In a prior warning to passengers, they have advised that no trains from the south and east of the city will run into Manchester Piccadilly.
This will last for nine days over February half term (Saturday 14 – Sunday 22).
Some trains from across the north will also be impacted as well as direct connections to Manchester Airport station.
Services normally running to and from Manchester Piccadilly will terminate at other stations, including Stockport.
Platforms 1-12 will be closed but the concourse will remain open to the public.
There will be a limited service westbound from platforms 13 and 14.
More detailed information about alternate travel plans are to follow in due course.
Julien Dehornoy, Network Rail’s North West & Central deputy regional managing director, said: “We’re investing £7.9m in renewing the Piccadilly corridor, a stretch of track critical to the journeys of around 400,000 trains into Manchester every year.
“This work is going to significantly reduce disruption for the many passengers who regularly use this route.
“Once the job is done, we will have a better, more reliable railway.
“The major overhaul over six railway lines can only take place during a full railway closure and we are working closely with train operators, TfGM and Manchester City Council on alternative travel plans to keep people on the move.
“The full details on which will be published in mid-November.”
Network Rail has warned passengers that Manchester Piccadilly is set to close for nine daysCredit: Network Rail
A Victorian train station is closing down for over two years amid network upgrades.
Rail commuters are bracing themselves as the station is set to be demolished.
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Victorian train station will undergo a major revamp amid network upgradesCredit: Network RailRavensthorpe station is set to close from Sunday, December 14Credit: Alamy
Ravensthorpestation, nearDewsbury, will be shutting down from Sunday, December 14 until the summer of 2028.
Brits traveling between Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury will be offered a rail replacement bus service during the closure.
The new, modernised station will re-open 200 metres west from its current location.
Ravensthorpe station will boast a step-free access, shiny new lifts, and a modern footbridge linking platforms.
A revamped forecourt will make it easier for cars to drop off passengers, while a longer island platform means bigger trains and more seats for commuters.
It’s all part of the massive Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) which focuses on rebuilding huge chunks of the northern rail network.
Engineers are putting in a new four-track railway through the old and new station sites, plus a brand-new Baker Viaduct.
Once complete, it’ll let faster trains overtake slower ones, cutting journey times across the North.
Electric lines are also going up, paving the way for greener, quicker services in the years ahead.
The Ravensthorpe triangle, one of the largest civil engineering sites in the nation, is currently the subject of extensive work.
As part of the road and track realignment work, notable projects to date include the placement of piers for the new Baker Viaduct, the installation of concrete beams to form the new Calder Road bridge, and utility diversions on Thornhill Road.
Andrew Allwright, TRU Programme Delivery Lead for Northern, said: “The work to upgrade Ravensthorpe railway station will support the efforts that the Transpennine Route Upgrade is doing to deliver a fully accessible railway that is fit for the 21st century.
“When Ravensthorpe station closes, from Sunday 14 December until the May timetable change in 2026, Northern will be running a rail replacement service between Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury, connecting to services for a number of destinations, to ensure our customers can continue to travel with as little impact to their journeys as possible.
“We recognise that the work taking place will lead to extended journey times for customers travelling from Ravensthorpe and thank them for their continued patience.”
A legendary nostalgic broadcaster will be ‘shutting down five music channels in the UK’ amid the quick rise of streaming services
Legendary nostalgic broadcaster ‘shutting down five channels in the UK’(Image: GETTY)
Nostalgic broadcaster MTV will reportedly be closing all of its iconic music channels around the globe, minus the USA, following huge cuts amid a company merger. In the UK, MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV and Live HD will no longer be available to watch after decades on air.
MTV has reportedly finalised a deal between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. Over the summer, it was revealed MTV UK, which started in the 90s and helped launch the careers of Emma Willis and Kelly Brook, became the latest casualty of social media and streaming.
At the time, bosses said it “will still have a presence” but accepted MTV UK wouldn’t continue making original music content.
And now, it was reported in The Sun that the music channels will be pulled from air on December 31. The main MTV channel will not be affected.
One insider said it was a ‘dark day for the music industry’ as they told the publication: “MTV was once an industry powerhouse but now is a total shell of its former self. All channels bar the main MTV station are being axed — but even that only airs reality TV shows like Geordie Shore.”
The source claimed the changes were due to the rise of streaming.
Earlier this summer, a spokesman said: “MTV UK is sunsetting local series Gonzo and Fresh Out UK, beginning this month. We are deeply grateful to our hosts, Jack Saunders and Becca Dudley, the talented artists who have been a part of these series, as well as the teams who brought them to life.
“Fans can continue to enjoy global music shows like the MTV VMAs, STANS and Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now on MTV and Paramount+, alongside digital music content on our MTV UK social channels.”
Earlier this year, Sky performed a shake up its channel offerings as POP Max was removed from all platforms.
