How does this fit with the 'End of franchises' thing. SWR have just launched their version, yes?

Mark

Back in the late 1980's, [I forget the company's name] operated day trips from Exeter Airport - .....

These are not exactly new...about 30 years ago when easyjet and Ryanair were not around,Transun,an Oxford company ran 'Just for the day!' trips......

Thousands of jobs at risk as British Steel threatens closure




British Steel is launching a consultation that could see the closure of its two blast furnaces at Scunthorpe, putting up to 2,700 jobs at risk out of a workforce of 3,500.

The company said the blast furnaces were "no longer financially sustainable" due to tough market conditions, the imposition of tariffs and higher environmental costs.

The BBC understands British Steel was expecting a £1bn injection of government money to keep the business going, but was offered £500m.

The Prime Minister's official spokesperson said the government had made a "generous offer" to British Steel and it would continue to work with the company and its Chinese owner Jingye to secure its future.

The director general of trade group UK Steel, Gareth Stace, said British Steel's announcement was a "pivotal moment" for the sector and the steel industry was "officially in a crisis".

Community union general secretary Roy Rickhuss called it "a dark day" and urged Jingye and the UK Government "to resume negotiations before it is too late".  He warned: "We are now on the cusp of becoming the only G7 country without domestic primary steelmaking capacity, it is no exaggeration to say that our national security is gravely threatened."

The GMB union called it "devastating news for the people of Scunthorpe", while Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the potential job losses were "a disgrace" and called for the government to work with it on a "sustainable way forward".  "British Steel is guilty of trying to hold the government to ransom, while using its dedicated workforce as pawns," she said.

British Steel has been owned by Jingye since 2020. The Chinese firm says it has invested more than £1.2bn into British Steel to maintain operations and claims it suffered financial losses of around £700,000 a day.  British Steel chief executive Zengwei An said the consultations on the closure were "a necessary decision given the hugely challenging circumstances the business faces".

The company has put forward a £2bn business plan, which was set out on Wednesday by the company's chief commercial officer Allan Bell speaking to the Business & Trade Select Committee.  ''We have concluded that the only viable option for British Steel moving forward to decarbonise is to move to 100% electric arc furnace steelmaking," he said. "This is a £2bn project we estimate so it is not a project that the private sector is going to be able to implement without government support.''

The BBC understands that there was an expectation the government would meet this investment on a 50/50 basis.  But what the government offered was £500m. This offer was rejected by British Steel during the past week.

The BBC understands that at a meeting on Thursday morning between British Steel and the GMB and Community trade unions this £1bn figure was discussed. The government has a £2.5bn steel fund.

British Steel said it would "continue to work with the UK government to explore options for the future of the business".

The company is starting a formal consultation with its workforce and unions over three options:
* The closure of the blast furnaces, steelmaking operations and Scunthorpe Rod Mill by early June 2025
* The closure of the blast furnaces and steelmaking operations in September 2025
* The closure of the blast furnaces and steelmaking operations at a future point beyond September 2025.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "I know this will be a deeply worrying time for staff and, while this is British Steel's decision, we will continue working tirelessly to reach an agreement with the company's owners to secure its future and protect taxpayers' money.  We've been clear there's a bright future for steelmaking in the UK. We've committed up to £2.5bn to rebuild the sector and will soon publish a Plan for Steel setting out how we can achieve a sustainable future for the workforce, industry and local communities."

Wondering how much of the rail used for railway lines is currently imported. Also thinking of the forces disrupting international trade and also UK energy prices - and wondering how much of the remaining UK steel industry needs to close before 100% of what's needed for the rail system is imported.

Mark

Other than the usual high blown, vague rhetoric however I'm still waiting for someone to explain how all this is going to create a better service for the customer, although if it cuts down on the amount the taxpayer is having to hand over to the railways every year (which I am sure is one of the main drivers), I guess that's one benefit.

Fears 19th Century canal could start to run dry in days



There are fears one of Wales' most popular canals could start to dry up within a week, prompting calls for the Welsh government to intervene.

Operators of the 225-year-old Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal have warned of an "urgent" water shortage without the prospect of imminent rainfall.  It comes amid debate over how the historic attraction should secure its water supply in future after limits were placed on taking water from the environmentally sensitive River Usk.

The Welsh government said any arrangement between the Canal & River Trust and Welsh Water would be a commercial decision in which it should play no role.

The 35-mile (56 km) waterway weaves its way through the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park - formerly known as the Brecon Beacons National Park - and the Blaenavon industrial landscape World Heritage Site, attracting an estimated 3 million visitors a year for boating, walking and cycling.

"Everything the canal supports is at threat - we risk losing the jewel in the crown of south Wales," said Tracey Leake-Jones, who runs the Bridge 46 to Five Locks canal group.  Made up of volunteers, the group runs events along the canal and has fundraised to install planters, benches and signs.  The prospect of it having to close due to water shortages was "utterly devastating", she said.  "There has to be a solution found, and my view is that the Welsh government and its leaders are the only people who can bring all the main players together."

She pointed to new housing estates being built along the canal with the waterway used as a marketing tool, and said the local council hoped to be able to open up further stretches down to Cwmbran, describing the economic benefits as "unimaginable".  "Should we have problems with water supply then what's going to happen to those plans for restoration that we've all been working on for the past three years?"

News broke of the difficulties facing the canal in a letter sent to local businesses by Glandŵr Cymru, external, the Canal and River Trust in Wales, in February.  It explained the canal, which once transported iron and coal to Newport docks, had relied on funnelling water from the River Usk and its tributaries which accounted for 80-90% of its water supply.

Recent changes in legislation, designed in part to protect rivers in the face of climate change, means licences are now required, restricting the amount of water that can be taken.  Last year, Glandŵr Cymru lost an appeal against some of the conditions stipulated by environmental regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

The River Usk is a designated special area of conservation protected by law due to its importance for rare wildlife including the Atlantic salmon, which is threatened with extinction from Wales.

"The canal took around 30% of the total flow of the river in 2022 - which was the last dry year period," said Gail Davies-Walsh, chief executive of Afonydd Cymru which represents river groups across Wales.  Limits on abstraction were needed to ensure the species and habitats had sufficient water to survive "particularly during dry summers and low flow periods," she said.



Mark Evans, director of Glandŵr Cymru, said the trust accepted it could no longer continue to abstract water from the Usk at the same level as it had in the past.  But recent dry weather highlighted the urgency of finding an alternative supply, he said.  "The amount of water we can take is starting to really concern us," he explained.  "It's urgent today, looking at the forecast for the next week.  At some point we'll have to stop the boats from using the locks," he warned, adding that both the canal's users and its wildlife would be impacted as levels fell.

Discussions have been taking place in recent weeks with Welsh Water over whether it could help to support the canal during periods of prolonged dry weather.  But this would come with "financial implications" and the potential of having to pay commercial rates for the water, resulting in a considerable bill the charity could not afford, he claimed.

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Some members seem to have missed the double negative! It’s not not Nailsea and Backwell, despite Chris from Nailsea’s assertion.

Due to some major building work, the Squirrels are currently living in the most triangular village in North Somerset (another quiz - where might that be?). NLS is our most convenient local station for the duration.

I was shocked at the state of the stairs - surely they will be condemned soon?