Explainers

TRAVELLERS are facing a second day of travel headaches after a power outage brought train services across the North West and Midlands to a halt.

If you’re heading out on the rail network today (August 7), you might be wondering if your train is actually going to turn up.

While rail bosses have reassured the public that the worst of the chaos is over, there is still a hangover of delays and cancellations to navigate today.

Here is a guide to what you need to know about the current situation, ticket acceptance, and what went wrong to cause such widespread disruption.

What caused the chaos?

The delays stem from a power cut that happened at 1.40pm on Thursday afternoon.

According to SP Electricity North West, an “incident on our high voltage cable” in Harpurhey, north-east of Manchester city centre, caused a power outage that affected around 5,000 customers.

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While the electricity provider said that power was restored within 90 seconds, that brief window was enough to trigger severe rail chaos.

The outage hit more than 400 Manchester postcodes, including the Manchester Rail Operating Centre, which acts as the main control hub for the entirety of north-west England’s railways.

Network Rail also said that their backup power generators failed to activate immediately when the main grid went down.

The failure resulted in railway signals automatically switching to red for safety, bringing trains to a standstill and sparking widespread cancellations.

Network Rail has confirmed it has now launched an official investigation into why the backup system failed to kick in.

Are trains running today?

The vast majority of trains are running today (August 7), and Network Rail has confirmed that “most operators are running a full service” after signalling systems were restored on Thursday night.

Engineers then worked through the early hours of the morning to get displaced trains back to their correct depots before the start of today’s service.

But don’t assume your journey will be completely smooth sailing just yet.

Because trains and rail crews ended up in the wrong places yesterday afternoon, it may take some time for the complex daily timetable to get back into sync.

Network Rail notes that some disruption remains as “trains and crew return to their normal positions”.

According to National Rail, this residual disruption is expected to continue until at least midday today.

Can I use my train ticket on other services?

If your train is delayed or cancelled, you won’t be left completely stranded.

Various ticket restrictions have been eased by operators to help get passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible.

If you’re travelling in and around Greater Manchester, your train tickets are currently being accepted on alternative local transport.

You can use your rail ticket to hop on Bee Network buses and Metrolink trams at no extra cost to complete your journey.

Both Northern and TransPennine Express have temporarily lifted Advance Purchase and Peak restrictions, meaning anyone holding an Advance ticket today can board any available service along their booked route without having to pay an extra fee.

Operators are also accepting each other’s tickets across shared routes.

Passengers affected by cancellations can use their tickets on Northern, TransPennine Express, LNER, and East Midlands Railway trains running in the same direction.

TransPennine Express tickets are also being accepted on CrossCountry services across key eastern routes, including between Sheffield, York, and Newcastle.

Chris Wright, Network Rail’s North West route director, praised passengers for their patience following the disruption.

He said: “While some passengers may still experience disruption, we’re continuing to work closely with train operators to return services to normal as quickly as possible.

“Anyone planning to travel this morning should continue to check before they travel for the latest information.”

If you’re travelling today, use the National Rail Status and Disruptions website, or check directly with your train operator before you leave the house.

How can I get a refund?

If your travel was derailed on Thursday, you won’t lose out either.

Tickets dated for yesterday are being honoured for travel throughout today at no extra charge.

But if your plans were thrown fully into disarray by the disruption, you may be entitled to cash back.

If your train was delayed or cancelled and you chose not to travel at all, you are entitled to a full refund with no administration fee.

You will need to apply for this directly from the retailer where you bought the ticket, such as Trainline, TrainPal, or the station box office.

If you completed your journey but arrived late, you can claim compensation through the national Delay Repay scheme.

In this scenario, you must claim directly from the train operating company that ran the delayed service, rather than the ticket seller.

Claims can usually be submitted online by uploading a photo of your ticket, though paper forms are also available from station staff.

How much you receive depends on the length of the delay to your destination, rather than what time your train departed.

If you need to double-check exact arrival times to support your claim, you can look up your route on tracking websites like recenttraintimes.co.uk.