The broadcaster previously carried POP Max and POP Max +1 on Sky Q and Sky+HD, as well as POP Max HD on Sky Glass and Sky Stream.
The channel had already vanished from Freeview last year. Originally launched in 2008 as Kix, the channel underwent a rebranding to POP in 2017.
Sky broke the news on its website, noting that while other POP-branded channels will stay, some will change positions due to the closures.
COPS have launched a murder inquiry after a teenager was stabbed and “dumped” in the street.
Multiple police cordons were in place last night after the victim, believed to be 19 years old, was found by officers with serious injuries in the Harehills area of Leeds around 12pm yesterday.
He was pronounced dead shortly after.
The man is thought to have been attacked in another part of the city before being left in St Wilfried’s Crescent.
As investigations continue, three crime scenes were erected.
In a statement,West Yorkshire Policesaid: “Detectives have launched a murder investigation following the death of a man in Leeds.
“At around 12pm today (8 October), a report was received that a man was found on St Wilfrid’s Crescent, Harehills, with serious injuries. He was pronounced dead a short time later.
“He has not yet been formally identified. A number of scenes are in place whilst extensive enquiries are carried out, including Parkside View, St Wilfrid’s Crescent and Amberton Crescent.
“Officers from the Homicide and Major Enquiry team are appealing to anyone who was in any of these areas around 12pm who may have witnessed anything to come forward with information.
“Local neighbourhood policing patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide reassurance.”
Anyone with information that may help the police with their enquiries can call 101 using log number 650 of October 8.
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The man was found in St Wilfried’s Crescent in Leeds on WednesdayCredit: Google Maps
A MAJOR high street retailer has launched a huge closing down sale ahead of the closing of six of its branches across the UK.
GAME – which operates around 240 stores across the UK – has slashed the prices of some of its products by up to 20 per cent across the closing outlets.
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GAME is set to close six stores in August and SeptemberCredit: Alamy
The retailing giant announced the closure of six of its stores across the UK in August and September, including outlets in Eldon Square in Newcastle and at Galleries Shopping Centre in Bristol.
Fans of the gaming store spotted major discounts at their local outlets that are due to be shut.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
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Closing down sales with discounts of up to 20 per cent have been spotted at the GAME stores slated for closureCredit: Getty
Hundreds of travellers have descended on woodlands around Lyndhurst, Hampshire, for a huge pony and trap ‘drive’Credit: Solent
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All bar one pub closed in the village due to the weekend’s festivitiesCredit: Solent
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Many of the travellers set up in fields in LyndhurstCredit: Solent
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The event is controversial for the impact it has on the local villagersCredit: Solent
The sole bar manager has boasted about owning the “bravest pub in the village” as he opened his doors this weekend to the travellers.
Nearly every pub for miles around the village have closed signs plastered outside other than The Stag Hotel.
Manager Jake Ellis said: “I don’t know if we are brave, or mad!
“To be honest I feel it’s no different to a large group of stags, or hens, turning up.
“You can have all sorts of trouble with them, and we have a simple rule here, if you’re lairy you leave.”
Owner of the popular high street pub, Maria Harris, said one main factor behind her staying open was because a “task force” being set up around this year’s event.
Comprised of the local council, the police and Forestry England, dozens of people kept a close eye on the drive to keep everyone safe.
It comes after the 2024 pony and trap drive in the New Forest was described as “complete carnage”.
Maria said: “If it wasn’t for the task force, we would be shutting like most pubs.
“There have been meetings with all the businesses where they outlined the plans, they had to keep control of it, what was being done to ensure the welfare of the ponies and what support we will have if any trouble starts.
Moment French farmers use tractors to spray hordes of squatters with manure
“The drive is a heritage event which should keep going. But respect is a two-way thing.
“I am giving my trust to the travellers by saying they are welcome here, but I am also asking them to behave – hopefully they will.”
Many travellers heading down for the annual get together were left upset by the lack of pubs open – especially the one they normally congregate at.
The Happy Cheese – just up the road from the The Stag Hotel – won’t be open for business across the two days.
Their owners have plastered big signs saying “No tethering of horses” to fences surrounding the establishment as an extra message.
In response, the travellers carried out a drive by the pub in their pony and carts.
Some even left piles of horse manure behind as a calling card.
Organiser of the drive Tracy Cooper – which the event is named after – slammed the pubs which have shut as “being guilty of disgusting racism“.
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The travellers have given two fingers to one of the pubs they normally congregate at – The Happy Cheese – after it closedCredit: Solent
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A yellow CCTV pole has been set up on the field where the travellers often gatherCredit: Solent
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Part of the police initiative around the village includes the involvement of a ‘Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Liaison Officer.’Credit: Solent
She said: “It is total discrimination. We have so much hate directed at us. It’s ignorance of our ways.
“To be honest I am so sick of the abuse I get over this I think this will be the last one. I just can’t take it anymore.”
