During the day, the bus would also serve as a base for community health campaigns, student outreach, and city events.

The bus will be fitted with a medical area, benches, charging points and solar panels

An appeal to raise £70,000 for a Safe Bus - a mobile welfare and first aid hub - has been launched in Nottingham.

It's In Nottingham, the city's business promotion group, wants to convert a donated vehicle into a fully equipped space where trained welfare officers, volunteers, and medical staff can offer first aid, support, and a safe place to rest.

It would operate in the city centre during weekends and major events, giving practical help for those who are injured, lost, or vulnerable, organisers said. As well as benefiting those enjoying a night out, it could also ease pressure on local emergency services and hospitals.

It's In Nottingham said that while the city's night time economy of bars, clubs, and restaurants brought many benefits, it created challenges for police and welfare teams.

A seven-day pilot project with St John Ambulance last Christmas supported 102 people, with 73 managed on location without needing hospital treatment. The estimated £30,000 – £50,000 in savings to the NHS could translate into £1.6 –£2.7m annually if a similar facility was made permanent, it said.

Nottingham City Transport has already donated the bus but the initiative also has the backing of Nottingham City Council, trentbarton, Nottingham Street Pastors and both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.

During the day, the bus would also serve as a base for community health campaigns, student outreach, and city events.

The team is now asking for public and business support through a crowdfunding campaign for the refit, which includes an on-board medical area with sink, bed, and running water. It would also include solar panels and accessibility improvements, along with heating, lighting, and welfare seating.

Rich Lane, head of operations and business crime at It's In Nottingham, said: "It's quite a simple idea. It's just a normal bus. All the seats are removed. We've got a medical provision that will be in the back but then some nice long benches down the interior of the bus where you can charge your mobile phone or you can sit and just have a few moments to contemplate your thoughts.

"And it's just a safe space where we've got medical provision that's there. We've got street pastors that will be working. We'll have welfare units from universities that will be on board and assisting. Ultimately it's just somewhere that you can go and sit."

Simon Calder, writing on the fares changes and some possible consequences in the Independent. Also, his article makes some play on Didcot - Swindon being the most expensive main line leg in the UK, not sure if that's the cost with respect to time on the train perhaps.

a boggling £2.20 per minute, making it the most expensive main line train trip in Britain

Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, said: ‘We are pleased that after 14 years of the Tories pricing people off our railways, this Labour government is helping people to commute to work and travel for pleasure.”

from what is, in effect, a decision to make long-suffering taxpayers pay even more to keep the trains running – even though many of them never go near a train.

The unusual method of trans-paw-tation is named after Laura Mohan's dog Billy

You wait for one bus and then 15 dogs come along at once - if Billy's Bus drives past. According to founder Laura Mohan, the dog bus – which takes pets on day adventures in the community - is the first of its kind in the UK.

Ms Mohan had the idea when she was struggling to find care for her own pup, Billy. "We found with dog walkers one hour wasn't enough. And full-day care was too much for him," she says. "We took inspiration from an American lady called Canine Convoy and then we went to town with the idea. Everyone loves seeing dogs on a bus."

Ms Mohan, who runs the coach as part of her dog walking business, and driver Ray Welderend travel around parts of Bradford and Leeds picking up paw-sengers. The four-legged fare payers are then secured and can pay special visits before getting to walkies later on.

"We're half dog service, half community based. We do as much as we can in the community," says Ms Mohan. "We do drive-bys to old people's homes, nursing homes, schools and nurseries, everyone can come on board, say hi to the dogs, and then we just ask for a donation to a local dog charity that we're associated with called Aireworth Kennels."


The dogs are secured as they are transported

Ms Mohan says after setting up the business five weeks ago, demand had been brisk. "I thought we'd probably get 20 enrolments in a week or two, but we woke up the second day and we had 68. Now we've got just over 340 dogs enrolled so it's a second bus time," she explains.

The dogs, who spend three to four hours with Ms Mohan and the team, can even be followed on a live stream from the bus. "It's a bit like running a children's nursery – the key is lots of engagement and lots of love and that keeps everybody in a good mood," she says.

Millions of homes in the UK welcomed new pets during the coronavirus pandemic as people sought companionship. The RSPCA previously said that some dogs have had behaviour problems - particularly after being left alone for the first time when their owners returned to work.

Catherine Taylor is a support worker at Outside the Box, a community café in Ilkley that supports adults and young people with learning disabilities. She says the young people loved having the dogs to visit.

"We work with adults with learning challenges who need diversity. So we help them to complete a shift in the café, and then we run workshops. It's such a treat to have the dogs. It's tactile, it's caring. They've been so excited preparing for them, preparing all their drinks, putting signs out to make sure they have space for the bus."

