Memorial service remembers Great Heck train disaster 25 years on


Ten men died and 82 people were injured at Great Heck, near Selby, on 28 February 2001

A memorial service has been held to remember the 10 people who died in the Great Heck rail disaster 25 years ago.

The service at Selby Abbey was held to mark the anniversary of the crash in which 10 men died – including the two train drivers – and 82 people were injured.

Tony Thompson, a retired British Transport Police officer, who attended the disaster said it was "really important" to remember those who were killed and were affected. "More than 1,000 people – the fire, the police, ambulance, the railway, the hospitals – were involved in the response. Some people from an emergency response perspective still suffer from some of the effects of what they dealt with on that day," he said.

In the early hours of the morning on 28 February 2001, a Land Rover towing a trailer veered off the M62 and landed on the tracks of the East Coast Mainline near the village of Great Heck.

A southbound passenger train hit the vehicle and derailed, before it was then struck by a freight train travelling on the northbound line at a combined speed of 142 mph (228 km/h).

Gary Hart, the driver of the Land Rover who had fallen asleep at the wheel, was later convicted of 10 counts of causing death by dangerous driving and served 30 months of a five-year jail term.

Steve Dunn was on the footplate of the freight train, which was carrying 1,000 tonnes of coal. His widow Mary said the service had extra resonance for her as his funeral was also held in Selby Abbey. "I was probably sitting today where I was sat for his funeral. But I think the service was lovely, it was done really nicely, really tasteful, and it gave people time to just stop and think a bit," she said.

Judith Cairncross, sister of Great North Eastern Railway senior conductor Raymond Robson, said the service "eased the stress of the last 25 years".

"It's been a lovely day and a lovely service and it helps with the memories of Raymond – not of that horrible day, because it was atrocious - but life going forward," she said.

During the service members of the bereaved families were invited to light a candle in their memory, which they were then given to take home.

Joanne Weddle-Wheatley was engaged to passenger train driver John Weddle at the time of the crash. She said: "It makes it purposeful that we can be together, laying wreaths and sounding horns, it's quite poignant to commemorate the two drivers who were lost. Over the 25 years it has been difficult at times but you have to live."

Meanwhile rail workers, survivors and families gathered at Newcastle Central station.

Survivor Thomas Kaplanis was working in first class as a waiter on the day of the crash and his spine was broken in two places. He said: "It was horrific because when the train was derailed. It crashed and obviously I came out of the train but I didn't know whether I was dead or alive to be honest. It was an horrific experience."

Train fares in Wales to be frozen for a year



Rail fares will be frozen for the next 12 months on Transport for Wales services from St David's Day, in a decision agreed by the Welsh government.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said keeping fares at the current level would provide "certainty to passengers at a time when many are struggling with the cost of living".

While some rail passengers said they welcomed decision, Plaid Cymru said "decades of underfunding of rail funding" needed undoing.

Reform said Labour had failed while in power in Cardiff Bay despite having a "generation to establish a functioning transport network".

The move comes after the UK government announced rail fares in England would be frozen for the first time in 30 years.

Rail passengers in Bangor, Gwynedd, on Saturday morning welcomed the decision.

"At least it's not going up," said Edward Eggers. "I've got a railcard, as long as it stays at this price, I'm decently happy with it. I would always advocate for it being lower but I think the transport system just needs the money, so I'll pay what I need to."

Joshua Cooper said rail fares could be "quite expensive" with a return ticket between Cardiff and London costing in excess of £100 on Saturday. "When you compare car and train it doesn't look worth it to go by train," he said. "Many friends and family members talk about it being so expensive at the moment."

The fare freeze from 1 March will apply to advance single tickets, return tickets and the "tap in, tap out pay-as-you-go" service, the Welsh government said.

The system is currently used in south Wales and will be extended to other parts of the network in the near future.

"More people are choosing to travel by train in Wales, services are growing faster and they are more reliable," Morgan said, adding that the fare freeze would make train travel "more attractive and cheaper".

Plaid Cymru said: "To deliver real, tangible change in our rail network - we must begin the process of undoing decades of underfunding of rail funding by Westminster government and the devolution of rail infrastructure - something Labour have failed to demand."

Reform UK Wales said Labour had had a "generation to establish a functioning transport network in Wales" but had "failed to do that and now they're rightly being punished".

The Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats and Green Party have been asked to comment.