Season ticket holders are also covered and will receive a proportional refund based on the cost of their pass and the duration of the delay.

Make sure to log your claim as soon as possible, as most train companies enforce a 28-day deadline from the date of travel.

If your claim is initially turned down and you believe you’re still owed compensation, you have up to one month to submit an appeal directly to the train operator for further review.

EMERGENCY crews are battling wildfires across the popular Greek island of Kefalonia, forcing tourists and locals to evacuate homes and holiday accommodation.

Heatwave conditions and gale-force winds have fuelled blazes across the Ionian island, sending thick smoke over holiday regions and putting British travellers on alert.

Here is your guide to where the blazes are located, how they started, and what the latest official advice says for holidaymakers heading to Greece.

Where are the fires in Kefalonia?

Wildfires initially erupted in the dense pine forests and scrubland near Pastra, in the south-east of the island of Kefalonia.

The Greek Fire Service and local municipal authorities issued urgent precautionary evacuation orders via the national emergency alert system after flames threatened nearby homes and tourist lodgings.

Evacuations were triggered for several inland villages as flames moved close to residential zones.

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While precautionary evacuations were ordered, local authorities and ground crews largely brought the fire near Pastra under control.

Though firefighters – supported by specialised water-dropping aircraft and helicopters – still remain on high alert for flare-ups.

While main coastal resorts remain open, drifting smoke plumes and shifting winds have affected air quality and visibility across nearby districts.

How did the fires start?

The outbreak of wildfires on Kefalonia comes amid an intense summer heatwave gripping Greece and wider southern Europe.

While official investigations into the exact ignition points remain ongoing, authorities point to a combination of extreme environmental factors.

Prolonged periods of temperatures exceeding 40C have left vegetation bone-dry, creating conditions where a single spark can instantly trigger a wall of fire.

Strong, unpredictable gusts have also whipped embers across containment lines and made aerial firefighting exceptionally dangerous.

In coastal areas, high sea winds briefly prevented water-scooping aircraft from operating safely.

Greece has suffered dozens of wildfire outbreaks in recent days, including severe blazes in Attica, Halkidiki, and Crete, putting emergency services under heavy strain.

Is it safe to travel to Kefalonia?

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its safety guidance for Britons visiting Greece, but has not advised against travel.

While it has not placed a blanket travel ban on visiting Greece, officials advise all travellers to exercise caution, stay informed, and follow local emergency instructions.

Holidaymaker checklist:

• Monitor Emergency Alerts: Ensure your mobile phone can receive emergency broadcast messages from @112Greece. If an evacuation alert is issued, follow instructions from local authorities immediately.
• Contact Your Travel Provider: Major operators (such as TUI, Jet2 and EasyJet) are monitoring the situation closely. If your accommodation or flight is impacted, contact your provider before travelling.
• Check Travel Insurance: Verify that your travel insurance policy covers natural disasters, trip interruptions, or emergency relocations.
• Emergency Numbers: If you are in immediate danger in Greece, call 112 for emergency services. British nationals requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the Foreign Office on +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

Travellers heading to unaffected resorts on the island can generally proceed with their plans.

But checking live traffic and local authority updates before set-off is strongly recommended.

THOUSANDS of locals and British holidaymakers have been evacuated from Crete after deadly wildfires swept through the popular Greek hotspot.

At least three emergency responders have lost their lives during the crisis across Greece, including two firefighters who became trapped in their vehicle near the mountain village of Krya Vrysi in Crete.

Flames fanned by gale-force winds have spread across a 15-kilometre front on the island at the peak of the summer holiday season.

Around 8,000 people were ordered to move to safety as flames closed in on southern resort villages, destroying homes, farms, and livestock in their path.

The crisis comes as severe heatwaves spark wildfires across Southern Europe and parts of the UK, with firefighters battling blazes from Spain and Turkey to Suffolk.

Where are the wildfires in Crete?

