A NEW train ticket rule will be rolled out this weekend, allowing passengers to switch to rival operators for free.
The changes look to make disrupted journeys smoother for travellers and mean they won’t be forced to purchase last-minute pricey tickets.
Those left stranded after a train cancellation will be able to travel on services run by different operators at no additional charge, the government has announced.
The changes are set to be introduced on Sunday, September 20, and promise a smoother travel experience for those facing disrupted journeys.
Many travellers will be aware that cross-operator ticket acceptance is already available across all publicly owned operators.
However, as of Sunday, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Avanti West Coast and Chiltern Railways will all become part of the scheme too.
Passengers travelling on any of the services included in the scheme can hop onto the next train if their original route is cancelled, even if it is a different service run by a different operator, without needing to buy a new ticket.
It must be departing two hours before or after your original cancelled service, and the new journey must be a “direct or reasonable alternative route”.
All that is required to complete a journey is showing customer support staff your original ticket to serve as proof of purchase.
East Midlands Railway is expected to join the scheme at a later date:
Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said: “This is a simple, common-sense change that puts passengers first.
“No one should be left stranded because of a fragmented railway when their journey is disrupted.
“We’re fixing the railway from the ground up, making it simpler, fairer and easier to use, as we move towards Great British Railways and put public service back at the heart of our railways.”
It is just one of the moves that comes as part of the government’s overhaul of the rail system.
Ahead of the establishment of Great British Railways, travellers can also expect to see pay-as-you-go services rolled out across Greater Manchester, the Midlands and the south-east thanks to a £156million investment by the Government into new ticketing scheme.
A new GBR website and app is also being designed to act as a “one-stop shop” for those heading out on a rail journey.
BRITAIN’S oldest lido is set to open to the public this weekend for the first time in years.
The historic swimming facility will be open for just one day, giving fans the chance to get a rare peek at 200-year old pool.
Cleveland Pools in Bath, is set to reopen this Sunday for the first time in over three years.
It was first built in 1815 and is the oldest of its kind to exist in the UK, but closed in 1984.
A huge campaign and a £10million refurbishment saw it reopen for just four months in 2023 before it was forced to close again due to flood damage.
The public have not had a chance to visit the Grade II listed lido up until now, with Cleveland Pools Trust running an open day for the public.
It is important to note that the pools are not currently open for swimming.
So while this is not a chance to have a swim, you will have a chance to hear talks on the future of the site.
Visitors will be able to meet the trustees and volunteers to hear about their vision for the site.
The free event will also have children’s activities and heritage walks around the site.
“This Open Day is an opportunity to shape the future of the pools as we explore a viable and appropriate route to re-opening,” a note on the trustee website explains.
It is running from 10:30am to 4pm, on Sunday, September 13 at Cleveland Pools, Hampton Row, Bath, BA2 6QS.
EUROSTAR is set to slash the price of tickets to as low as £35 – with five destinations included in the epic sale.
The iconic train service connects London directly to countries such as France, Belgium and The Netherlands and travellers will soon be able to secure bargain trips.
Providing an easier alternative to flying, the railway to Europe can whisk Brits to Paris in just over two hours and to Amsterdam in under four.
And as part of a major flash sale, passengers will be able to snag Eurostar tickets for as little as £35 to the two popular destinations – along with Lille, Rotterdam and Brussels.
The discounts, which went live on the Eurostar website on September 9, will be bookable until September 14 at 10:59pm.
The one way standard class tickets can be snapped up for rides on specific travel dates between September 23 and December 18.
The eligible travel timeframe means the discounts are perfect for planning a bargain trip over this year’s October half term break or a Christmas treat.
The autumn school holiday is set to begin around the second to last weekend of October, running through to the first weekend of November, providing the perfect slot for those with kids to book a discounted Euro getaway.
However, some dates within this window are subject to a “blackout”, during which discounted tickets aren’t up for grabs.
There are also some dates that travellers are unable to book, as Eurostar services are set to be halted for engineering works.
Unavailable dates include September 25, October 2, October 9 and November 1 for trains from St Pancras to Paris.