Georgie Grove sends her dog Coco on the bus. "I'm working all the time. I've got a new baby and I want him to go on as many walks as possible, that's what you always want when you get a dog. So this is just perfect," she says.

Issey Giltrow says the service allows her dog Alfie to play with other dogs and get socialised. "I work from home and he's become very needy with me. We saw it when we were walking through Ilkley and we thought this would be perfect for him – get him out with other dogs," she says.

Driver Ray Welderend describes being behind the wheel of the canine coach as the perfect job. "When I saw this advertised I thought, 'I've got nothing better to do with my time' and if I'm out and about playing with dogs, and helping out with dogs, it's win-win for me," he smiles.

Before driving dogs, he was more used to transporting goods up and down the motorway in his role as an HGV driver. "This is a dream job compared to lorry driving," he says.

Visitors could take the M3 bus service (pictured) into the North York Moors after travelling on the M1 Moorsbus from Hull

A bus service between Hull and the North York Moors could be operated again next year after it proved to be popular during this summer, Hull City Council has said.

The M1 Moorsbus service operated between Hull, Pickering and the moors every Sunday and bank holiday Monday from May to September this year.

A total of 2,249 passengers boarded the M1 in 2025, with 1,317 of these originating from Hull and the East Riding, according to Hull City Council figures.

Councillor Mark Ieronimo, Hull City Council's portfolio holder for transport, said: "There is a customer demand for this service and we will be looking at what can be done to deliver this again next year."

The M1 service departed from Hull Paragon Interchange, picking up from Cottingham, Beverley Bus Station, Driffield and Malton Railway Station before arriving in Pickering. Passengers could then change for the M3 service, from Pickering to the North York Moors.

The council said over 3,800 people rode both the M1 service and the M3 service during this year's summer season.

The M1 service was brought back this year with funding from Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, through their respective bus service improvement plans, with cash allocated from the Department for Transport.

Nick Coultish, cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "I'm very pleased the Moorsbus was a big hit once again with passengers from our areas, enabling them to experience the beauty spots of North Yorkshire."

I'm a bit confused at to what counts as a regulated fare. Anytime return fares are to rise by, is it 4.7% - and if someone needs to travel urgently those fares can be their only option.

A multi-storey car park could be built off Station Lane while Stagecoach looks to scale down its use of Paignton bus station

A town could lose its bus station but gain a new supermarket and multi-storey car park under a plan for its future.

Torbay Council's cabinet has signed off on a document outlining a "vision" for regeneration for Paignton, which will now go out for discussion with residents and developers.

"It is about promoting Paignton to the outside world," said deputy leader, councillor Chris Lewis. "It is about sharing the fact that we are serious about the regeneration of the town. Rome wasn't built in a day, and Paignton won't be changed in a day, but there are exciting regeneration projects under way."

The plan suggests a multi-storey car park could be built off Station Lane, while Stagecoach looks to scale down its use of Paignton bus station, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). Its new electric buses will be based in Torquay, but Paignton's routes will stay the same.

"If Stagecoach wants to move to a smaller site it's an opportunity for us to see if we can put a supermarket there with flats above it," said Lewis. Talks are also under way to improve derelict buildings in Station Square. "They have been derelict for far too long," he said. "These are exciting times for Paignton," he added.

Stagecoach confirmed that its buses would no longer be based overnight at Paignton Bus Station, with some transferring to its nearby Torquay site.

Peter Knight, managing director at Stagecoach South West, said: "This change forms part of our wider plans to develop a more sustainable, fully electric bus network for Torbay, with the Torquay depot set to become Stagecoach South West's main electric vehicle operating base from early 2026." He said there would be "no impact on local bus services, and all Paignton routes will continue to run as normal".

"Stagecoach remains committed to delivering reliable, low-emission transport for local communities and will continue working closely with Torbay Council as its regeneration plans progress," he added.

Councillor Nick Bye said the current seafront project, including new sea defences, would "transform" Paignton. "Paignton is the future," he said. "So much is going on that we can be proud of. A successful vision will be what drives its regeneration."

But, councillor Darren Cowell said: "If this is a vision, whose vision is it? The feedback I have had is that the community seems to have been forgotten. And so far delivery seems to be demolition."

Councillor Swithin Long added: "We've had lots of exciting projects mentioned, but all we've had so far is car parks being turned into car parks."

News today that the go-ahead has been given for reopening the Oxford -  Cowley line by 2030.
Funding of £120m has been made available to reopen the line to passengers with new stations at Littlemore and Cowley.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgql954g07do

Cowley Branch line to reopen after 60 years in £120m project


The rail line, which has been closed to the public for 60 years, will include a new station in Littlemore

An Oxford railway line closed to passengers since 1963 is being reopened.

