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As media executives wrestle with the use of artificial intelligence, radio giant iHeartMedia wants to stand out.

“We don’t use AI-generated personalities. We don’t play AI music that features synthetic vocalists pretending to be human,” Tom Poleman, the company’s programming chief, wrote in an email to employees.

“The podcasts we publish are also Guaranteed Human,” he wrote.

Radio station DJs now are expected to say “Guaranteed Human,” as part of their hourly on-air disclosures, which include announcing the station’s call letters, as required by the Federal Communications Commission. The new branding campaign has its roots in iHeartMedia’s research that listeners turn on the radio for more than just music and information.

“Consumers aren’t just looking for content, they’re looking for connection,” the company’s president of insights, Lainie Fertick, wrote in an October blog post. “In a world of tech overload, consumers are searching for something real.”

The move comes as Hollywood creators, agents and executives come to grips with rapid advances in artificial intelligence, which has assisted workers with routine tasks but also caused a stir with the release of realistic AI actors, such as Tilly Norwood, which has more than 66,000 followers on Instagram. Entertainment behemoths, including Walt Disney Co. and Comcast’s NBCUniversal, also have sued AI companies for copyright infringement.

To be sure, iHeartMedia uses “AI-powered productivity and distribution tools that help scale our business operations,” Poleman wrote in his note. Such AI tools are used for “scheduling, audience insights, data analysis, workflow automation, show prep, editing and organization,” he said.

iHeartMedia is the nation’s largest radio operator with more than 850 stations, including KFI-AM 640, KLAC-AM 570, KOST-FM 103.5 and KIIS-FM 102.7 in Los Angeles.

The company also has a growing podcast business, producing such shows as “Stuff You Should Know,” “Questlove Supreme” and “Drama Queens.” It also co-produces podcasts with the NFL, NBA and Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland Audio, which includes “The Laverne Cox Show.”

Previously known as Clear Channel Communications, the company has experienced the dark side of automation and programming centralization.

In 2002, its radio stations in Minot, N.D., aired canned music as a toxic cloud blanketed the community after a train transporting anhydrous ammonia for fertilizer derailed and exploded. One person died, and dozens of others were injured. Congress then drilled into alleged harms of media consolidation and the failure of broadcasters to alert the community during the disaster in Minot, where Clear Channel owned six of the eight commercial radio stations.

Clear Channel later said local police failed that night to activate the emergency alert system, which would have allowed the broadcast of special bulletins.

The company has since championed its responses to other disasters. An iHeart spokesperson pointed to its award-winning coverage of Hurricane Helene in Asheville, N.C., in 2024 as well as its efforts during the devastating Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires in January, “delivering crucial lifesaving information and working with local organizations to collect and distribute essential disaster relief supplies,” the spokesperson said, noting that Clear Channel was run by a different management team.

“At iHeart, we make service to our communities our number one priority,” the spokesperson said.

iHeartMedia, like other entertainment and news outlets, is dealing with advertising declines, and it has been looking for ways to keep listeners engaged amid media fragmentation. The company this fall cut several staff members at historic KFI, including Morris “Mo” O’Kelly, who had hosted the station’s evening talk show for nearly three years.

Radio host Chuck Dizzle also announced on Instagram that he’d been laid off from iHeart’s Los Angeles hip-hop station KRRL-FM, which brands itself as “Real 92.3.”

The company said its research shows that consumers crave interactions with real people, and they have deep concerns about the growing use of AI and its potential societal changes.

Poleman pointed to a recent survey that showed two-thirds of respondents were worried about losing their job to AI.

iHeartMedia employees should embrace “Guaranteed Human” as more than a marketing tagline, Poleman wrote.

“When listeners interact with us, they know they’re connecting with real voices, real stories, and real emotion,” Poleman wrote. “Sometimes you have to pick a side — we’re on the side of humans.”

A BUSY UK train station’s ultra-modern looking walkways and vast network of tunnels and escalators have left many people comparing it to something far creepier.