Meanwhile blackout dates for trains from Paris to London include September 27, October 5, October 25 and November 1.
Eurostar £35 ticket discounts aren’t available on:
London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord: September 25, October 2, October 9, October 11, October 23, October 24, October 25, October 26, November 1
Paris Gare du Nord to London St Pancras International: September 27, October 5, October 11, October 18, October 25, October 26, November 1
London St Pancras International to Brussels-Midi/Zuid / Lille Europe: September 27, October 5, October 19, October 25, October 26, October 27, November 2, November 8
Brussels-Midi/Zuid / Lille Europe to London St Pancras International: September 25, September 27, October 2, October 5, October 18, October 30, November 1, December 6
London St Pancras International to Rotterdam Centraal / Amsterdam Centraal: September 27, October 2, October 4, October 9, October 16, October 17, October 24, October 25
Rotterdam Centraal / Amsterdam Centraal to London St Pancras International: September 25, September 27, October 11, October 18, October 19, October 30, October 31, November 1, November 14
Eurostar trains will not operate on:
London St Pancras International to and from Amsterdam Centraal: October 3, October 4, October 5
London St Pancras International to and from Rotterdam Centraal: November 7, November 8, December 5, December 6, December 12, December 13
Rotterdam Centraal to London St Pancras International: September 27
Sharing news of the £35 sale online, Eurostar confirmed that a discount code isn’t needed to benefit from the price reductions.
The low prices are already live on eligible journeys and dates – so all you have to do is add the tickets to your basket.
“Down in the dumps at your desk? Grab a second helping of holiday with adult tickets for just £35 one way. Travel for less in Eurostar Standard to Paris, Lille, Brussels, Amsterdam direct, or Rotterdam direct,” the Eurostar website says.
“You don’t need a Eurostar promo code. Simply book to travel in Eurostar Standard from London between 23 September and 16 December 2026. But you’ll have to be quick – our sale ends on 14 September at 22:59.”
While Eurostar run similar flash sales throughout the year, the company has confirmed that a Black Friday sale won’t take place.
So now is the time to strike if you’re after cheap tickets for a December city break.
A BELOVED UK seaside town is set to get a new, faster train to London – slashing journey times by 15 minutes.
Visitors and commuters travelling to and from the coastal area will soon be able to make it to London in just over an hour.
The new rail service will connect the capital with the East Sussex town of Hastings and its set to launch in December of this year.
Hastings boasts a charming shingle and pebble beach and plenty of pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Journeys from London to the quaint seaside town can currently take as long as 1 hour and 47 minutes.
The new Southeastern Railway service will connect the two locations with a train that takes just 1 hour and 18 minutes to get to London Bridge.
The new service will depart from London’s Charing Cross before calling at Waterloo East, London Bridge, Tunbridge Wells, Battle, St Leonards Warrior Square before arriving in Hastings.
The new transport project has been described as being in a “pilot” phase – and demand for the service will have to be shown for it to be made permanent.
It comes as part of an upcoming timetable shakeup that aims to better connect South East London, Kent and East Sussex.
The new service will run to London once in the morning, with a further return journey scheduled in the evening.
The morning train is set to depart Hastings at 8:05am and arrive at Charing Cross at 09:33am.
The evening train journey will set off from Charing Cross at 4:11pm and arrive in Hastings at 5:42pm.
Speaking about the introduction of the speedier service, Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings, Rye and the villages, said: “Securing a faster train service for our town has been one of my top priorities as our local MP. When we are almost the same distance from London as Brighton, why should our train take twice as long?”
Highlighting the importance of the trains that serve both commuters and tourists, she added: “This new service is great news for commuters and for our local shops, hotels, pubs, and restaurants that rely on tourists coming down to visit us.
“This new fast train will be a pilot service. If we want it to stay, we all must use it to show the demand.”
A TRAVEL firm has been forced to close down after going bust and plunging into liquidation.
The company had previously said it had experience in “crafting journeys that turn moments into lasting memories,” but has now cancelled all trips.