The primary fire zone in Crete is located along the island’s southern coast in the Rethymno region, specifically within the Agios Vasileios municipality.

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Villages and coastal areas hit by emergency evacuation alerts include:

• Krya Vrysi, Melambes, and Sachtouria
• Agios Pavlos, Triopetra, and Agia Paraskevi
• Orne and Ligres

More than 200 firefighters, supported by 53 fire engines, have been tackling the south-coast blazes.

Nearby resort areas such as Agia Galini were evacuated as a precaution before conditions stabilised enough for some tourists to return.

Is it safe to travel to Crete?

It remains safe to travel to the vast majority of Crete.

The island’s main transport hubs – including Heraklion Airport and Chania Airport – remain open and operating normally, outside the fire zone.

Popular northern holiday destinations, including Rethymno’s historic Old Town, Chania, Heraklion, Elounda, and Agios Nikolaos, currently remain unaffected and open for business.

If you are due to travel, tour operators advise checking the exact location of your accommodation.

Anyone staying near the active southern fire zone should contact their hotel or package provider before travelling, follow official 112 emergency text alerts, and ensure travel insurance covers natural disaster disruptions.

Holidaymakers on the island are urged to download emergency alert apps, keep mobile devices charged, and strictly observe local fire bans.

How did the fires start?

Specialist arson investigation teams from the Greek Fire Service have launched formal inquiries into the exact ignition points of the Rethymno fires.

While investigations are ongoing, extreme heat and weather conditions created the perfect storm for rapid ignition.

A prolonged summer heatwave pushed temperatures above 40C, thoroughly drying out low vegetation, pine forests, and olive groves across the island.

Strong gusting winds reaching up to 102 km/h (7 on the Beaufort scale) whipped minor ignitions into runaway blazes within minutes.

Authorities across southern Europe have repeatedly warned that even minor human carelessness – like discarded glass, outdoor barbecues, or unextinguished cigarettes – can instantly trigger a major blaze in these dry conditions.

What is the forecast for Crete?

The weather outlook for Crete remains challenging, with forecasters predicting high temperatures to persist near or above 40C across the Aegean region.

But the primary hurdle for emergency crews has been unpredictable wind.

Violent, changing gusts have forced water-dropping planes and heavy helicopters to temporarily ground operations due to turbulence.

Fire crews are reliant on wind speeds dropping in the coming days.

Lower winds wills allow aerial firefighting squadrons to safely scoop seawater and drop targeted payloads on hot spots in Crete’s steep mountain terrain.

While ground teams continue to build containment lines, civil protection authorities maintain a high wildfire alert across Crete and wider Greece.

GODZILLA vs Kong star Kaylee Hottle has died at the age of 18, following a fatal car crash in Maryland.

The young actress, who won hearts worldwide as Jia in the hit Hollywood monster franchise, passed away following the collision.

Here is everything we know so far about her death, her life, and the tributes pouring in.

Who was Kaylee Hottle?

Kaylee Hottle was a young American actress best known for her breakout role as Jia in the Legendary Pictures MonsterVerse film series.

Born in 2007 into an all-deaf family, Kaylee grew up natively fluent in American Sign Language (ASL).

Her path to Hollywood stardom began in 2017 when she starred in a commercial for the video relay service provider Convo.

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Her major break arrived when acclaimed casting director Sarah Halley Finn was seeking a deaf actress to play Jia – a young Iwi girl with a unique bond with King Kong – in the 2021 blockbuster Godzilla vs Kong.

Guided to Kaylee by an assistant director who remembered her performance in the Convo commercial, the film team knew she was perfect for the role.

The movie became a massive global hit, launching Kaylee into the international spotlight.

She reprised her role as Jia in the 2024 sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Her performance in the film earned her a nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor at the 52nd Saturn Awards.

Outside of her film work, Kaylee was a senior student at the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) in Austin, Texas.

What was the cause of her death?

Kaylee Hottle reportedly died following a serious car crash in Frederick, Maryland.

