Latest news with #LNER
Telegraph
a day 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.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Climate
- Sky News
UK weather: Trains cancelled as first Storm Floris warning comes into force
Why you can trust Sky News Storm Floris is hitting the UK - with train companies in the worst-affected areas urging passengers not to travel today. The Met Office has issued an amber "danger to life" warning for wind in parts of Scotland, with gusts of up to 90mph possible. That alert is in force from 10am until 10pm, with forecasters warning "unusually strong" winds could close roads and damage buildings. A wider yellow warning - covering the North of England, Northern Ireland and north Wales - came into force at 6am, and expires at 11.59pm tonight. Train operator LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle, while Avanti West Coast has advised its customers not to travel north of Preston as it will be "heavily affected" by the weather. "We're expecting heavy rain and high winds to result in disruption of services," LNER said in a statement. Some trains have already been cancelled in Scotland, with Network Rail saying several lines will be closed from 12pm. Other routes will run with a reduced timetable and longer journey times. Among the routes set to close at midday are Edinburgh to Fife, Perth to Dundee, and Aberdeen to Inverness, as well as the West Highland Line. The storm could also lead to road closures - and several ferry services have already been cancelled by Scottish operator CalMac. The Met Office said that much of Scotland, particularly western coastal areas, will be battered by heavy rain and windy conditions. The strongest gusts are expected this afternoon and into the evening - but a Met Office spokesperson warned "there remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Floris". Sky News' weather presenter Jo Wheeler said: "Storm Floris is likely to bring a spell of weather not usually associated with the height of summer. "Travelling across the Atlantic, this otherwise unremarkable, low-pressure system will cross a powerful jet stream, exiting on the cold side, renowned for storm formation." She said inland gusts of 50mph to 60mph are widely possible, potentially reaching 80mph to 90mph over exposed coasts, hills and bridges. "The rain associated with this storm will largely clear through early tomorrow, but it's as the rain goes that the winds start to strengthen," she warned.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Missing man last seen leaving English station train bound for Highlands
North Yorkshire Police have now launched an appeal, asking anyone who may have spotted him during the journey through Scotland, from the Central Belt to the Highlands, to come forward. Police are appealing for information about a missing man last seen boarding a train headed for Inverness. Alex Weatherley, 35, from Stockton-on-Tees, was last seen at York railway station on Thursday afternoon. CCTV shows him catching the LNER service at 2.13pm, heading north on the line that passes through key Scottish stops including Edinburgh, Falkirk, Stirling and beyond. Police are working to confirm where Alex got off the train. North Yorkshire Police have now launched an appeal, asking anyone who may have spotted him during the journey through Scotland, from the Central Belt to the Highlands, to come forward. Alex is described as a tall, slim white man, standing 6ft 3ins with brown hair and facial hair. At the time, he was wearing a dark padded jacket over a black hoodie and dark trousers. If you have seen Alex, please call 101 and pass information to the Force Control Room. If you have an immediate sighting of him, please call 999. Please quote reference 12250148090 when passing on information.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
New images issued in search for missing Alex Weatherley
New images have been issued in the search for missing Alex Weatherley. Following CCTV enquiries, police have established the last confirmed sighting of the Norton man was at York train station on Thursday when he boarded a LNER train at 2.13pm, bound for Inverness in Scotland. Enquiries are ongoing to try and establish where the 35-year-old got to. (Image: North Yorkshire Police) A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "Enquiries are ongoing to try and establish where he got off the train. The full-length images in the appeal show him at York Railway Station prior to boarding the train. "In the meantime, we are appealing to anyone who has any information about his whereabouts to get in touch, including anyone who may have seen him on the train or anyone who recalls seeing Alex along the route. "The train passed through Darlington, Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Stirling and onwards to Inverness, passing through a number other towns." (Image: North Yorkshire Police) Alex is described as white, of slim build, 6ft 3ins tall, with brown hair and facial hair. When Alex was last seen he was wearing a dark-coloured padded jacket, a black hooded top underneath, and dark-coloured trousers. If you have seen Alex, call police on 101 and pass information to the Force Control Room. If you have an immediate sighting of him, call 999. Quote reference 12250148090 when passing on information.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
'Do not travel' warning issued amid major rail disruption in County Durham
A train company has issued a "Do not travel" warning after several incidents in the North East caused major disruption. LNER said that urgent repairs to a bridge in the Chester-le-Street area, earlier overrunning engineering works between Newcastle and Morpeth, and a points failure between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Dunbar are affecting services. Earlier on Sunday, major disruption was expected on train lines between Darlington and Newcastle because of the repair work needed on the Chester-le-Street bridge. Disruption was expected to last until 1pm, but this was revised as LNER said major disruption was expected until 4pm. Recommended reading Icon of British rail heritage should go down a storm on North York Moors Railway Major rail disruption between Darlington and Newcastle as repair work carried out County Durham woman handed six-month ban after speeding on A1(M) LNER customers with tickets dated today, Sunday, August 10, can use them on any LNER service up to and including Tuesday, August 12. Rail replacement coaches have been sourced to run between York and Edinburgh. CrossCountry, Lumo, and TransPennine Express are also affected by these incidents.