London-based holiday firm Immaculate Travel has been ordered to close after seven years in business.
The travel firm offered holidaymakers “expertly arranged tours” on its private hire mini buses and coaches.
Immaculate Travel lists a host of UK landmarks and Europe holiday favourites as its coach trip destinations, from Rome and Amsterdam, to Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.
Its website also states it is available for a host of events, including school trips, attending festivals and travelling to sports events.
Now, following a court order, all holidays and trips will be cancelled and the business will not be operational.
Yesterday, A notice in the public record revealed that the High Court issued the company a winding up order, instructing them to end all business affairs.
The decision to wind up the business came from a petition issued in May by business loan firm Bizcap Limited, which was later heard before a judge in July.
Prior to closing down, the firm shared a five-star review for a trip to Bath, Somerset, encouraging customers to get in touch to plan their next trip.
Companies House records now show that Immaculate Travel is in liquidation after the winding up order under the Insolvency Act 1986 was issued.
The Sun has approached Immaculate Travel for comment.
A MAJOR UK airport has now become the first to introduce robotic valet parking – which uses no human interaction at all.
But one catch could see certain travellers excluded from the service.
London Gatwick Airport has officially brought in a new Robotic Parking system, said to be designed with customer comfort in mind.
Officially announced two months ago, passengers have already begun to use the parking service from August, which sees drivers leave their vehicle at a private drop-off garage before heading to the terminal.
The “state-of-the-art” robot then takes over, gently hoisting the car from underneath its wheels and moving it to an access-restricted parking area.
One key difference from traditional airport parking is that customers are able to keep hold of their car keys throughout their trip.
When a passenger returns from holiday, the system receives an alert that they have landed.
This means that when they arrive at the South Terminal car park, their vehicle should already be ready for collection.
However, there are some limitations, with 5 per cent of vehicle models not compatible with the new technology.
This includes popular models such as a Range Rover Sport Hybrid, Renault Trafic Van, as well as SUVs with roof boxes.
It also costs around £109 for a five-day stay (travellers are unable to use the service for shorter stays) and passengers are currently only able to drop off their vehicles on weekdays between 9am and 5pm.
Located at the South Terminal, passengers can reach the parking lot following the marked signs for Robotic Parking, once within the Long Stay car park entrance barriers.
Gatwick airport also said the area includes 24-hour security patrols, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) at the entrance and exit, perimeter fencing, floodlighting and no public access.
FOURTEEN British cities are eyeing up a new “tourist tax” meaning tourists and Brits heading on staycations will face paying hundreds more for their trip.
This comes as Andy Burnham approved the plans yesterday (September 10) to add five per cent to overnight stays.
Yesterday, the prime minister announced plans to allow mayors to impose an uncapped charge on overnight stays, although Labour mayors have pledged to cap the new fee at 5 per cent or below.
The additional fee would be added to hotel bills, and apply to those staying overnight in hotels and holiday lets including Airbnb and guesthouses.
All visitors, regardless of nationality and reason for visit, will have to pay it. It will be uncapped, meaning mayors can choose how much to charge.
The money would then be used to fund local amenities such as public transport and infrastructure.
Cities and regions that may soon introduce the additional charge include London, Liverpool, Bristol and Bath.
As well as cultural hubs such as Durham, Manchester, York and Newcastle.
Earlier, the government had promised to protect budget holidays “by making sure low-cost accommodation always pays lowest levy” and said the extra cash would be invested in high streets.
However, the chief executive of UKHospitality, Allen Simpson, warned the BBC that the new charge could add nearly £100 to £120 to the average cost of a UK family holiday.
This also comes at a time where the hospitality industry has already suffered from rises to Employer National Insurance and the minimum wage, costing the sector billions.
However, these would not be the first regions in the UK to implement the new charge – which could come as early as 2028.
In Manchester, a “city visitor charge” of £1 per room per night already applies to some hotels, however the new tourist charge would replace it.
THE UK’s second biggest airport may face even more delays this month as workers are set to strike over pay.
This comes as thousands of planes were grounded yesterday following a nationwide technical glitch.
