130 days worth of train delays caused by floods last year in UK as thousands cancelled

Experts say the figures show how vulnerable Britain's Victorian rail infrastructure is to extreme weather caused by climate change.
Almost 7,000 trains were cancelled last year as a result of floods, with passengers facing 130 days worth of delays new data reveals, highlighting the impact climate change is having on Britain's rail infrastructure.
Travellers heading off from London Paddington were the worst hit, with the station recording 406 rain related cancellations in 2024, with Cardiff Central (249) and London Euston (242) close behind. Great Western Rail services were the worst affected with 2,068 cancellations and 53,303 minutes of flood related delays, followed by Northern Trains Ltd (1,046 cancellations, 22,457 minutes) and Transport for Wales Rail Ltd (855 cancellations, 20,091 minutes).
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The figures obtained via a Freedom of Information request to Network Rail confirmed there were 6,718 train cancellations (4,296 full and 2,422 part cancellations) across the UK in 2024. Those figures show a 15% rise with trains running a total of 187,475 minutes late, equivalent to a third of a year's worth of delays (130 days).
Although this represents a 4% drop in the total number of cancellations compared to 2023, since 2014, flooding has caused 48,562 train cancellations and racked up more than 1.4 million minutes of delays. The data was revealed by Round Our Way, an organisation that supports people impacted by climate change in the UK.
Co-Director Sofie Jenkinson,said: 'Climate change is a life and death issue for our rail system. These findings show the ongoing vulnerability of the UK's rail infrastructure to extreme weather caused by climate change. The significant rise in delays indicates the growing disruption and concerns about safety beneath the service of our creaking rail infrastructure and the impact of extreme weather caused by climate passengers and operators alike.
'With more than 48,000 cancellations due to flooding over the past decade, it's clear that long-term resilience planning and investments are essential if we want to keep the network moving.'
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Over the past decade, ScotRail has had the highest overall cancellation count (9,450), while Northern Trains Ltd. recorded the greatest number of delay minutes (198,657) in the same period. In 2020 a train derailed after hitting a landslip at Stonehaven, North East Scotland, three people died.
Newcastle University Professor of Climate Change Impacts, Hayley Fowler, said: 'Our national transport networks are not resilient to current weather extremes, and will require increased investment to keep up with the projections of increasing summer heatwaves and winter flooding and windstorms.
'There is a need to think more strategically about hotspots where the risks of disruption are greatest as these growing extreme weather risks have the potential to have a major impact on people and on the economy. "
She added: "There is no doubt that strategic investments in climate resilience now will significantly reduce the future costs of extreme weather.'

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Scottish Sun

13-06-2025

• Scottish Sun

Eight UK pubs where the beer garden is right on the beach for a pint in the hot weather