Local law enforcement sources confirmed to The U.S. Sun that officers were called to the scene of a fatal crash involving the teenage star, where emergency personnel remained on site.

Her father, Joshua Hottle, first revealed the news of her death during an emotional 23-minute livestream on Facebook.

In the video, presented in American Sign Language (ASL), Joshua shared that he was forced to board an urgent flight to Maryland after receiving a call from officials informing him of the tragic accident.

He explained that authorities notified him that Kaylee’s heart had stopped while she was being transported to the hospital in an ambulance.

Captioning the live broadcast, he wrote: “I am taking a flight that I never would like to take.”

Exact details regarding the cause of the collision, the vehicle involved, or whether anyone else was injured remain unconfirmed as emergency services continue their investigation.

Her former school released a statement noting that official information remains “very limited” and urged the public to refrain from speculating on the circumstances while inquiries continue.

Who has paid tribute?

Tributes have poured in from across the deaf community and film industry following news of the young star’s death.

Kaylee’s school released a statement mourning the loss of their student.

It said: “It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news that one of our TSD seniors, Kaylee Hottle, tragically passed away yesterday in a car accident in Frederick, Maryland.

“Our hearts are with Kaylee’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew and loved her during this incredibly difficult time.”

The school added that counseling and support services have been made available for students and staff as they process the loss.

Her father’s livestream received a flood of condolences from friends, family, and members of the deaf community, while fans worldwide have taken to social media to honor Kaylee’s screen representation and express sympathy for her family.

TRIBUTES are pouring in for screen icon Sam Neill, who passed away aged 78 on Monday, July 13.

The acclaimed actor died suddenly surrounded by his loved ones, just months after revealing he was cancer-free.

Sam Neill’s family confirmed the news in a statement: “It is with immense sadness that the whanau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia.

“Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.

“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer-free.

“They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care.

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“More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute, writing on X: “Sam Neill starred in so many beloved Australian stories and he earned a special place in Australian hearts.

“Wry and dry, thoughtful and laconic, Sam fought illness with the same dignity, humour and conviction that gave strength to his every performance.

“He will be much mourned and long remembered. May he rest in peace.”

Fellow actor Richard E. Grant posted: “Knew @samneilltheprop for 3 decades and finally worked with him on PALM BEACH in 2018. An officer and a Gentleman in the truest sense.

“Guided and helped me through a very difficult time in my Life. Pictured beside producer @deb_bal & @ladyheathermitchell. Sail on, kind Sir.”

While Jurassic World: Dominion director Colin Trevorrow said Sam was “a friend and collaborator at a challenging time”.

He continued: “His strength gave us all strength. I’ll remember him for his tranquility, his love of wine, and for the calm assuredness he brought to his characters.”

Scottish actor Alan Cumming wrote: “Ahhh Sam, what a glorious beautiful man. You are missed. Sorry to the family for your immense loss.”

The Boys’ Karl Urban posted: “Heartfelt condolences to your whanau.
Sam was truly brilliant. An inspiration for many who followed in his trailblazing footsteps.

“A beautiful man, A national treasure who gave so much to New Zealand and the to world. God speed Sam.”

At the time of writing, no cause of death has been given.

Who were Sam Neill’s parents?

Sam was born Nigel John Dermot Neill in Omagh, Northern Ireland, to English mother Priscilla Beatrice Ingham and New Zealand father Dermot Neill, an army officer.

The family emigrated to New Zealand when Sam was seven, settling in Dunedin, and he later went to boarding school in Christchurch.

He took the name Sam when he was a youngster because there were too many Nigels at school.

In his memoir Did I Ever Tell You This?, Sam wrote: “The one thing I resent about my parents, the only thing, is that they called me Nigel.

“Changing my name to Sam at the age of 11 was probably the best decision I made in my life.”

He added: “I found I moved more easily in the world as a Sam. Nigel is an awkward fit in most circumstances. Imagine being a movie actor called Nigel Neill.”