Around 220 staff members at London Gatwick Airport are set to strike later this month, following a dispute between Unite members and employer Wilson James.
The workers, who provide assisted travel, have been engaged in pay talks since May and previously rejected a two-year offer of a 3.4 per cent salary increase.
The union said it was “not enough to address years of low pay at the firm”.
As a result, Unite regional officer Ben Davis, said that “industrial action will inevitably disrupt services throughout Gatwick” as negotions continue.
Strikes are expected to take place from September 17 to September 21.
Just two days later, another set of strikes will occur from September 23 to September 26.
This will mean passengers who rely on assistened travel will take longer to board and disembark, leading to flight delays across both short-haul and long-haul services to and from Gatwick.
Davis added: “Strikes can be avoided but that requires the company making a significantly improved offer.”
This comes as travellers have already faced extensive delays and cancellations following a major technical issue with the UK’s air traffic control provider yesterday.
The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) suffered an issue with its “flights processing system”, resulting in tens of thousands of passengers stranded in terminals and over 1,000 journeys cancelled.
Although the issue preventing departures was fixed yesterday evening, knock-on delays and cancellations – mainly affecting Heathrow Airport – continue to disrupt passengers today.
A VITAL ferry route linking the UK to France will soon be axed after more than 40 years.
The last crossing is set to take place this autumn, with the company citing rising costs as cause for the closure.
Brittany Ferries is set to permanently axe its Poole to Cherbourg crossing route at the beginning of November.
Passengers have been travelling between Dorset and France for over forty years, but now the popular journey will shut down.
The company cited growing financial pressures as the cause for the decision, including outstanding Covid-19 loan repayments, competition on the Eastern Channel and weaker demand for travel.
Rising costs of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System have further burdened the company’s remaining debt.
Around 20 jobs are expected to disappear as a result of the closure.
The decision comes as part of a wider restructuring by Brittany Ferries, with the firm taking a “pragmatic approach” to the economic challenges.
Steps also include the sale of the Cotentin, which sails between Cherbourg and Rosslare, alongside the closure of the Portsmouth to Le Havre route from October 2026.
A spokesperson for Brittany Ferries told The Sun: “This wasn’t a decision we took lightly, and we know it will be disappointing news for our customers in Poole and the surrounding area.
“We’ve worked hard over many years to keep this route running, but a long-term decline in passenger and freight numbers, compounded by rising costs and red tape, including Brexit-related border processes, EU environmental taxes, and unfavourable exchange rates, has made the route commercially unsustainable.
“We’re not withdrawing from Poole. Customers will still be able to travel to France with us via a seasonal service from Poole to St Malo, as well as our conventional routes from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Caen, Cherbourg, St Malo and Roscoff, including a new daily Portsmouth–Cherbourg service.”
A high-speed crossing between Poole, Guernsey and St Malo is also set to be debuted in 2027.
The crossing was first introduced in 1985, with the iconic MS Barfleur starting her voyages between Dorset and France in 1992.
It takes just four hours and 15 minutes – the shortest journey over the Channel – and garnered a huge amount of success, leading to a £6million overhaul of the ferry terminal in the 1990s.
The route has faced a number of challenges in recent years, temporarily shutting down in 2010 owing to a decrease in ticket sales – however it was reopened in 2013.
The Barfleur will soon undertake its final journey, but all may not be lost quite yet for the route.
Captain Brian Murphy, chief executive of Poole Harbour Commissioners told the Bournemouth Echo that Brittany Ferries’ departure could pave the way for another operator to take over the route.
AN ICONIC English pleasure pier has been forced to close while “essential works” take place this month.
The seaside structure shut today but is expected to reopen soon.
Weymouth Pleasure Pier will be closed for two weeks while essential surfacing repairs are carried out.
A refurbishment of the beach access steps is also set to take place during this period, while the new handrails will be finished off too.
Dorset Council has said that the beach access will be open in time for the town’s annual Ironman event, which will take place on Sunday, September 20.