Plus, the UK's best beach bars – with DJ sets, sunset views and signature cocktails HAVE TO SEA IT HAVE TO SEA IT Eight UK pubs where the beer garden is right on the beach for a pint in the hot weather Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S JUNE and what is better than enjoying the sunnier and warm weather than heading to the pub? Well, heading to a pub on the beach of course. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 As the sun comes out what is better than heading to a pub on the beach Credit: Tripadvisor Here are some of the top pubs across the UK, where you can sip a pint with your toes in the sand. Founder's Arms, London The Founder's Arms is located between the Tate and Blackfriar's station on the River Thames. Whilst strictly not actually a beachfront, the pub has a unique perk - one of the only 'beaches' in London. If you catch the tide at the right time, below the Founder's Arms a golden sand beach appears. Despite not wanting to take a dip in the water (it is the Thames after all), it is nice to get the chance to see sand and feel like you aren't in the city for a moment. The pub is also not too badly priced for central London with a medium glass of white wine costing around £7. The Old Neptune, Whitstable Locals know this spot as The Neppy - a beachside pub in Whitstable. Visitors who head to the pub often describe it as feeling like you are abroad, especially when the sun is shining and you sit in the beer garden looking out to sea. The Victorian inn also has period decor inside - for when the weather isn't as nice. In addition, The Neppy boasts traditional pub grub and live music events. Pub With A 'Floating' Beer Garden By The Beach It is believed the pub used to be a boatyard workshop, but was washed away by storms before turning into the Old Neptune beer house in 1853. The pub didn't have much luck this time round either, as storms once again completely destroyed it. In 1897, it was then rebuilt with timber reclaimed from the original building. The pub's website states: "The building has warped and twisted over the years owing to its old wooden foundations, however the timber structure seems to accommodate this movement as can be seen in the window frames, the sloping floor and the counter top." 8 The Founder's Arms on the River Thames in central London even has it's own beach 8 The Old Neptune in Whitstable is loved by locals and often called The Neppy Credit: Tripadvisor The Anchor Inn, Seatown In the tiny hamlet of Seatown in Dorset, you will find an award winning pub right on the beach. The Anchor Inn sits on the beach and over the years has won several awards, including in 2021 for the Best Destination Pub in Dorset & Somerset. The venue is run by an independent brewery called Palmers, which is also located just up the road and is one of the oldest in the UK. The hamlet itself is a popular spot for fossil hunting as it lies on the historic and impressive Jurassic Coastline. 8 The Anchor Inn in Dorset is ideal for those who also like fossil hunting Credit: Tripadvisor The Tempest Inn, Brighton The Tempest Inn in Brighton isn't your usual beachside pub. Instead, this pub allows visitors to drink in a cave. The inn is located right on the seafront with a sea-facing terrace complete with wooden tables and fairy lights. But one of the pubs biggest draws is it's lantern-lit cave. On the ground floor, the pub has several individual cave areas. Each is small, has low lighting and offers a secluded space that can be booked in advance. In addition to it's quirky caves, the pub hosts live music throughout the year including DJ sets on most Saturdays. The Tempest Inn is also only an eight-minute walk from Brighton Pier, which is one of the city's top attractions. 8 Down in Brighton, The Tempest Inn also has caves inside Credit: Tripadvisor Wetherspoons, Ramsgate When The Sun's deputy travel editor, Kara Godfrey visited Britain's biggest Wetherspoons in Ramsgate, she was in awe of the buildings elaborate interiors. She said: "The Royal Victoria Pavilion, now a Grade-II listed building, was originally a concert hall and assembly room when built in 1903. "It was said to have been inspired by the Little Theatre in Versailles." Wetherspoons opened the venue as a pub in 2017 after a £4.5million renovation. "It is right on the beach so if the rain eases up at all, it makes a great spot to walk up and down after a big lunch. "Living down the road in Folkestone, I'll always stop in at the pub when I've over in Ramsgate - especially when its one of the few places you can get a glass of wine for under a fiver these days," added Kara. The pub sits on the sand and also overlooks the harbour, which is great to see come rain or shine. 8 The Sun's deputy travel editor Kara Godfrey has previously checked out Britain's largest Wetherspoons Credit: Tripadvisor Zetland Arms, Kingsdown Over in Kent, the Zetland Arms opened back in 1863. The venue sits on the shingle beach of Kingsdown Beach, meaning visitors can enjoy a drink with a view and their feet in the pebbles. The pub even has beers made by Sheperd Neame, the oldest in the country. On a clear day, the views of the sea are stunning and even stretch as far as the White Cliffs of Dover. Sometimes, on the clearest of days, visitors are lucky enough to see France. 8 On clear days, you can see right over to France from The Zetland Arms Credit: Tripadvisor Ty Coch Inn, Wales The Tŷ Coch Inn can be found in the village of Porthdinllaen in Wales and boasts views across the Irish Sea. Right on the doorstep is a sandy beach, the perfect play to perch with a pint or glass of wine. Access to the pub is via foot, but worth it when you get there. This traditional tavern serves up real ale and pub food, which can all be enjoyed whilst admiring the nautical decor. These are the beach pubs, cafes with island views and unicorn ice cream shop among Sun readers' best places to eat and drink in Devon. Plus, the UK's best beach bars – with DJ sets, sunset views and signature cocktails.

Scottish Sun

30-05-2025

• Scottish Sun

We're being charged £1MILLION to fix 70ft wall that collapsed on our homes… even though it's NOT our fault

