Latest news with #Southeastern
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Southeastern installs water meters to reduce water waste
A railway company has installed more than 150 automatic water meter readers at depots and stations in an attempt to minimise said that the move was to deliver on its commitment to improve new technology now covers 90% of the more than 180 stations and depots across Kent, Sussex, and South East London run by works by sending real-time data to a central hub, which then logged, allowing leaks and unusual usage to be quickly detected and repairs arranged. The new system has already helped Southeastern identify and fix leaks at multiple sites, including Tonbridge Sidings, Otford, Higham and Slade company said that at the Slade Green depot an automatic alarm enabled the repair of a hidden leak that could have otherwise taken "weeks" to data allows Southeastern's sustainability team to distinguish the difference between genuine leaks and short-term consumption spikes caused by cleaning activities or drain unblocking. It added that the system can even detect the impact of faulty toilets and uncontrolled flushing, providing more accurate information than ever Stapleton, Head of Facilities at Southeastern, said: "By rolling out automated metering, we can become far more accurate in the way we monitor and consume water."This programme marks an important milestone as we continue our journey to reduce waste and protect the environment we all share."
Style Blueprint
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Style Blueprint
30A Muralist Lindsay Tobias Brings Artistry to Life Along the FL Coast
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit Along Florida's scenic Highway 30A, a new kind of artist is reshaping the region's creative identity. Meet Lindsay Tobias, a muralist, painter, and storyteller whose bold aesthetic and introspective touch have transformed blank walls into emotive landmarks throughout 30A and beyond. Her path to becoming one of the region's most recognizable artists didn't begin with gallery shows or art school fame. It started with risk and relentless passion, a narrative as layered as the images she leaves behind. Pin Before Lindsay ever picked up a paintbrush professionally, she was immersed in an entirely different world: holistic nutrition. 'I owned my own company, had plenty of clients, and was doing well by every measurable standard,' she shares. 'But there was this inner voice that said, 'You're good at this, but just because you're good at something doesn't mean it's right for you.'' With a successful business to her name, Lindsay's 'backup plan' began to look more like a launching pad. Art was always her passion, but it felt like a dream that belonged to someone else … until she decided it didn't. It wasn't long before that decision catapulted her into full-time artistry. 'I would be in my studio and kind of laugh as I prayed just to make enough money to pay for supplies,' she tells us. 'That would have really made my life at the time.' Her early hustle paid off, thanks in part to her fearless approach. Case in point: her very first mural, an installation at local eatery Macho Taco. 'I'd never done a mural before, but they asked, so I just said, 'Yes … I can do that.' And I figured it out,' she laughs. The result was a hit, both for the restaurant and Lindsay's burgeoning reputation. Word spread quickly along 30A, and soon she was fielding commissions from all corners of the coast. Pin With each new project, Lindsay built not only walls of beauty but also a career that began to outgrow its geographic starting point. Murals in other Southeastern cities followed, each one amplifying her profile and cementing her status as a muralist. But that label, she admits, has its own set of challenges. 'There's been so much success, but also this tension because things have evolved into 'do a mural, you're a muralist,'' she explains. 'And there's this feeling of constantly letting yourself down because you want to explore other facets of your creativity.' Indeed, Lindsay's vision is far broader than just large-scale works; her pieces in oil are stunning and inspired. She describes herself as a 'builder' who thrives on creating something from nothing. But for her, it's not about waiting for inspiration to strike like lightning. 'Some people are dependent on the idea to come to them and be brilliant,' she says. 'But not all ideas are going to be brilliant, and having too rigid a concept can constrain creativity.' Pin It's this flexibility — this willingness to explore and evolve — that keeps her work fresh. Whether she's tackling a 15-hour solo session on scaffolding or conceptualizing a new piece on a studio day, Lindsay is always in pursuit of something intense, something that pushes both her and her audience to new places. Spend any time with Lindsay's work and you'll notice a recurring motif: hands. To her, they're more than mere appendages; they're profound storytellers. 'There's an intimacy with hands,' Lindsay explains. 'A furrowed brow can show rage, but that's not subtle. The relationship between the bones and tendons, the space between — it can tell a deeper story than anything else.' Pin This focus is no accident. While studying art, Lindsay noted that many Renaissance artists kept their subjects' hands tucked discreetly away. In response, she deliberately decided to put them front and center. 'It's my way of reclaiming that narrative, of saying, 'Look at what these hands can tell you.'' And for those who look closely, there are even more treasures to be found. Aside from using her own hands as inspiration, she often sneaks personal touches into her work — a mood ring here, a friend's tattoo there. These Easter eggs create a sense of intimacy for those in the know while inviting viewers into a deeper conversation. Lindsay's focus on growth and exploration took her across the Atlantic for an artist residency in Lisbon, Spain. There, she was the only American — a dynamic that brought its own lessons. 'There was this give and take because of how differently art is discussed and understood there,' she reflects. 'I learned it's okay to be misunderstood. Once I've painted what I've painted, I can't walk everyone through it. The canvas grows a mouth, and you have no control over that.' It's a lesson in vulnerability, a theme that resonates deeply in her work and life. Even now, with a steady stream of projects and opportunities, Lindsay remains humble and open to feedback. 'I recently had a project idea rejected, and while it ended well, that reality check was welcomed,' she says. 'It reminded me that I'm not invincible. And that's a good thing.' Pin In the sun-soaked sanctuary of 30A, Lindsay Tobias has built a life and career that's as bold and beautiful as the murals she creates. 'I genuinely love what I do,' she says with a smile. 'And I just want to keep working, chasing that intensity, and doing something intensely.' With every new project, Lindsay reminds us that sometimes, the most breathtaking journeys begin when you dare to say yes … and figure out the rest along the way. To learn more about Lindsay and see her available works online, visit ********** Want more StyleBlueprint? Click HERE to subscribe to our daily newsletter! About the Author Dallas Jackson A resident of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, Dallas is passionate about brand-building, sports, and life on 30A.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Major Southeastern cuts have been partially reversed - but more needs to be done