His dad’s family had deep roots in the wine trade, having founded the Dunedin merchant firm Neill & Co generations earlier, which Sam later drew on when he established his own Central Otago winery, Two Paddocks, in the 90s.

Who was Sam Neill married to?

Sam had a long relationship with New Zealand actress Lisa Harrow, whom he met while filming 1981’s The Final Conflict. The pair had a son together, Tim, born in 1983.

Later on life, he went on to marry Japanese make-up artist Noriko Watanabe, whom he met on the set of the 1989 film Dead Calm.

The couple welcomed a daughter, Elena, in 1991, and Sam also adopted Noriko’s daughter from an earlier relationship, Maiko.

Sam and Watanabe separated in 2017.

Who are Sam Neill’s children?

Sam is survived by four children. Alongside Tim, Elena and Maiko, he also had a son named Andrew.

He was placed for adoption when Sam was in his early twenties and was reunited with his father in 1994.

Sam previously told The Times: “I’ve got a slightly unusual family – it’s more extended than most.

“My first son, Andrew, was given up for adoption when he was very small. I was quite small, too – in my early twenties.

“I didn’t see him for 25 years and then we went looking for each other.”

What movies did Sam Neill appear in?

Sam’s career spanned more than 50 years and around 150 screen credits. Among his biggest film roles were:

• Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (1993)
• Alisdair Stewart in The Piano (1993)
• Vasili Borodin in The Hunt for Red October (1990)
• John Ingram in Dead Calm (1989)
• Damien Thorn in The Final Conflict (1981)
• Michael Chamberlain in Evil Angels (1988)
• Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park III (2001)
• Dr William Weir in Event Horizon (1997)
• Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)
• Cliff Buxton in The Dish (2000)

On television, Neill played corrupt Major Chester Campbell in Peaky Blinders.

He also featured as Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in The Tudors, among many other roles.

Sam was awarded an OBE in 1991 for services to acting, and in 2022 accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM), the second-highest grade in the New Zealand royal honours system.

He previously turned down the KNZM when knighthoods were first restored to the New Zealand honours system in 2009.

A-LIST stars from around the world will be crowding into Madison Square Garden today to see Taylor Swift’s marriage.

The extravagant event is set to welcome around 1,000 guests as the 14-time Grammy award winner ties the knot with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. But who will perform at the wedding?

Which megastars are rumored to take to the MSG stage?

With the number of stars in attendance, there certainly isn’t a shortage of possibilities as to who might be performing at the wedding.

Unfortunately, the Hollywood couple have reportedly enforced a strict no phones policy and required guests to sign strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to prevent word going around on the event.

But thanks to a handful of leaks, we aren’t left completely in the dark as to who may take the stage at MSG.

Country legend Tim McGraw is among the names widely believed to be performing, with the bride having named her debut 2006 single after him.

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Fleetwood Mac star Stevie Nicks is a confirmed guest for the wedding of the most-streamed female artist in history, but rumors will tell you that she’ll be more than just another attendee – but rather that the 78-year-old is set to perform.

Ed Sheeran is another name potentially playing some live tunes as Swift herself said in a radio interview: “It would be hard to keep him from it, I think! If there’s a stage, you know that he’ll be on it.”

Will the bride sing to Travis?

Fans have been keen to jump on social media websites like TikTok, Reddit, and X to leave their opinion on whether Taylor will perform for her newlywed.

And the general consensus seems to be that she most certainly will! With the main question being what song she will perform for him.

In fact, some Swifties believe that the ultimate wedding present would be a brand new song made especially for the occasion.

That of course, for someone with the talent of Taylor Swift, shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

There is logic behind the theory too, with fans pointing towards the fact the 36-year-old has written songs for nearly every major chapter of her life.

If not an entirely new, unreleased song, fans predict that she will perform a mashup of the songs she has already written about Kelce during the Eras Tour, for example; ‘Lover’, ‘The Alchemy’ and ‘So High School’.

Moving away from her husband though, supporters of the singer-songwriter also have suggested the possibility of Taylor dueting with Tim McGraw.