Deviating from the reason Grahame reactivated this thread, the original postings date back to before I joined the site but do make interesting reading in hindsight.

The town where feeding birds could cost you £1,000


Worthing Borough Council said it had received concerns from people feeding birds in the town centre

People in Worthing, West Sussex, could soon be fined up to £1,000 for feeding wildlife in the town centre.

Worthing Borough Council said there were "increasing concerns" about the impacts of "excessive and unregulated" feeding of wild animals, like pigeons and seagulls.

It said a proposed ban, using a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), would help combat public health risks from animal droppings, scavenging, damage to public spaces and local businesses, and pests like mice and insects.

Residents, businesses and visitors are being encouraged to share their views in a public consultation, open until 25 March.

Worthing resident Lisa Crowther said she had been swooped by a seagull when she sat down on a bench with food from a local bakery. "Seagulls have become so vicious now. They expect food to be given to them that they are attacking us," she said.

Richard Bernard acknowledged birds were "a bit of a nuisance" but disagreed about the fines. "Life's too short to be fining people for feeding them," he said. "I think Worthing Borough Council should focus more on repairing potholes and the roads."

Neill Morton, who has lived in Worthing for four years, said it may help prevent the issue getting worse. "The seagulls can be a bit of a problem, but it hasn't reached the same level as Brighton," he added.

Meanwhile, fellow resident Tony Boyling said he had questioned a man feeding pigeons at a bus stop. "It brings in a lot of birds we don't need to the area," he said.

A PSPO would enable officers to issue fixed penalty notices of £100, or up £1000 through the courts.

Councillor Rosey Whorlow, Worthing's cabinet member for community safety, said: "Our priority is to ensure Worthing remains a clean, safe and welcoming town centre for everyone, while also protecting the long-term wellbeing of local wildlife. We encourage people to take part and have their say before any decision is made."

Brewing industry being decimated, ale experts say


Molson Coors said the Rock site was "no longer financially sustainable"

Ale fans have expressed their anger about the closure of a Cornish brewery.

Molson Coors said it would close Sharp's Brewery in Rock and make 50 staff members redundant by the end of the year.

The vice chair of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), Gillian Hough, said the global brewer was "decimating the UK's brewing industry and heritage by closing a wonderful site which produces award-winning beer".

A spokesperson for Molson Coors said the firm had "taken every step we can to try and avoid this outcome, however, the site is no longer financially sustainable as part of our national production network."


Gillian Hough said drinkers should be warned Sharp's ales may have no connection to Cornwall

The spokesperson said: "We remain committed to the Sharp's brands, and cask ale as part of our portfolio and are exploring alternative production routes."

Hough responded to the suggestion with a warning: "We need to alert drinkers to the fact that any future connections with Sharp's and Doom Bar may have no connection to Cornwall at all."

Doom Bar has consistently won gold in the World Beer Awards and was named after a sandbank which lies in the entrance of the Camel estuary.

CAMRA Kernow has called for a European Commission protected status akin to that held by Cornish pasties.

Vice chairman Vince Curtis said: "Our message to Molson Coors is clear - if you're shuttering the brewery, you can't keep claiming that Doom Bar is a Cornish beer. It's misleading for consumers and insulting to Cornwall's brewing legacy. Molson Coors have chosen to sever ties with brewing in the South West, and shouldn't try to suggest otherwise."

John Brown, chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said Doom Bar had been "an absolute success story". He said over the past few years the cost of energy, infrastructure and transport had risen. "It's created a tough business environment to operate in," he added.

Fares for new Birmingham railway stations revealed


A return ticket to New Street Station is expected to cost £5.50 at peak times

Rail bosses have revealed how much it will cost passengers to use much-heralded new railway stations in Birmingham.

Three stations on the Camp Hill line at Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road are due to open shortly, providing passenger services to the area for the first time since the 1940s.

At a public meeting in Moseley, Transport for West Midlands told attendees that the three stations would come under Zone 3, with a return ticket to New Street Station costing £5.50 or £3.70 off peak.

For people travelling from Moseley to Kings Heath or Kings Heath to Pineapple Road, an anytime return will cost £3.90 while an off peak return will cost £3.10.

A peak single ticket will also cost £3.10.

Moseley to Pineapple Road will cost £4.30 for an anytime return, £3.60 for an off-peak return and £3.50 for a peak single.