Last year’s gathering was marred by the death of a horse that was driven over a cattle grid.
Witnesses said the animal had “died in agony” and there were calls for the drive to be banned.
Tracy responded: “That pony and trap wasn’t even part of our drive. It was nothing to do with us.
“We care for our animals; anyone can see for that themselves.”
She was also happy over the introduction of the task force and welcomed them to patrol the event.
She said: “We have been working closely with it. We are glad the police are around, it shows people we are doing nothing illegal.”
Part of the police initiative includes the involvement of a “Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Liaison Officer”.
PCSO Steve Hull, who is part of a travelling fair community, is visiting all major traveller and Gypsy events in the UK, including the world famous Appleby Horse Fair.
He wants to “help break down barriers between us and them”.
Pointing at his uniform he said: “The biggest problem is this, they see it and think ‘Oh police’ and the mistrust comes in.
“But then the see the sign on my back which states what I am, and they start opening up.
“My aim is to build links between us and them and educate the police about what their communities are about.”
Steve, who is a member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight police force, gives talks to police bosses about Gypsy, Roma and traveller communities.
He said: “They are an ethnic minority like any other. The more trust we can gain with them the easier it is to police events like this.
“We can work together to ensure they run safely and without incident. I am not saying they are all law abiding but a lot of what is said about them on social media is false.”
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The roads were full with horses and travellers over the weekendCredit: Solent
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Two of the hundreds of horse and cartsCredit: Solent
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One of many signs up in the vilageCredit: Solent
Apart from Steve other new measures this year include tall temporary yellow CCTV towers which have been placed on Lyndhurst high street and at “hotspots” where the travellers gather.
These include beside a river near the Balmer Lawn hotel in Brockenhurst where they go to wash their horses after a drive.
Last year angry locals scattered glass and metal screws on the riverbanks to stop the travellers doing it.
The area then had to be closed for over a week while a clear up operation to prevent harm to wild animals was undertaken.
Some residents of the New Forest, while not agreeing with that action, can understand why some locals have been driven to it.
Local Evelyn Warren explained: “It’s a shame because the drive is actually wonderful to see with all the ponies and the carts.
“But then they go to a pub, get drunk and do all sorts. I don’t think the drive should be banned but it needs to be controlled more.
“There are so many travellers it can get scary at times.”
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PCSO Steve Hull has been called in to help police the eventCredit: Solent
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There are calls for the annual two-day event to be scrappedCredit: Solent
POUNDLAND has confirmed the full list of 12 more store closures amid a massive restructuing.
Sites across Canterbury, Coventry and Brigg have been named as destinations due to shut.
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Poundland has revealed the locations of more stores facing closureCredit: Alamy
Poundland’s retail director Darren MacDonald said:“While our anticipated network of around 650-700 stores remains sizeable, it is of course, sincerely that we’re closing a number of stores to allow us to get us back on track.
“We entirely understand how disappointing it will be for customers when a store nearby, closes but we look forward to continuing to welcome them to one of our other locations.
“Work is underway to with colleagues through a formal consultation process in stores scheduled to close, exploring any suitable alternative roles.”
You can check out the full list of closures here:
Brigg: Cary Lane, Brigg, DN20 8EY
Canterbury: Unit 2A, Marshwood Close Retail Park, Canterbury, CT1 1DX
Coventry: 63 Hertford Street, Coventry, CV1 1LB
Newcastle: Unit 15-18, Killingworth Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE12 6YT
Kings Heath: 74-76 High Street, Kings Heath, B14 7JZ
Peterborough: Unit 19, Orton Gate Shopping Centre, PE2 5TD
“E! News,” the nightly pop culture program that helped define cable network E! Entertainment Television, is going away.
The Comcast-owned network informed “E! News” staff Thursday the program will tape its final episode on Sept. 25. The channel’s news operation will continue to provide coverage online where it has a robust presence.
The staff was told the E! news audience prefers breaking entertainment coverage throughout the day on social media platforms instead of showing up at 11 p.m. Eastern for a live nightly show on traditional TV. About 20 jobs will be eliminated with the cancellation.
The network will continue to provide live coverage of red carpet events such as the Oscars and Golden Globes. E! also carries the People’s Choice Awards.
The “E! News” move was revealed ahead of the channel’s move to Versant, the spinoff company that will include other current Comcast cable channels such as MSNBC, CNBC and Golf Channel.
Comcast is putting all of its cable networks — with the exception of Bravo — into Versant to prevent the mature businesses from dragging down the company’s stock price.
“E! News” was launched in 1991 and was long a highly profitable business for the network as there were few TV outlets for live coverage of entertainment and pop culture. Ryan Seacrest was co-host of the program from 2006 to 2015. The program was canceled in 2020 but returned in 2022.
The show is currently co-hosted by Keltie Knight and Justin Sylvester. Some of the on-air talent from the program will have the chance to move to Versant.