News of the closure was shared via the council’s Facebook page in a post that read: “A reminder that the Weymouth Pleasure Pier will be closed for two weeks from Monday 7 September while surfacing works are completed along the wall.”
It continued: “The beach access steps at the end of the wall will also be closed during this period to enable refurbishment works and completion of the new handrails.
“The beach access steps will be reopened ahead of the Ironman event taking place in Weymouth.
The council thanked residents for their “understanding and cooperation” while the essential works are carried out.
Weymouth Pleasure Pier was previously closed for seven weeks between June and July for more “essential maintenance”.
The site was shut down over the summer months to replace failing harbour walls and safeguard the seafront for the future.
The repairs are part of a wider plan in place to address longstanding deterioration in the seafront defences around the peninsula.
Other problem areas including corrosion and voids behind existing harbour walls, and small sinkholes near footpaths also cropped up in investigations.
Previous repair work to the structures was last completed in 1970, meaning they were no longer viable for withstanding pressure from rising sea levels and more frequent storm surges.
Work has been carried out to strengthen the existing structures to ensure they can serve their purpose for decades to come.
BRITS jetting off to countries including Spain and France should be aware of new entry rules which are set to be rolled out in full in just a matter of days.
The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which is an automated border check for non-EU nationals, comes into full force on September 7.
It involves people from third-party countries such as the UK having their fingerprints registered and photograph taken to enter the Schengen Area, which consists of 29 European countries, mainly in the EU.
This system first launched back in April, and was linked to lengthy queues and in some cases passengers missed their flights.
As it stands, EU member states are able to pause the checks in “exceptional circumstances”. This includes when queues get too long.
But come September 7, they will no longer be able to temporarily switch off the system at airports.
It means the rules will be fully enforced with no exceptions, raising fears of even longer queues for British holidaymakers.
Popular holiday destinations including Greece, Spain and France have all used flexibility when needed.
Back in July, countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland wrote to Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner asking to keep the congestion EES opt-out, EuroWeekly News reported.
The countries backed a full roll out, but did not want to face a cliff edge before Christmas.
A decision has not yet been made on the extension, so travellers should prepare to use the EES machines on September 7.
It comes as the new system has caused huge problems for those holidaying abroad this summer.
Some Brits reported waiting for up to six hours in airports and others even missed their flight.
A MASSIVE £4.3billion ‘superhub’ that will connect passengers to over 100 locations is edging closer to completion.
The huge train station will welcome 250,000 travellers every day and will connect London, the Midlands, the North and Scotland.
Old Oak Common station in West London is part of the new High Speed 2 (HS2) line, which aims to connect London to Birmingham and the West Midlands.
The station has been under construction for the past five years, but an important milestone has been completed in recent days, according to Secret London.
HS2 has now finished construction of six underground platforms at the station.
All of these platforms are 450-metres long and will be used by HS2’s high speed trains.
A total of 14 platforms will be constructed at the station, six of which will be underground and eight will be built above ground.
Kim Kapur, HS2’s Old Oak Common Area Director, told the outlet said: “The scale of the work – and the station now taking shape – is remarkable.
“However, there is much more to do. This includes construction of the conventional, surface level platforms, completion of tunnels either side of the underground box and installation of the impressive station roof, which will begin next year.
“Old Oak Common will be transformative for the local area, providing a new transport hub, with a new vibrant neighbourhood developing around it.”
A public green space is also being constructed, which will include pocket gardens and a wetlands.
The station is not expected to open until between 2036 and 2039, so passengers have a while to wait before they can enjoy the features.
HS2, which stands for High Speed 2, is a project that aims to create a high-speed rail network between London and major cities in the Midlands and Northern England.
It is the biggest rail investment ever made in the North of England and is Europe’s largest infrastructure project.
New trains will run on HS2 lines with a top speed of 225 miles per hour – the aim is to cut journey times and make it easier to travel across England.
A BELOVED 90-year-old lido has been forced to shut early this summer due to flash flooding.
Season ticket holders have been directed to a nearby lido, where they will be able to swim free of charge.
Letchworth Lido in North Hertfordshire has cut its summer season short due to local flash flooding and torrential rain.