Canary Wharf tube station in London is known for its sprawling size underneath the capital’s major financial district.

And the station’ s striking futuristic design boats shiny silver metal, that looks as if it could have been stripped off a cyborg.

The Observer even wrote: “Stepping into Canary Wharf is an almost religious experience.

“At 300 metres long, the tower it shares its name with could be laid flat inside with room to spare.

“It’s like a cross between Canterbury cathedral and the set of Aliens.”

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In fact, it isn’t just The Observer that has noticed the destination’s other-worldly look.

Back in 2016, the station was used as a set in the Star Wars spin-off film Rogue One, stepping in for a “totalitarian state somewhere in the future“.

The film used the Jubilee line platforms and concourse to represent a research facility on the planet Scarif.

The station is so striking that it has appeared in a number of films including 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007).

In the two sci-fi zombie thrillers, the station appeared as a safe haven and part of an abandoned London.

Then in A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), the streets surrounding the station were used to represent an alien-ravaged New York.

One person said on Reddit: “Canary Wharf being windy here and I remembered my visit to the place, and how weird it was.

“Honestly the structure of that place is so.. alienlike.”

Another added: “I’m convinced they re-arrange all the corridors in the underground mall overnight to confuse us all.”

A third person said: “Stay away at all costs or risk being turned into a office zombie.”

The station was designed by famous architect Norman Foster, the same person who designed the Gherkin in Central London.

The station then opened in 1999 as part of the Jubilee Line Extension.

Unlike older tube stations with lots of cream coloured walls and pale yellow floor tiles, Canary Wharf features a variety of greys and chrome.

It also features vast ceilings, that reach up to 30 metres high.

Concrete is a key material throughout and glass panels feel like a nod to the buildings that surround the station.

There are also seven columns which run the length of the structure and half-egg-shaped glass dome lights littered across the station.

For those heading out of the station into Canary Wharf, the futuristic look continues.

Unlike the pretty mews and Victorian terraced houses found elsewhere in London, the financial district is full of towering skyscrapers, including the famous One Canada Square building which used to be the tallest in London before the Shard was built in London Bridge.

Most of these buildings are filled with offices of top firms like JP Morgan and Chase Bank.

But there are still a number of things for tourists to see and do in the area.

For example, you could head to the Crossrail Place Roof Garden, which is full of tropical plants and is free to visit.

In the warmer months and up until October, you can enjoy a dip in the water with Love Open Water.

Prefer to stay on the water, rather than in it? Then choose to go on a Skuna Boat ride, which “transforms Canary Wharf into a floating playground”.

Different options include a BBQ boat, hot tub boat and igloo boat.

There is also a waterside sauna where you collect the boats from.

If you prefer to stay on dry land then Canary Wharf also has a number of activity bars, such as Fairgame – which is like an adult’s playground with retro fairground games – and Electric Shuffle – a modern spin on Shuffleboard.

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If you are looking for other things to do in the city, these are London’s best free indoor attractions for families – perfect for rainy days.

Plus, soon a world-famous English street will become car-free for the first time in five years – with an epic Christmas party.

A MAJOR train company has unveiled its plans for a new station, taking passengers from one world-famous city to another.

It comes as the rail company decided a far bigger station would be needed, with more than 80 alterations being made to the original idea so far.

East West Rail’s Oxford-Cambridge route is set to take passengers from one popular city to another, with stops in places including Bedford, Milton Keynes, and Winslow in between.

The nearly £7bn scheme is aiming to construct fresh stations, new entrances and a completely reworked service pattern.

It’s no small overhaul – it’s an incredible challenge to all involved, both strategically as well as in terms of design.

In preparation for the new train line, Cambridge will be getting a revamp, with a brand-new Cambridge East station near the city airport.

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The stunning city already has two prominent stations – Cambridge North and Cambridge Central located in the CB1 area.

The central station will also be receiving a long-awaited eastern entrance to ease foot traffic during rush hour.

All of these plans for Cambridge have been written into the scope of the plan, though elements of it are dependent on whether external funding is received.

