Latest news with #SofieJenkinson
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
130 days worth of train delays caused by floods last year in UK as thousands cancelled
Experts say the figures show how vulnerable Britain's Victorian rail infrastructure is to extreme weather caused by climate change. Almost 7,000 trains were cancelled last year as a result of floods, with passengers facing 130 days worth of delays new data reveals, highlighting the impact climate change is having on Britain's rail infrastructure. Travellers heading off from London Paddington were the worst hit, with the station recording 406 rain related cancellations in 2024, with Cardiff Central (249) and London Euston (242) close behind. Great Western Rail services were the worst affected with 2,068 cancellations and 53,303 minutes of flood related delays, followed by Northern Trains Ltd (1,046 cancellations, 22,457 minutes) and Transport for Wales Rail Ltd (855 cancellations, 20,091 minutes). The figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request to Network Rail confirmed there were 6,718 train cancellations (4,296 full and 2,422 part cancellations) across the UK in 2024. Those figures show a 15% rise with trains running a total of 187,475 minutes late, equivalent to a third of a year's worth of delays (130 days). Although this represents a 4% drop in the total number of cancellations compared to 2023, since 2014, flooding has caused 48,562 train cancellations and racked up more than 1.4 million minutes of delays. The data was revealed by Round Our Way, an organisation that supports people impacted by climate change in the UK. Co-Director Sofie Jenkinson,said: 'Climate change is a life and death issue for our rail system. These findings show the ongoing vulnerability of the UK's rail infrastructure to extreme weather caused by climate change. The significant rise in delays indicates the growing disruption and concerns about safety beneath the service of our creaking rail infrastructure and the impact of extreme weather caused by climate passengers and operators alike. 'With more than 48,000 cancellations due to flooding over the past decade, it's clear that long-term resilience planning and investments are essential if we want to keep the network moving.' Over the past decade, ScotRail has had the highest overall cancellation count (9,450), while Northern Trains Ltd. recorded the greatest number of delay minutes (198,657) in the same period. In 2020 a train derailed after hitting a landslip at Stonehaven, North East Scotland, three people died. Newcastle University Professor of Climate Change Impacts, Hayley Fowler, said: 'Our national transport networks are not resilient to current weather extremes, and will require increased investment to keep up with the projections of increasing summer heatwaves and winter flooding and windstorms. 'There is a need to think more strategically about hotspots where the risks of disruption are greatest as these growing extreme weather risks have the potential to have a major impact on people and on the economy. " She added: "There is no doubt that strategic investments in climate resilience now will significantly reduce the future costs of extreme weather.'
Wales Online
30-04-2025
- Climate
- Wales Online
Weather map turns red with warnings issued for Wales as 'worrying' trend emerges
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Hayfever sufferers in Wales are having to brace for itchy eyes and runny noses in the coming days. Allied to a potentially record-breaking spell of warm weather are forecasts for 'very high' pollen levels. Red warnings for pollen have been issued by the Met Office for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (April 29 to May 1), with amber 'high' alerts for Friday and Saturday (May 2-3). The forecaster expects significant levels of airborne oak pollen in Wales. Some Plane pollen is also circulating, though these trees are mostly concentrated in southern England. Both are common cause of allergic reactions, the latter especially in urban areas. In sensitive individuals, they can exacerbate asthma. With peak hayfever season fast approaching, searches for 'pollen count' have hit an average of 33,000-a-month. This is expected to rise significantly once grass pollen becomes established as this affects an estimated 95% of Britain's 10m-plus hayfever sufferers. Recent research suggests hayfever seasons are getting longer in Britain, with climate change increasing the number of days each year when conditions are ripe for the allergy. Temperature plays an important role in pollen release, with trees shedding pollen between 13C-15C and grass between 18C-28C, according to the Met Office. The theory is that warmer temperatures caused by climate change are leading to longer growing seasons for pollen-producing plants. The result is extended periods of allergy symptoms for sufferers. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Analysis supports this, showing that Britain saw a steadily increasing number of pollen-producing days between 1994 and 2024, with southern areas worst affected. The research was carried out by Round Our Way, a not-for-profit climate change company in the UK. (Image: Met Office) The organisation found that, since 1994, Wales has seen the annual pollen season lengthen by average of 19 days, the same as in Scotland. In England and northern Ireland, the figure was 20 days. Sofie Jenkinson, co-director of Round Our Way, said: 'Hayfever is becoming an almost year-round problem for sufferers in the UK. Longer hay fever seasons are just one of the health impacts Brits are facing as temperatures in the UK rise. 'As we all see around us, climate change is making Britain warmer and a lot wetter. We urgently need politicians to make sure we are better prepared for the worrying new weather we're facing and to tackle the pollution that is causing it.' Some research has shown that air pollution may make pollen grains more potent and so more likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Increased carbon dioxide levels may also enhance pollen production, making hayfever more severe. Pharmacist, Vikki Furneaux, 44, from York, believes the hayfever season is 'definitely longer and also more erratic'. She said: 'When I graduated, people took medication for around a two-month period but now they are less sure when the season is. 