Experts say it was dangerous from day one TALL ORDER We're being charged £1MILLION to fix 70ft wall that collapsed on our homes… even though it's NOT our fault RESIDENTS on a quiet street are facing a shocking £1million repair bill – after a 70ft wall collapsed into their gardens through no fault of their own. The huge retaining wall on Windmill Lane in Nottingham, crumbled without warning in February 2021, sending clouds of dust and tonnes of rubble crashing down behind six terraced homes. Advertisement 9 Lynn and Terry Oakley of Spalding Road live opposite house affected, they helped neighbours when they were evacuated Credit: BPM 9 A massive wall has collapsed between properties on Windmill Lane ans Palding Road in Sneinton Credit: BPM 9 Google Street view of the properties on Spalding Road, Nottingham, showing the wall prior to its collapse Credit: SWNS Now, more than four years on, the damage remains – and homeowners say they're being forced to pay the price for a council-built structure that experts claim was 'not fit for purpose.' 'The wall was originally constructed in 2003, commissioned by Nottingham City Council to replace a crumbling Victorian structure,' Nottinghamshire Live reported. Each household paid around £9,000 for the works at the time, and residents were relieved to see what they believed was a long-term solution. But on the night of February 3, 2021, that sense of security collapsed – literally. Advertisement Finance manager Luke Drayton, 30, was at home when disaster struck. 'We both looked out the window and could see a cloud of dust. You could see torches from other people who were all really scared just trying to see what had happened,' he recalled. The street was evacuated, and residents weren't allowed back in until 8am the next morning. Fortunately, no one was injured – but it could have been much worse. Advertisement 'To this day, if you go to the edge of the garden, that is an unwise and unsafe thing to do,' Mr Drayton told NottinghamshireLive. 'It very easily could have cost someone their life. The council is very fortunate that was not the case.' I'm fuming after nosy neighbours left note on my car asking my 'plans for parking', despite having a four-car driveway Since the collapse, gardens behind numbers 147 to 157 have remained unusable and dangerous. 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'After four years of us all trying to resolve the problem, I decided to sell my property at auction – a financial risk, but one I was prepared to accept,' she said. Advertisement 'The impact on us all has been quite profound.' According to documents, the wall was designed, built and supervised under Section 78 of the Building Act 1984, with Nottingham City Council in charge of the project. It was carried out by a company called Central High Rise Ltd. Residents had no say in the contractor or the project's management, yet they were left footing the bill both then – and now. Advertisement Mr Drayton said: 'This was a council-controlled, council-commissioned project.' But legal time limits have now expired. According to an email from Sedgwick International UK to Mr Drayton, dated August 23, 2023: 'Your claim would, in any event, seem to be Statute barred, due to the expiry of the Limitation period.' Nottingham City Council confirmed to residents it would take no further action, stating in April this year that the matter is considered private and falls to the homeowners. Advertisement 'The Council no longer intervenes in boundary wall, fence, or other structural issues that are private matters between land/property owners,' it said. 9 Five families were evacuated from their homes in the middle of the night after reports of a 'landslide' in Nottingham Credit: SWNS 9 Residents hired two independent engineering firms to assess the site Credit: SWNS Residents hired two independent engineering firms to assess the site. Advertisement Reports from May 2021 and October 2022 concluded the replacement wall was poorly built and unsafe from the start. One report stated: 'The replacement retaining wall was not fit for purpose and was a hazardous and dangerous structure from the day it was completed.' It also said the wall had not been suitably designed by a qualified structural engineer, and blamed both design and construction faults for its failure. Just 48 hours before the collapse, one homeowner reported a visible crack in the soil to the council after a gardener raised the alarm. Advertisement But they say they were told it was a private matter and not the council's concern. After the collapse, they were told they should have reported it. 'But we did,' said one resident. 'I feel like we were failed from the beginning.' According to residents, most insurance companies have refused to cover the repair costs, although around £60,000 was contributed to help clear debris. Advertisement Residents have also turned to Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, who has raised the matter with the council 'on a number of occasions.' But no breakthrough has been made. 'I have tried, along with my neighbours, so hard for all this time to resolve the problem,' one woman said. 'It's been an emotional rollercoaster. It's not just bricks and rubble – it's our peace of mind.' Advertisement The Sun has approached Nottingham City Council for comment. 9 Just 48 hours before the collapse, one homeowner reported a visible crack in the soil to the council after a gardener raised the alarm Credit: SWNS

Daily Record

19-05-2025

• Daily Record

Picturesque Perthshire town named Scotland's sunniest destination

The town in Perthshire's 'Big Tree Country' is one of the most beautiful and popular spots year-round. Scotland has followed up the sunniest April on record with an incredible start to May. While many of us were expecting a return to the norm after two mini-heatwaves last month, the last few weeks have been even better. And one town has been basking in sunshine more than anywhere else in the country so far this month. New figures from the Met Office, analysed by No Deposit Awards, reveal that Pitlochry in Perthshire has taken the top spot in Scotland, clocking up over 193 hours of sunshine. ‌ While the broader list of the UK's sunniest destinations is mostly dominated by English and Welsh locations, Pitlochry edged out the Highlands town of Aviemore to become Scotland's standout sunshine spot this May, Scottish Daily Express reports. ‌ The weather throughout spring has defied expectations. Typically hit or miss at this time of year, the past three months have instead been marked by unusually dry and calm conditions after a long, dark, and dreary winter. Met Office chief meteorologist Ian Lisk explained: "t's all to do with our old friend, the jet stream. Weather typically moves across the UK from west to east. "But the north-south amplification of the jet stream has enabled areas of high pressure to hang around in the vicinity of the UK. This means that our share of the more typical unsettled weather has been deflected away from us.' Even without the sun, Pitlochry remains one of the most picturesque and popular places to visit in the country. It is the biggest town in Highland Perthshire, which links the two historic regions. Established as a Victorian spa town in the 1800s, it sits at the heart of Perthshire's 'Big Tree Country', a nickname earned thanks to the area's towering woodlands and ancient forests. ‌ Among the highlights is the nearby Hermitage, a woodland wonder complete with tumbling waterfalls and breathtaking viewpoints. Just outside the town lies Faskally Woods, home to a serene trail that winds through majestic trees lining the edges of Loch Dunmore. Also close by is Queen's View, one of Scotland's most iconic viewpoints, offering a sweeping panorama over Loch Tummel that's said to have been a favourite of Queen Victoria. ‌ Back in the town centre, Pitlochry boasts a bustling high street filled with independent retailers, tourist favourites and high street names. There's no shortage of cosy cafés, inviting restaurants and traditional pubs for those in need of a break after a long walk. The town is also home to a variety of restaurants and cafés, so there really is something for everyone. It is even home to what has been called "the best chocolate in the world". ‌ Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. For those with a sweet tooth, Pitlochry's star attraction might just be the home of Scotland's most awarded chocolatier, Iain Burnett Highland Chocolatier. Visitors can indulge in the attraction's famous creations and try the award-winning hot chocolate, which was voted the best in Europe. The Pitlochry Dam and visitor centre is another must-see, providing stunning views across the man-made Loch Faskally, all just minutes from the heart of town.