Whereas in Oxford one of its old running lines – the Cowley Branch Line – will be reinstated to better suit the travel timetable once Oxford-Cambridge becomes available for travellers.

According to a press release by East West Rail, “millions of people across the Oxford to Cambridge corridor are set to benefit” from the project.

David Hughes, CEO of EWR, said: “These updates reflect our commitment to listening to communities while designing a railway that delivers long-term benefits for the region.

“Our latest proposals better reflect what matters most to people and will deliver better outcomes for passengers, local communities and the environment.”

Though one of the biggest challenges the construction team are going to be facing during construction is rethinking what to do with the Marston Vale Line that transverses central Bedfordshire.

The current plan is to switch out the nine existing rather tired-looking stations on its line for four larger contemporary ones.

ONE of London’s most unique hotels, the Courthouse Hotel is one for history buffs who love some of the city’s darker residents.

Here is everything you need to know about staying there.

Where is the Courthouse Hotel?

This historic hotel is right in the middle of trendy Shoreditch.

It is minutes from the hotel’s famous steps is the pulse of east London’s nightlife scene, with pop-up food stalls, music venues, restaurants and bars. 

You are also just five minutes from Old Street Underground station and can walk easily to Spitalfields Market, the city of London and Columbia Road Flower Market.

What is the hotel like?

The hotel is housed in a Grade II Baroque building, which was once the Old Street Magistrates Court and Police Station. 

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The listed building held some high-profile cases such as the London mobsters, the Kray Twins and author of “1984” George Orwell.

Since undergoing a recent multi million conversion of the historical building with a newly built extension, the hotel features 86 guest rooms and 42 suites.

What are the rooms like?

The hotel’s modern interior is a contrast to its colourful backstory. 

The recently renovated bedrooms are mega-stylish, with art-deco touches and elegant fittings. 

The enormous bathrooms with double walk-in showers are a huge plus. 

Plus, as well as very comfortable beds, almost all rooms have fantastic views over the east London skyline. 

Rooms start from £165 a night.

What can you eat and drink there?

The hotel has a range of places to grab a bite or you can sit at the bar and enjoy a stylish cocktail. 

The Jailhouse Bar is set within the former Police Station of the Old Street Magistrates Court – the very same place the Krays once stood trial. 

There is also a restaurant, aptly named Judge and Jury, which is set in a dramatic former courtroom with panelled walls that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. 

It’s fair to say I ate better than the former defendants of this courthouse, with a steak salad and chips and a large glass of red.

There was also a great cocktail menu, making it a great spot to start your night out in Shoreditch, perched at the dramatic bar with an Old Fashioned in hand.

Although, I’m guessing if the Krays were drinking here back in the day, it would more likely have been a pint of stout and a bag of crisps.

By night, the Upper 5th Shoreditch bar has a rooftop terrace and a panoramic view of the skyline. 

What else is there at the hotel?

Believe it or not, the hotel has a 196-seat cinema inside it, as well as an indoor swimming pool and a two-lane bowling alley. 

There is also a serene spa, which is a sanctuary away from the busy city. 

Is the hotel family friendly?

Yes, there is the Hoxton Family Suite which sleeps four people.

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Is the hotel accessible?

In regards to accessibility, the hotel entrance has wheelchair access, and the lift connects to all floors. 

The hotel also has six accessible rooms.

THE NEW Universal Studios theme park coming to the UK will get its very own train station.

The train station is set to be built in Stewartby in Bedfordshire to serve the Universal Studios theme park, which is aiming to open in the early 2030s.

The station will become part of the East West Rail (EWR) line, which will connect Oxford to Cambridge via Milton Keynes and Bedford.

The station will be vital for the new attraction, which is set to attract over 8.5million people in its opening year alone.

In a report released by EWR, it states: “We’re now planning to provide a consolidated Stewartby-Kempston Hardwick station which would allow people to travel to the Universal resort without negatively impacting other users.”