In a statement on its Facebook page, Letchworth Lido said: “We are sorry to confirm that, due to the impact of localised flooding, Letchworth Lido will remain closed and will not reopen for the remainder of this season.
Bookings were set to be taken up until Sunday, September 6 at the heated lido, however, it will now reopen in winter for its seasonal ice rink.
Letchworth Lido had initially shut on August 27 due to “unforeseen circumstances”, where closures were expected to remain in place during the following week.
This was the second time in just over a year that the pool had shut, with facilities also closed in July 2025 after flooding required a clean-up operation.
The historic heated outdoor swimming pool, located on Norton Common in Letchworth Garden City, originally opened in 1935 as a beloved destination for local residents.
Over 27,000 people attended the 50metre heated lido last summer, with facilities that also include a learner pool, sunbathing area and a cafe.
Customers with bookings before the closure announcement will be contacted directed and offered a full refund for all cancelled sessions.
Season ticket holders for Letchworth Lido will also be able to transfer their ticket to the nearby Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre to swim between now until Sunday.
The Doggy Splash sessions that were planned to take place at Letchworth Lido will now also be held at Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre on September 11, 12 and 13.
Letchworth Lido continued to say: “We’re very sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience caused by the early closure and thank customers for their understanding.
“We look forward to welcoming you back to Letchworth Lido later this year when it transforms into our festive ice rink.”
A MAJOR UK railway firm is giving travellers the chance to secure £2 tickets.
As part of a flash sale, customers can snap up train trips for next to nothing.
Northern Rail’s generous offering means four million £2 advanced single tickets are up for grabs.
The chance to snap them up won’t last long and there is just hours left to make the most of the flash sale.
Lasting between September 2 and September 4, the ticket discount is available for travel between September 9 and October 23.
Taking advantage of the deal is a great way to explore the UK for less as autumn begins.
Northern operates over 2,600 trains a day across the north of England, with services running to more than 500 stations.
With so many routes available, travellers can make journeys to and from the likes of Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Harrogate, Crewe, Chester, York and more.
While Railcards can’t be used alongside the offer, the half price children’s ticket offer still stands.
That means kids travel for just £1 with sale tickets.
There isn’t long left until the flash sale draws to a close – and when tickets are sold out, they’re sold out.
Tickets can be bought via the Northern website, app or at ticket machines and at ticket offices at participating stations.
Speaking about the rare offer, Alex Hornby, commercial and customer director at Northern, said: “With four million tickets up for grabs, this is one of our biggest Flash Sales yet, and there’s something for everyone.”
He added: “With millions of tickets available for just £2 each, our Flash Sale will make the railway even more appealing, and we believe it will inspire everyone to explore everything our fantastic region has to offer, from bustling cities to countryside and stunning coastlines.”
Worawith Ounpeng/iStock via Getty Images
THE OLDEST scientific attraction in Britain is set to close for more than two years – as it undergoes a multi-million pound renovation.
Visitors have just over two months to make the most of the site before it temporarily shuts.
The Royal Observatory Greenwich has confirmed it will close all buildings from November 2, as part of its “First Light” renovation project.
Following the closures, the 351 year-old site will begin its £77million renovation to transform the area with new galleries, displays and conserving the observatory‘s most historic sections.
Changes set to come include an upgraded visitor entrance, a new lift tower to the Great Equatorial Telescope, and a “revitalised” landscape.
A spokesperson for Royal Observatory Greenwich told News Shopper: “The First Light project represents the most significant transformation of the Royal Observatory in recent years and will secure the future of this internationally important site.
“Although visitors will not be able to access the observatory buildings during the redevelopment, we are committed to ensuring people can continue to engage with astronomy through a wide range of activities and events taking place.”
In place of the main observatory, a temporary planetarium and the Astronomers Take Over gallery will open at the National Maritime Museum.
The attraction is expected to remain closed until 2028 while works are being carried out.
The project, known as First Light, claims it will bring the story of the “historic site to life” and “make science and astronomy accessible to everyone”.