'Sufferers are also coming up against some of the cold and flu season and some of the symptoms are similar to hayfever, so it's more difficult to get on top of things. Some people are coming in with symptoms they didn't realise were hayfever.' For the three days until temperatures peak on Thursday (May 1), pollen levels are also expected to be 'very high' in the south and middle of England, and 'high' in northern England. Only in northern Scotland is relief possible, with levels mostly rated as 'low' this week. Counter-intuitively, a heatwave may help sufferers. The Met Office notes that pollen levels decrease if temperatures rise above 28C. If several warm days occur in a row, pollen supplies can run out altogether. UK temperatures are indeed forecast to exceed 28C this week, though probably not in Wales. For a heatwave to be officially declared in Wales, temperatures will need to exceed 25C on three successive days, which is not impossible in parts of the country this week. In the Border counties, the Met Office's three-day heatwave threshold is 26C. In London and surrounding counties, it's 28C. It can be easy to under-estimate the misery pollen brings: while a cold typically lasts for one to two weeks, hayfever can last for weeks or even months depending on pollen counts and season. Keeping an eye on the Met Office website for daily updates symptoms can help keep a lid on symptoms. Experts reckon the best time of day to get outdoors is around midday, as pollen counts are typically at their lowest. A good tip is to shower and change your clothes after being outdoors to rinse away trapped pollen. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox By the same reasoning, washing is often best dried indoors on high-pollen days as grass pollen can easily get onto clothes while drying outside. Closing windows in your house and car is another way to minimise exposure to pollen. Find the weather forecast where you live
North Wales Live
30-04-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Weather map turns red with warnings issued for Wales as 'worrying' trend emerges
Hayfever sufferers in Wales are having to brace for itchy eyes and runny noses in the coming days. Allied to a potentially record-breaking spell of warm weather are forecasts for 'very high' pollen levels. Red warnings for pollen have been issued by the Met Office for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (April 29 to May 1), with amber 'high' alerts for Friday and Saturday (May 2-3). The forecaster expects significant levels of airborne oak pollen in Wales. Some Plane pollen is also circulating, though these trees are mostly concentrated in southern England. Both are common cause of allergic reactions, the latter especially in urban areas. In sensitive individuals, they can exacerbate asthma. With peak hayfever season fast approaching, searches for 'pollen count' have hit an average of 33,000-a-month. This is expected to rise significantly once grass pollen becomes established as this affects an estimated 95% of Britain's 10m-plus hayfever sufferers. Recent research suggests hayfever seasons are getting longer in Britain, with climate change increasing the number of days each year when conditions are ripe for the allergy. Temperature plays an important role in pollen release, with trees shedding pollen between 13C-15C and grass between 18C-28C, according to the Met Office. The theory is that warmer temperatures caused by climate change are leading to longer growing seasons for pollen-producing plants. The result is extended periods of allergy symptoms for sufferers. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Analysis supports this, showing that Britain saw a steadily increasing number of pollen-producing days between 1994 and 2024, with southern areas worst affected. The research was carried out by Round Our Way, a not-for-profit climate change company in the UK. The organisation found that, since 1994, Wales has seen the annual pollen season lengthen by average of 19 days, the same as in Scotland. In England and northern Ireland, the figure was 20 days. Sofie Jenkinson, co-director of Round Our Way, said: 'Hayfever is becoming an almost year-round problem for sufferers in the UK. Longer hay fever seasons are just one of the health impacts Brits are facing as temperatures in the UK rise. 'As we all see around us, climate change is making Britain warmer and a lot wetter. We urgently need politicians to make sure we are better prepared for the worrying new weather we're facing and to tackle the pollution that is causing it.' Some research has shown that air pollution may make pollen grains more potent and so more likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Increased carbon dioxide levels may also enhance pollen production, making hayfever more severe. Pharmacist, Vikki Furneaux, 44, from York, believes the hayfever season is 'definitely longer and also more erratic'. She said: 'When I graduated, people took medication for around a two-month period but now they are less sure when the season is. 'Sufferers are also coming up against some of the cold and flu season and some of the symptoms are similar to hayfever, so it's more difficult to get on top of things. Some people are coming in with symptoms they didn't realise were hayfever.' For the three days until temperatures peak on Thursday (May 1), pollen levels are also expected to be 'very high' in the south and middle of England, and 'high' in northern England. Only in northern Scotland is relief possible, with levels mostly rated as 'low' this week. Counter-intuitively, a heatwave may help sufferers. The Met Office notes that pollen levels decrease if temperatures rise above 28C. If several warm days occur in a row, pollen supplies can run out altogether. UK temperatures are indeed forecast to exceed 28C this week, though probably not in Wales. For a heatwave to be officially declared in Wales, temperatures will need to exceed 25C on three successive days, which is not impossible in parts of the country this week. In the Border counties, the Met Office's three-day heatwave threshold is 26C. In London and surrounding counties, it's 28C. It can be easy to under-estimate the misery pollen brings: while a cold typically lasts for one to two weeks, hayfever can last for weeks or even months depending on pollen counts and season. Keeping an eye on the Met Office website for daily updates symptoms can help keep a lid on symptoms. Experts reckon the best time of day to get outdoors is around midday, as pollen counts are typically at their lowest. A good tip is to shower and change your clothes after being outdoors to rinse away trapped pollen. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox By the same reasoning, washing is often best dried indoors on high-pollen days as grass pollen can easily get onto clothes while drying outside. Closing windows in your house and car is another way to minimise exposure to pollen.