Through recent talks with local communities, the proposed number of trains running via the station each hour has been increased from three or four, to five.

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This would mean up to 70 per cent more seating across the route.

The new station would also feature walking and cycling routes.

The report added: “Given Universal’s proposals are still emerging, we’re working with them and other stakeholders to determine the design and exact position of the station.

“We would like to provide reassurance that as we progress this work, we are focused on not just integrating the design for this station with the wider development proposals but also maintaining access to the strategic road network and local destinations.

“Once we have undertaken this work, we will provide further information when we consult in 2026.”

The station will be part of the wider East West Rail line project, which is expected to unlock around £6.7billion of regional economic growth by 2050, with 100,000 new homes.

A spokesperson for Universal Destinations and Experiences (UDX) said: “Government’s commitment in furthering multi-modal opportunities to grow the UK’s economy is highly encouraging, as companies like UDX look to place major investments in the UK.

“Other plans include seven new stations, and the use of cutting-edge hybrid battery-electric trains to deliver faster, greener services along the partially electrified route while keeping costs down.”

The spokesperson added that the in addition to the new eastern entrance at Cambridge Central, EWR is also planning to create a new Cambridge East Station.

Other plans included in the EWR project – which is set to cost between £5.7billion and £6.6billion – include establishing new station entrances at Bletchley and Bedford.

And the Marston Vale Line will get four new larger stations to replace nine smaller and tired ones.

Currently, stations on the Marston Vale Line see some of the lowest usage in the country, but the new stations would serve local communities better and ultimately help to serve Universal theme park.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “East West Rail is more than a railway – it’s a catalyst for growth, more jobs and opportunity, and this project will make rail travel faster, greener and more reliable for millions of passengers.”

“By investing in modern infrastructure, we’re laying the foundations for long-term prosperity in one of the UK’s most dynamic regions while ensuring that the UK has a rail network passengers can be proud of.”

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In other rail news, a UK train station that looks like a ‘cosmic spaceship’ has become a major landmark.

Plus, two new train routes could be coming to the UK that will connect major cities.

ONE tube station has just been awarded Grade II listed status just 25 years after opening.

The station has been described as “one of the most memorable and theatrical spaces on the London Underground network” – and has become a landmark in its own right.

On November 20, 1999, Southwark Underground Station opened to the public, and it’s now been added to the National Heritage List.

The underground station was one of six new stations built for the Jubilee Line Extension and was designed by engineers in 1994.

As regular commuters and London tourists will know, the underground station has a circular ticket hall, a towering blue glass screen and steel-panelled tunnel in the lower concourse.

During its design, the six stations were set to have their own unique identities with different looks but be linked by materials like steel and polished concrete.

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A building usually has to be over 30 years old to be considered for listing.

But Southwark Underground Station became eligible for listing last year as the age of the building is calculated ‘from the point at which the ground was first broken’.

There are 72 London Underground stations on the National Heritage list – and Southwark Underground Station is the youngest.

Announcing the tube station’s listing was heritage minister Fiona Twycross, who said the station is a ‘stunning example’ of late 20th-century architecture.

She added: “I’m thrilled to celebrate and help protect this bold design, with its striking play on natural and artificial light.

“Used by thousands every day, this station is a great reminder of the extraordinary breadth of our country’s architectural heritage.”

Both locals and tourists are just as impressed with the train station.

One called it a “cosmic cruiseship” while another said it was a “space aged looking station”.

A third simply wrote: “This place is what I think the future looks like.”

Southwark was one of six new stations built for the Jubilee Line Extension in the 1990s, overseen by the architect Roland Paoletti.

The other stations built alongside it are Bermondsey, Canada Water, Canary Wharf, North Greenwich and Canning Town.

According to the C20 Society, the new stations on the Jubilee Line Extension were said to be the biggest architectural sensation of their kind since the Moscow Underground back in 1999.

Now, millions pass through Southwark Underground Station every day, with the most recent figure from 2023 recording 8.51 million passengers.

