," she says."There is a risk emerging for the company in terms of reputational damage, the longer the crisis continues."
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New venue to 'breathe life' back into Huddersfield
The opening of a new leisure facility at a shopping centre in Huddersfield could "breathe new life" back into the town, a retail analyst has launch of the six-screen cinema and entertainment venue at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre follows the departure of retailers such as Miss Selfridge and House of Fraser from the behind the 70,000 sq ft (6,500 sq m) venue, known as The Light, estimated it would bring about 90 full and part-time jobs to the analyst Catherine Shuttleworth told the BBC: "Repurposing space for leisure, as in this development with cinemas and places to go, is quite sensible." 'Empty shops' Opened in 2002, Kingsgate Shopping Centre was once heralded as "the beating heart" of then, several household names which once had shops there have disappeared, though other big names still have a retail presence at the Shuttleworth said Huddersfield had been "a very sad story of retailers pulling out and making their investments in places like White Rose and Leeds city centre"."Business rates have become huge and because more of us are shopping online, the traditional shopping centre in a town centre has really changed and evolved", she shopping habits in town centres had also been transformed, leaving "lots of empty shops", Ms Shuttleworth added. Set over three floors, The Light's development has been seen as a key component of the Huddersfield Blueprint, Kirklees Council's regeneration plan for the town. It features a games arcade, an adventure climbing arena and axe throwing among other retail stores will remain a feature of the wider Kingsgate Centre, as well as an additional kitchen and bar Sharp, manager of Huddersfield BID, said The Light development was a "sensible, proactive decision" that would encourage people to "stay local"."The people of Huddersfield deserve a bigger, better night time economy," Ms Sharp said."People want a more rounded experience. They want to shop but meet their friends, have lunch, maybe go to the cinema."This is good for families: teenagers can go and spend time together in a safe environment." 'Extra footfall' Meanwhile, Kirklees councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance and regeneration, said a new cinema and leisure venue in the centre of Huddersfield would make a "colossal difference"."This offering is just what the town needs right now and will give people more reasons for people to visit Huddersfield and explore not just this but everything the town has to offer."That extra footfall will be fantastic for other local businesses," he Shuttleworth said she believed "creative investment" like that in Huddersfield was the key to reviving high streets across West Yorkshire and beyond."Repurposing space for leisure, as in this development with cinemas and places to go, is quite sensible," she said."You need to become a destination for something." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Felixstowe man shares journey to quit smoking in new campaign
A father says it took a poignant remark from his nine-year-old daughter to motivate him to give up cigarettes after 25 Shuttleworth, 49, who lives in Felixstowe, Suffolk, started smoking when he was said he had lost count of the number of times he had tried to quit over the past 25 years - until his daughter told him she did not want him to has shared his story in Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Town Football Club's joint stop smoking campaign, Never Stop Trying. Mr Shuttleworth told BBC Radio Suffolk he initially tried to quit smoking in his 20s, but found it a said he mainly wanted to give up for health reasons until the timely remark from his daughter."It was actually in the end my daughter, who was nine at the time, who was looking at [smoking] through school," he said."She came home to make us both, myself and my wife, give up at the same time and she said, 'Can you give up smoking? I don't want you to die, daddy'."When you have your nine-year-old daughter say that, it spurs you on even more." Mr Shuttleworth and his wife have been non-smokers for the past seven years, which he said has made him "proud".He said the hardest part of the journey was breaking his usual habits around smoking."When you're eating, you finish a meal and the first thing you do is reach for your cigarettes," he continued."If you happen to go out and have a drink you always have a cigarette in one hand and a pint in the other hand. That's the hardest thing."The nicotine side of it, that goes fairly easily, it's the habit side that's the hardest." The Never Stop Trying campaign saw Mr Shuttleworth share his story in a new was inspired to join after hearing about it through his work within the campaign helps direct people who are thinking of quitting to Feel Good Suffolk, the county's stop smoking member for public health, Steve Wiles, said Mr Shuttleworth would help "inspire others to take that crucial first step".Dan Palfrey, director of foundation at Ipswich Town, added that the club was proud to "support our local community in making healthier choices". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