On her Facebook page, Moseley councillor Izzy Knowles said the timetable meant there would be trains every half hour, but only one an hour after 20:00 and on Sundays, adding: "We were assured this could be revised later".

People in Moseley said they felt the rail fares were reasonable and comparable with the existing price of bus services in the area, which currently include costs of £3 for a single trip and a £5.20 for a daysaver.

Local resident Isaac Samuel said: "£5.50 from here to Birmingham doesn't sound to bad to me. £3 from here to Kings Heath, that's quite a lot for what actually isn't going very far, because it's really only around the corner. I suppose it depends what kind of use you're putting it to - compared to the bus it's also not that bad. The buses don't have a single return ticket but they do have a daysaver which is £5.20 so they sound pretty comparable really in terms of fares."

Tram derails in Milan, leaving one dead and dozens injured


The tram crashed into the side of a building after it derailed

At least one person has been killed and 39 others are reported to have been injured some seriously, after a tram derailed in the northern Italian city of Milan.

The crowded tram was travelling on Milan's Vittorio Veneto street at about 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT) when it appeared to crash into the side of a building.

The person who died is thought to have been hit by the tram, and most of the injured were passengers. Numerous ambulances are at the scene and there are reports of people trapped in the wreckage.

Passengers described hearing a noise underneath the tram, after which it veered off, gathered speed and hit a building.

"I thought it was an earthquake. I was sitting down and I fell on the floor, along with the other passengers," one man told Ansa news agency. "It was terrible."

"I just heard an enormous bang," said 27-year-old Anna, who was in an office nearby, quoted by AFP. "I saw a bit of the tram had gone into a shop."

Civil protection teams have set up a tent at the scene to help the injured.

It is not clear what caused the derailment, although media reports suggested the tram had taken a sharp corner too quickly, as it turned out of Vittorio Veneto street.

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala and other city officials have arrived at the scene of the crash.

Why has the world's first hydrogen double-decker fleet failed?



The world's first hydrogen double-decker bus fleet has reached the end of the road.

The multi-million pound project in Aberdeen - involving 25 buses - was meant to be the future of clean public transportation, with the city billed as the global hub for hydrogen-powered buses. But the zero emissions vehicles are now being ditched, along with the ambition that 700 jobs could be created.

The council announced on Thursday evening that it was to drop its hydrogen double-decker bus fleet in favour of electric vehicles following a meeting of its urgent business committee.

Aberdeen City Council and oil and gas giant BP became commercial partners in 2022 for Aberdeen's hydrogen ambitions.

After a number of technical problems, the hydrogen fleet has now fallen foul of the fast pace of progress in electric vehicle technology. The hydrogen buses have been out action since September 2024, due to problems with fuelling stations at Kittybrewster and Cove.

The council said it had been engaged in "ongoing discussions" with BP about the future viability of the city as a hydrogen hub, prompted by significant advancements in electric vehicle technology.


Hydrogen buses have been left parked up in Aberdeen

"As manufacturers and operators increasingly favour EVs, demand for hydrogen in transport has diminished," a statement said. "In light of these developments, both parties are reassessing their strategic direction to align with the evolving market landscape."

The council will now negotiate the transfer of the joint venture from BP and move towards a full transition towards electric vehicles.

The council has been asked about the total cost of the project, which is understood to have run to tens of millions of pounds.

BP said it would work closely around the "next steps" with the council.

Bus operator First Bus said it remained in discussion about the future options of the fleet.

The writing has been on the wall for hydrogen buses for years, as more and more cities opted for the battery alternative.

In 2021, First Bus in Glasgow confirmed that it was investing in a fleet of 120 single and double-decker buses which could be charged very quickly overnight before spending 18 hours on the road. More recently, the electric inter-city bus operator Ember has seen its fleet between all of Scotland's major conurbations grow to 98 vehicles.

Battery capacity and efficiency has come on enormously, meaning electric buses can be charged at incredible speeds and cover very long distances. They cost more than the diesel equivalent, but running costs are very low, meaning operators are saving millions from the moment the vehicles hit the bus lanes.

Hydrogen, by contrast, is expensive to produce. It takes a huge amount of green electricity to create the fuel using a process called electrolysis. And while it has the advantage that the bus can be refuelled in a matter of minutes rather than hours, that premium is now perceived as not worth paying.

13:18 Hereford to London Paddington due 16:24 has been cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

All of the above makes for some very sombre reading again, on this sad anniversary.

Lest we forget.

Chris.