There’s another underground station in the UK that doesn’t have listed status but thanks to its design looks like it could be in Moscow.

Gants Hill sits on a roundabout in Zone 4 and from the outside, doesn’t look like anything special.

The interiors were designed by modernist Charles Holden, known for creating most of the London Underground system.

It was inspired by the Moscow Metro system, after Holden returned from the Russian city during WWII having been there as a consultant.

The barrel vault ceilings are similar to Elektrozavodskaya metro station in Moscow.

The central concourse even has the nickname “Moscow Hall”, and while it’s not a listed station, some believe it should be.

Joshua Abbott, author of the Modernism in Metroland blog, told local media that the underground “should be listed.”

He added: “It is unique among Holden’s stations due to the Moscow Metro influenced platform design and lack of surface buildings – Gants Hill should be very proud of its most secret building.”

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Nov. 15 (UPI) — At least nine died and 32 were injured at a police station in Kashmir when officials accidentally triggered an explosion while examining materials used to make bombs.

The materials were to undergo forensic examination, but a “very unfortunate” incident caused them to explode shortly before midnight on Friday, regional Director-General of Police Nalin Prabhat told media.

“Any speculation into the cause of this incident is unnecessary,” Prabhat said, without detailing how the deadly detonation occurred.

The explosion happened in Nowgam in the India-administered province as police inspected the materials that they seized while investigating a terrorism network, The New York Times reported.

The 6,000 pounds of materials and other weapons were seized in Faridabad while investigating a car bomb that killed eight in the Indian capital of New Delhi on Monday and has been deemed a terror attack.

Officials say the materials were tied to a Pakistan-based organization called Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The raid also resulted in the arrests of six people, four of whom were identified as medical doctors whose licenses were revoked on Friday.

Friday night’s explosion severely damaged the police stationand nearby buildings also were damaged.

Body parts were found up to 650 feet from the blast site, and several vehicles were “engulfed in flames and reduced to charred husks,” police told media in a prepared statement.

Regional Lt. Gov. Manoj Sinha ordered an investigation to determine the explosion’s cause.

Explosives reportedly detonate during forensic investigation as part of probe into earlier blast in India’s capital New Delhi.

At least seven people have been killed and 27 more injured after a cache of confiscated explosives detonated in a police station in Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir’s main city.

The stockpile exploded late on Friday night at a police station in the Nowgam area in the south of Srinagar.

Most of those killed were policemen and forensic team officials who were examining the explosives at the time of the detonation, unnamed sources told Indian broadcaster NDTV. Two officials from the Srinagar administration also died in the blast.

With five people still in critical condition, the death toll could continue to climb, according to the media outlet.

“Not a terror attack. Police say it’s a very unfortunate incident,” NDTV’s senior executive editor Aditya Raj Kaul said in a post on social media.

“The blast happened when a forensics team and the police were checking the explosive material stored at the police station,” he said.

#BREAKING: J&K Police Top Officials tell me that the massive blast at Nowgam Police Station around 11:20pm tonight happened when FSL team along with Police and Tehsildar were inspecting the large Ammonium Nitrate explosive which was confiscated earlier. Casualties in the blast.… pic.twitter.com/67U143jOFg

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) November 14, 2025

The huge blast comes days after Monday’s deadly car explosion in New Delhi, which killed at least 12 people near the city’s historic Red Fort and which officials have called a “terror” incident.

The explosion in the Indian capital occurred just hours after police arrested several people and seized explosive materials as well as assault rifles.

Police said the suspects were linked to Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), a Pakistan-based group that is seeking to end Indian rule in Kashmir, and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a Kashmir offshoot linked to JeM.

Police in Indian-administered Kashmir also detained more than 650 people as part of their investigation following the New Delhi car blast.

According to reports, the Nowgam police station, where the blast took place on Friday, had led an investigation into posters that were displayed around the area by JeM, warning it would carry out attacks on security forces and “outsiders”.

Police said their investigation into the posters exposed a “white-collar terror ecosystem, involving radicalised professionals and students in contact with foreign handlers, operating from Pakistan and other countries”.