Back in December 2022, rail passengers were shocked to hear their train services were to be drastically cut by Southeastern and a new timetable imposed with no consultation. The impact on residents across the Bexleyheath & Crayford constituency has been significant, making it harder for those commuting for work, for children travelling to school, and patients travelling to hospital, while also making it difficult for hard-working residents to enjoy their free time and easily travel on evenings and weekends. These changes came into place before I was elected as the MP for Bexleyheath & Crayford, but as a local resident, I am acutely aware of the impact. I have continued to lobby and raise the issue on behalf of my residents in Parliament. One of the first Bills brought forward when the Labour Government was elected last summer was the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill. The Bill delivers on our manifesto promise to bring passenger services into public ownership as a first step towards wider rail reform. We have all seen how profit-driven companies can make decisions which benefit their balance sheet, without consideration of rail passengers. Our Plan for Change is focused on kick-starting the economy, and public transport is a key part of that. We don't want public transport to be a barrier to work or even for attending a hospital appointment, which is why I welcome the Government's commitment to reform our railways with the establishment of Great British Rail, unifying track and train under one leadership. I have been raising my concerns that we need to see Southeastern services reinstated, both with their Chief Executive and the Secretary of State. I was therefore delighted to receive confirmation when I raised a question in Parliament to the Minister, highlighting constituents' concerns about the lack of direct services from London Charing Cross to Barnehurst and Bexleyheath during the evenings and weekends, that the current service provision has been reviewed. I was delighted to hear that starting from December, four additional weekday evening services will be introduced on the route. This will make a huge difference to those travelling home in the evenings, and I am delighted that residents of Bexleyheath & Crayford have been listened to. I'm not stopping there, as more needs to be done to improve public transport for my residents. I'll continue to push for more direct services from Crayford to Abbey Wood, better integration between Southeastern and Thameslink services at Slade Green, and for more weekend services from London Charing Cross to Barnehurst and Bexleyheath. I've also made representations to the Deputy Mayor of London for Transport at TfL about a dedicated bus route that could benefit over 100 students in one of our local schools in Bexleyheath, as well as lobbying for the introduction of a new bus route to directly connect Crayford and Northumberland Heath. I am proud that the new Government is taking the issue of public transport seriously, and I'll continue to work with them to ensure improvements are made to benefit my constituents.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Southeastern trains running through Orpington diverted this week
Several Southeastern trains, including those running through Orpington, will be cancelled, diverted, or replaced by buses this week. The changes are due to engineering work and will affect trains from Monday to Friday (June 9 to June 13). We have outlined and simplified the details so you can plan your journey this weekend. Monday to Thursday (June 9 to June 12): From 11.15pm until the end of service, accessible buses replace trains between Maidstone East and Ashford International. The 10.25pm and 11.25pm trains from London Victoria to Ashford International services will be diverted between Otford and Ashford International to run via Sevenoaks. Passengers should change at Otford for a connecting service to Maidstone East, and the onward replacement bus for stations to Ashford International. The 12.25am train from London Victoria to Ashford International service will only run between Victoria and Maidstone East. Trains between London Charing Cross or London Cannon Street and Maidstone East will stop additionally at Kemsing, East Malling and Barming. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (June 9, June 11, and June 12): From 11.20pm until the end of service, accessible buses replace trains between Sittingbourne and Sheerness-on-Sea. The 11.20pm and 11.50pm trains from London St Pancras International to Faversham services will be replaced by buses between Ebbsfleet International, Gillingham and Faversham calling at all stations except Higham, Newington and Teynham. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (June 10 to June 12): The 12.27am train from London Victoria to Orpington service via Beckenham Junction will be diverted calling additionally at Denmark Hill and run non-stop between Denmark Hill and Shortlands. Replacement buses will run between Denmark Hill and Orpington via Beckenham Junction calling at all stations except Brixton. Passengers travelling to or from Brixton you can use London Underground between Victoria and Brixton at no extra cost. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (June 10, June 12, and June 13): From 12.10am until the end of service, replacement buses will run between Gillingham and Faversham, calling at all stations except Teynham. Connecting trains will run from Faversham to Ramsgate. A replacement minibus will run between Sittingbourne and Teynham. On Tuesday morning only the connecting train will not run between Faversham and Ramsgate, and the bus will be extended after Faversham to run to Ramsgate. Wednesday and Thursday (June 11 and June 12): The 11.07pm train from London St Pancras International to Ramsgate via Dover Priory service will be replaced by a bus between Dover Priory and Ramsgate calling at all stations except Thanet Parkway.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Train damaged and stuck after hitting tree
A train has been damaged after hitting a tree on a railway line in Kent. Southeastern said one of its trains was "unable to move" after the incident in Wye, near Ashford. The rail operator added it had begun running a replacement bus service between Canterbury West and Ashford stations as trains were unable to use the line. The BBC understands no injuries have been reported. Network Rail said it was "working as quickly as we can" to reopen the line. Southeastern said a rescue train had travelled to the incident to take passengers onboard to Ashford, and that it expected disruption to continue until at least 14:30 BST. The collision occurred at about 10:30. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. New Southeastern timetables to be rolled out Investment of £306m to 'help keep trains on time' Southeastern Network Rail