The landmark project was funded with the help of The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Peter Harrison Planetarium at the site is currently already closed, having shut on September 5 last year.
A MAJOR UK theme park has been forced to close all day “due to adverse weather and flooding”.
Owners of the park have apologised for any disappointment caused by the decision, telling visitors “your safety comes first”.
Drayton Manor Resort will remain shut all day today after heavy downpours and thunderstorms caused significant flooding in the area.
Floods have swamped Birmingham and the West Midlands overnight, with locals reporting cars being “stranded” in flood water and homes being left inundated with water.
More rain is forecast to hit Birmingham and other cities throughout today, with a Met Office yellow warning for thunderstorms continuing into the evening.
Customers have been advised not to contact staff at Drayton Manor at this stage, saying they would contact visitors at a later date to rearrange visits.
A statement on the theme park’s Facebook said: “Due to adverse weather and flooding, Drayton Manor Resort will be closed today.
“We know many of you were looking forward to visiting, and we’re very sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience this causes.
“There’s no need to contact us at this stage. We’ll be in touch with affected guests shortly with information on how to rearrange your visit for another date.
“Thank you for your patience and understanding while we make alternative arrangements. We look forward to welcoming you to Drayton Manor soon.”
Drayton Manor, located in Tamworth in Staffordshire, is considered to be the fourth-largest theme park in the country.
With over 50 rides and attractions, Drayton is home to Europe’s only Thomas the Tank Engine Land and a 15-acre zoo.
Bosses have not yet confirmed whether the park will reopen to visitors tomorrow or throughout the Bank Holiday weekend.
PREMIER Inn has confirmed it is opening a new 187-bedroom hotel in a popular seaside resort.
The UK’s largest hotel chain has transformed the site of a former nightclub complex in the city centre.
Located near to Brighton seafront, building work has now been completed with a “topping out” ceremony taking place this week.
The budget hotel is set to open its doors to customers in early 2028.
The new hotel, which will trade as Premier Inn Brighton City Centre (Seafront), will feature the chain’s latest bedroom designs.
In addition to enhanced Premier Plus rooms, guests can enjoy a ground-floor restaurant.
The six-storey development will also include a reception area and landscaped roof areas.
Once opened, the new hotel will be the second Premier Inn in Brighton.
Simon Lancaster, Whitbread’s head of construction for London and the South, told The Argus: “It is always a proud moment topping out a new Premier Inn hotel, and it is especially significant at a location as prominent as West Street in Brighton.
“Completing the frame brings us another step closer to delivering a flagship new Premier Inn for the city, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their dedication, expertise and hard work in reaching this stage.”
The development forms part of Whitbread’s strategy to expand Premier Inn hotels in high-demand city-centre locations.
Premier Inn currently operates nearly 850 hotels in the UK.
RAIL commuters have been warned of disruption to services over the bank holiday weekend.
With strike action set to take place, a number of services will be effected on Sunday and Monday.
Travel chaos is expected at East Midlands Railway (EMR) this weekend as members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are set to walk out in a dispute over safety.
EMR has confirmed plans for a “significantly reduced” timetable for services to and from London on both days.
It has advised passengers to check details before embarking on their journeys and to only travel if absolutely essential this bank holiday weekend.
This Sunday (August 30) will see even further disruption, with no LNER trains running between London King’s Cross and Peterborough as digital signalling upgrades are carried out by Network Rail.
EMR services to and from London St Pancras are expected to be extremely busy on Sunday, with the increase in demand coinciding with the reduced services.
Meanwhile, Sheffield station and Nottingham station will be very busy, with queues to board services set to be in place.
The strike action comes as the RMT continues to voice concerns about safety issues on some trains.
EMR said it is holding “constructive discussions” with the RMT, meeting with the union six times as it works towards resolving the issues.
Philippa Cresswell, customer experience director at EMR, said the company recognise “how frustrating this disruption will be for customers”.
“We are very sorry for the impact this will have on August bank holiday plans,” she said.
“We strongly advise customers to only travel to or from London if their journey is essential on Sunday, August 30 and Monday, August 31, and to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before setting out.”