Police also recovered nearly 3,000kg (3 tonnes) of ammonium nitrate, a commonly used material in bomb making, saying the armed group was stockpiling enough explosives to carry out a major attack in India.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, and both claim the Himalayan territory.

The two countries have fought three wars over Kashmir since the nations were partitioned in 1947, and tensions remain high between New Delhi and Islamabad over the status of the territory.

DESIGNS for a train station from the 1850s have been unearthed revealing what could have been the UK’s own Grand Central Station.

A map of the station from 172 years ago shows that it would have been a huge hub just like New York’s station of the same name.

To mark 200 years of modern railway, Perceval Parsons’ plans have been released and put on sale.

And they reveal a very different looking rail hub than what we know today.

The Grand Central Station would have connected up lots of mainline stations in the capital.

It would have been built next to Great Scotland Yard, close to where Embankment tube station is now and backed onto the River Thames.

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Outside would have been lots of decoration with a front that would be 800 feet in length.

For passengers there would be multiple entrances into the main concourse which would be around 300 feet long.

There would have been eight arrival platforms and eight for departure.

In comparison, Grand Central Terminal in New York is 275 feet long, 120 feet wide, and 125 feet high.

Parsons wrote on the plans: “The great desideratum of a connecting link to unite the termini of the various metropolitan railways, and at the same time afford them access to the heart of London, has long been admitted.

“And a line that would effect this, and at the same time give a like accommodation to the principal suburbs, would be of still greater importance”.

The proposal was supported by Robert Stephenson, chief engineer of the London and Birmingham Railway, but the reason why it didn’t go ahead was due to the Crimean War.

The war meant many expensive projects were scrapped across the UK.

Charing Cross Station opened in 1864, eight years after the end of the Crimean War.

One train line that was running in the 1800s was what was dubbed one of the spookiest train lines in history.

The London Necropolis Railway would transport up to 2,000 bodies a year from the city, to be buried in the countryside due to overcrowding.

Starting at Waterloo Station, the Necropolis Railway would transport coffins from London to Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey.

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Here’s how to find the UK’s most beautiful rail journey that takes 10 minutes and costs just £10.

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Here’s more on the London Transport Museum…

From rare road and rail vehicles to vintage posters, visitors can see over 320,000 items relating to the English capital’s transport history at the London Transport Museum Depot in Acton.

There’s lots to explore at the Museum Depot like decommissioned tube carriages – including some from the 1930s.

There are also signs, ceramic tiles, original posters and ticket machines from over the years.

There are limited open days each year where there are expert talks and demonstrations.

Some topics ask the questions; why are buses red? to why design of the Piccadilly Line train is the way it is.

The depot also has a working miniature railway based on real underground trains from the carriages to signals – this only runs on weekends during the open days.

For more information and details on opening days, head to the London Transport Museum Depot website.

Sony Pictures Television and CBS have struck a compromise in their hard-fought legal battle over distribution rights to the popular “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” syndicated game shows.

“We have reached an amicable resolution,” Sony and CBS said Friday in a joint statement. “We look forward to working together to continue bringing these beloved shows to audiences and stations around the world.”

Financial terms were not disclosed.

As part of the deal, CBS will continue to distribute the shows in the U.S. for an additional 2 ½ years — through the 2027-2028 television season. After that, Sony will control the domestic distribution rights.

Sony owns both shows and produces them on its Culver City lot.

The shows have retained their popularity and solid ratings even in the streaming age, as traditional TV has declined. They remain among the most-watched programs on television.

The dispute began more than a year ago, when Sony terminated its distribution deal with CBS and later filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit that claimed CBS had entered into unauthorized licensing deals for the shows and then paid itself a commission. Sony also maintained that budget cuts within CBS, which is owned by Paramount, had hobbled the network’s efforts to support the two shows.

Earlier this year, Sony attempted to cut CBS out of the picture, escalating the dispute.