The Cowley Branch Line is currently only used by freight going to and from the BMW Mini Plant, but new stations will be opened in Cowley and Littlemore in south-east Oxford.

The government has pledged £120m in funding, part of a £500m investment in infrastructure to link up Oxford and Cambridge and turn the region into the "European Silicon Valley".

Anneliese Dodds, MP for East Oxford, said the Cowley Branch Line was "finally going to become a reality". She said it would make a "massive difference to local residents, slashing travel times and reducing congestion".

The county's five Liberal Democrat MPs Freddie van Mierlo, Layla Moran, Charlie Maynard, Olly Glover, and Calum Miller said the "major" announcement reflected "years of campaigning, local partnership and rigorous business-case work".

The government said reopening the line would help create up to 10,000 new jobs. It will connect Littlemore, Cowley, Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys to central Oxford in under 10 minutes in a twice-hourly passenger service.

Prof Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of Oxford University, said it would "stitch together" science parks, hospitals and new cultural spaces "so that ideas, researchers and local residents" could move more easily around Oxford and out to London Marylebone.

Oxford City Council leader Susan Brown said: "The Cowley Branch Line is the single most important piece of infrastructure for connecting local communities and businesses in south and east Oxford. It will give access to more amenities and jobs, help to cut congestion, meet our climate targets, and unlock new homes and jobs."

Liz Leffman, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, added: "We're delighted that the government has seen the obvious benefits that this project will deliver and the value for money it represents."

Rob Brighouse, chair of Oxford Strategic Rail Promoters' Group, called it a "once-in-a-generation opportunity and represents great news for those who do, and will, live and work on the route, as well as helping to ease rail capacity constraints through Oxford".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government had "massive ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor".

The government said the investments would also build on its commitment to deliver East West Rail, "which will strengthen links between Oxford and Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bedford and beyond".

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), which conducts research into biology, agriculture, climate change, AI and robotics in Oxford, said it could eventually employ up to 7,000 staff, and that the Cowley Branch Line would be "crucial". EIT said it would "participate with other local stakeholders to provide supplementary funding" of £35m, and design and construct the station at Littlemore.

Sarah Haywood, managing director of Advanced Oxford, which represents science and tech businesses in the region, said it was an "exciting and important boost to the Oxford region". She said it would help to realise the "full potential" of East-West Rail "cementing the region as a world-class science super-cluster".

Yong Shen, director of the Oxford Science Park, called it a "significant, tangible step towards more sustainable transport options" to the city.

Oxford City Council said work would be carried out to identify the additional infrastructure needed to connect the stations to their local communities. This could include new bridges, pedestrian and cycle routes, and better links to the bus network, it said.

10:00 Great Malvern to Oxford due 11:30 will be terminated at Moreton-In-Marsh.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:23/11/2025 10:09

11:50 Oxford to Great Malvern due 13:18 will be started from Moreton-In-Marsh.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:23/11/2025 10:09

14:00 Great Malvern to Oxford due 15:30 will be terminated at Moreton-In-Marsh.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:23/11/2025 10:27

15:50 Oxford to Great Malvern due 17:18 will be started from Moreton-In-Marsh.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.
Last Updated:23/11/2025 10:27

13:50 Oxford to Hereford due 16:04 is being delayed between Oxford and Hanborough and is now expected to be 16 minutes late.
This is due to a late running train being in front of this one.
Last Updated:23/11/2025 14:08

I thought that an IET with only one engine was able to ascend inclines, though slowly.
After all, the electric version has only one engine, and can allegedly "limp home" on diesel power.

I thought that an IET with only one engine was able to ascend inclines, though slowly.
After all, the electric version has only one engine, and can allegedly "limp home" on diesel power.

Is this a case of the cost up against the environmental issues?

I don't know the cost,but if a single decker costs ten pound an hour to run

and if

a double decker costs twenty pounds an hour to run.
The bus company would be saving money and I presume a single decker use's less fuel and benefiting the environment,
not to mention that a single decker would be easier to negotiate the roads and streets of Cornwall.
Strange that I have not heard anything from the Independence for Cornwall brigade     

Housebuilding around train stations will be given default “yes”, says Government.  Housebuilders will be encouraged to build more homes near these transport links, and councils in England will also now be required to tell the government when they intend to reject new housing developments over a certain size, with the Housing Secretary able to have the final say on whether they should go ahead

Architect Russell Curtis, writing on his Linked In page, commented: "Three years ago we determined that there was space for at least 1.2m homes within 800m of England's rural train stations. Mapping every station in the country and excluding genuine constraints (natural habitats, flood risk etc.) resulted in the identification of more than 770 stations across the nation with various housing capacities.

"The obvious place for new homes is when public transport already exists; and it's not on the periphery of towns and cities where everyone needs a car to get around."