Meanwhile, the RMT said its members have been instructed to refuse to work a Class 810 train if a list of specified faults continue, including lack of air-con, door faults, and non-working toilets.
The union’s general secretary Eddie Dempsey said it would ensure representatives will be permanently involved in discussions with both EMR and manufacturers Hitachi to try to improve the situation.
“RMT is demanding that whilst these faults exist and until these trains are shown to be operating properly, they should be taken out of service,” he said.
“It is now time for EMR management to act on the safety concerns of our members.”
A POPULAR seaside town has been forced to close its cliff lift with immediate effect over safety fears.
The attraction, which cost £8,000 to build, is the oldest of its kind in the UK and first opened in the coastal resort in 1875.
Engineers assessing Scarborough Spa Cliff Lift found “a number of issues”, resulting in its closure.
The Victorian-era lift is one of the seaside town‘s most popular heritage attractions.
Last year, a host of live performances and exhibitions were held in the town to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
Carl Les, councillor with North Yorkshire Council, said “the lift is an important part of Scarborough’s history and identity”.
He added that no decisions had been made “regarding the scope of any future works, timescales or funding arrangements”.
The findings would be assessed in detail and further updates would be shared “in due course”, the council added.
The lift was used to transport passengers between the hotels on the Esplanade and the spa and was originally powered by water and gas engines.
It was converted to run on electricity in the 1950s.
The latest report investigated the condition of the tracks, carriages and associated infrastructure, the council said.
The council added that as the lift is in a “challenging coastal environment”, this could accelerate wear and corrosion.
TWO of Britain’s busiest trains stations will close again just days after reopening.
The busy London hubs had only been reopened for a week following a £20million revamp.
London Charing Cross and Waterloo East will both be closed on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23.
The stations only reopened on Monday, August 17 after a major 22-day closure for essential engineering work.
Network Rail said the £20million programme saw engineers replace almost 2km of track between Charing Cross and Waterloo East, alongside improvements to platforms and structures.
Engineers also replaced sets of switches and crossings, replacing equipment that had been in use since 1990.
Drainage at Waterloo East was also upgraded, while platforms at Charing Cross were rebuilt with new foundations and surfaces.
Work was also carried out on the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which carries the railway across the Thames, as well as the pedestrian bridge linking Waterloo East and London Waterloo.
The latest closure is part of the follow-up engineering works linked to the wider project.
Passengers are also being warned that further disruption is planned later in the year, with both stations due to close again on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11.
Passengers affected by the upcoming weekend closure are being urged to check their journey before setting off.
A UK airport has temporarily shut down as workers walk out amid strike action.
Passengers have been advised to check with airlines before making their way to the airport.
Flights to and from Norwich Airport have been cancelled today amid strike action.
The five hour closure will take place between 8am and 1pm today while air traffic control industrial action takes place.
An announcement on the Norwich Airport website read: “Due to ongoing industrial action, short of a strike, involving Prospect union members in Air Traffic Control, Norwich Airport will be closed to air traffic between 08:00 and 13:00 on Friday 21 August.”
The airport said that all airlines have been made aware of the closures.
Passengers have been advised to check with their airlines for updates about any flights today before heading to the airport.
Air Traffic Control members of Prospect Union voted in favour of industrial action from August 17 in relation to pay and conditions.
Those involved are working strictly within contracted hours, and are refusing to work overtime, work on a goodwill basis or swap shifts.
The industrial action centres around pay disputes, with the union demanding a 10 per cent pay increase for workers, bringing them up to the UK market rate.
Union members are also calling for better maternity and paternity leave as part of the industrial action.
Loganair flights to and from Aberdeen have been cancelled amid the closure, as well as KLM flights to and from Amsterdam.
A number of flights are still scheduled for this afternoon, including TUI flights to Palma and Ryanair flights to Alicante.
A spokesperson for Norwich Airport said: “We apologise to passengers for the inconvenience this may cause.
“Discussions with Prospect are continuing and we remain committed to resolving the dispute through constructive dialogue.”