CBS has long maintained that it had the legal rights to distribute the shows to television stations around the country. The broadcaster previously alleged that Sony’s claims were “rooted in the fact they simply don’t like the deal the parties agreed to decades ago.”

For years, CBS has raked in up to 40% of the fees that TV stations pay to carry the shows. The network took over the distribution of the programs when it acquired syndication company King World Productions in 1999.

King World struck deals with the show’s original producer, Merv Griffin Enterprises, in the early 1980s to distribute “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune.” Sony later acquired Griffin’s company, but those early agreements remained in effect.

As part of this week’s resolution, CBS will manage all advertising sales through the 2029-2030 television season.

However, Sony will take over all marketing, promotions and affiliate relations for the shows after the current television season, which ends in mid-2026. Sony will also handle the lucrative brand integration campaigns.

In another element that was important to Sony, the studio will claim international distribution rights beginning this December.

A MASSIVE UK train station is set to shut for 9 days for a “once-in-a-lifetime overhaul”.

Network Rail are investing £8million in the upgrade in order to reduce future disruptions on train services.

Manchester Piccadilly train station is set to receive track and signalling upgrades in February next year.

The southern approach to station was built in the 1980s and upgrades to its critical stretch of track has been due for some time.

Network Rail explained that issues with its outdated infrastructure can disrupt all trains running in and out of Manchester.

This amounts to around 400,000 trains into the station every year.

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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.” 

A SEASIDE train station dating back nearly 180 years has been returned to its former glory.

The train station in North Yorkshire has undergone a massive £3.6 million restoration project – and it’s just minutes away from the traditional seaside towns of Scarborough and Bridlington.

Sitting on the North Yorkshire coast, the town has been one of the most popular seaside destinations in England for decades.

In the 60s and 70s, it welcomed thousands of tourists every year to Billy Butlin’s campsite, one of the earliest holiday camps in the UK. 

Nestled between Scarborough and Bridlington, in its heyday Filey pulled in more than 150,000 guests every year.

Holidaymakers at the hugely popular resort enjoyed swimming, sunbathing, dancing and amusement arcades.

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In the evening, if they hadn’t retired to their chalets, they were treated to entertainment from the famous Red Coats.

The Butlin’s campsite was so popular that it had its own branch and station on the north east railway.

Despite its popularity, it was no match for the boom in affordable trips to the Spanish Costas in the 1970s.

It was shut in 1983 and by 2001 it resembled a ghost town with the shells of abandoned cabins and drained swimming pools filled with rubbish.

While the once-thriving Butlin’s resort has now been transformed into a £25 million coastal holiday village with pools, saunas, an arcade, and spa, there are still signs of nostalgia in the town for the casual visitor – none more so than at the recently revamped train station.

Main features such as the lantern roof at the station have been reinstated to what they would have looked like when it first opened in 1846.

This includes extensive glazing and tile work and adding safe walkways for easier maintenance.

The huge restoration project, which was backed by the Railway Heritage Trust, also includes improvements to the café, toilets, drainage, and in the train shed – including two ornate cast iron windows.

Network Rail has worked with partners on the refurbishment of the Grade II-listed building.

Jake Walton, Network Rail senior asset engineer, said: “Seaside stations like Filey hold a special place in the hearts of people from much further afield than their towns – being closely linked to generations of memories of days out.

“We’re delighted to have completed a wide-ranging suite of improvements here at Filey which protect the building as a piece of railway heritage while making the station fit for modern passenger use, and for generations to come.”

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said it was “great to see a building with such heritage be looked after to make sure that families and friends can come together on our beautiful coastline for another 180 years”.

The Railway Heritage Trust backed the project with contributions totalling £53,000 for restoration of the train shed windows and roofs of the ancillary buildings.

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Tim Hedley-Jones, Railway Heritage Trust executive director, said the station, built by renowned North-Eastern railway architect GT Andrews, “is still fulfilling the role for which it was built”.

He added: “It retains its original character as a railway station from the first half of the 19th century.”