Passengers on board flights from Manchester last night found themselves hundreds of miles away from their intended destinations as Storm Isha battered the country.
Some people who were meant to be taking the short trip across to Dublin ended up in Paris, while others bound for London wound up all the way in Budapest.
Those of us on solid ground when the storm brought gusts up to 99mph were watching the chaos unfold through Flight Radar, watching planes running circles around runways.
Pilots were forced to abort landings due to the powerful winds, changing their destinations to some pretty drastic locations around Europe.
One flight left Manchester at 2.35pm yesterday, bound for Dublin – but FR555 ended up circling several times over the Irish Sea before giving up and landing somewhere else.
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But the poor stricken pilot was only able to land the Ryanair plane all the way in Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport, just before 5pm.
Ryanair flight #FR633 from Copenhagen to Dublin, diverted to Manchester. After 4 hours on ground, the aircraft took off again to make another attempt to reach Dublin. 3 hours later it diverted to Liverpool, 50 km away from Manchester.https://t.co/qRXcCLn0qC#StormIshapic.twitter.com/QTFMV8ZPZ7
Another flight was due to travel from Copenhagen to Dublin, but had to divert to Manchester, where it sat on the runway for four hours.
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Then on its next attempt to Dublin, it had to divert again, eventually ending up in Liverpool some three hours later. Ah.
Perhaps the most drastic of all was the plane that left Budapest bound for London Stansted, got diverted to Manchester, tried again to land in London, missed again, and went all the way back to Budapest.
The internet’s reaction to Storm Isha’s travel chaos has been superb, as usual.
England’s first luxury sleeper train will be passing through the North West this summer
Daisy Jackson
The first luxury sleeper train in England and Wales will make its debut next month, and will be whisking passengers on magical journeys through the North West.
The Britannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, will be embarking on three-night adventures to popular destinations around the UK, including the Lake District, Cornwall, and Wales.
On board this magnificent train will be 18 cabins – three Grand Suites and 15 Suites – as well as an on-board spa, bar and restaurant cars, and an observation car.
There’ll be a fine dining menu designed by renowned chef Simon Rogan (he of three-Michelin star L’Enclume fame), which will showcase contemporary British gastronomy, culture and style.
The Britannic Explorer is promising to set ‘a new standard in luxury design’ and has interiors inspired by British charm and the natural world outside the train itself.
Belmond’s portfolio already includes the iconic British Pullman, and the Royal Scotsman, as well as boutique hotels around the UK.
Of course, such luxury comes at a price – and a three-night itinerary on board this exceptional sleeper train comes in at £11,000 for a double cabin.
On board the Britannic Explorer, a new luxury sleeper train in England. Credit: Bex Press
That price does include excursions, meals, wine and other alcoholic beverages.
Back to the trip itself though.
Journeys will depart from London and weave their way through some of Britain’s most scenic destinations.
There are optional off-train guided excursions around the Lake District, while by night you can relax in the train’s botanical-inspired bar and observation car.
Guests can experience world-class galleries, breathtaking national parks, and historically rich cities in a unique way, such as a private tour and dinner at the renowned Hauser & Wirth Somerset and on-site restaurant Da Costa, guided hikes through picturesque Wales, wild swimming in the stunning landscapes of the Lake district and a visit to Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens in Cornwall.
One of the suites on board the sleeper train by day and nightOne of the suites on board the sleeper train by day and night
Or you can stay on board and make use of the wellness suite, with therapies designed to relax and revive.
Simon Rogan has created a seasonal and sustainable menu for passengers, with bespoke afternoon tea, lunch and dinner menus for each of the three routes.
Speaking of the collaboration, Simon Rogan shared: “For me, true luxury lies in humble ingredients, grown with care, respect for their surroundings, and harvested at their peak. Across all my restaurants, my dishes are defined by local, often home-grown produce, and by partnering with British growers and suppliers who share our deep connection to the land and its natural elements.
“This philosophy allows our food to resonate with the environment from which it originates. I am very excited to bring this approach to the launch of the Britannic Explorer, where each plate will reflect Britain’s diverse landscapes.
The on-board spaSimon Rogan will design the menus
“I hope every passenger not only enjoys the flavours but also feels a connection between the dishes and the journey, making their time on board truly memorable.”
Gary Franklin, Vice President of Trains and Cruises, Belmond commented: “I am incredibly proud to launch this revolutionary new train, which further enhances Belmond’s global portfolio of market-leading luxury rail experiences.
“The Britannic Explorer offers something truly unique; an opportunity to discover the rugged Cornish coastline to Eryri’s untamed National Park and the vast expanses of the Lake District like never before.
“We are especially delighted to welcome the esteemed Chef Simon Rogan to helm the culinary direction. His vision brings a gastronomic journey that complements the train’s spirit of adventure, celebrating British produce and highlighting the finest local specialties along the route.”
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The Britannic Explorer will debut in July 2025 – you can find out more HERE.
Trams are officially coming to Stockport as part of £2.5bn investment package
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… Stockport is finally getting trams.
It’s been a long time coming, so long, in fact, that rumours first began swirling all the way back in July 2022 when then Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted at in PMQs, all before Mayor Andy Burnham insisted in October 2023 that he had ‘big ambitions’ to deliver the project once and for all, but now it’s finally been confirmed.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has today revealed that Stockport will be connected to the Metrolink tram network thanks to a £2.5 billion funding boost from the Government.
At this moment in time, Stockport is one of only a few boroughs in the region that’s not currently connected up to the expansive Metrolink network, but all of that is set to change very soon, as Greater Manchester is beginning the construction of the town’s very-first tram line.
It will help deliver:
🐝 Eight rail lines and 64 stations into the capped system by 2028
🐝 A new tram line to Stockport
🐝 A new tram-train service connecting Bury, Heywood, Rochdale and Oldham
While the intention for trams to eventually travel to and from the town has been known for quite some time now, there hasn’t been much talk of timelines or when this would actually become a reality.
For now, it seems there’s still no timelines as such, but at least there’s confirmation.
The confirmation that trams will be coming to Stockport forms part of a lineup of exciting transport announcements this week, all of which Andy Burnham has called a ‘game-changing moment’ that will ‘underpin Greater Manchester’s green growth’ for years to come.
Trams are officially coming to Stockport as part of a £2.5 billion investment package / Credit: TfGM
Other announcements include the fact that Greater Manchester‘s Bee Network is to become a fully-electric, zero-emission public transport system by 2030, local rail lines will be brought into the Bee Network before the end of the decade, fully joining up bike, bus, tram, and train travel for the first time outside London, and the introduction of new electric buses, tram lines, tram stops, and transport interchanges.
North Manchester, Bury, and Oldham are the areas set to receive new Metrolink stops to support delivery of thousands of new homes, and Oldham, Rochdale, Heywood, and Bury will all be connected to each other via the Bee Network.
“Building on our strong track record, we can now move at pace to deliver the next phase of the Bee Network – creating the UK’s first fully electric, zero emission integrated public transport system by 2030,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham as the funding package was announced this week.
The Bee Network become a fully-electric, zero-emission public transport system by 2030 / Credit: TfGM
“With a pipeline of major transport projects better connecting our towns and cities, and local rail lines brought into the Bee Network, our communities will be the first outside London to be served by fully joined-up bike, bus, tram, and train travel.
“Greater Manchester has had a decade of growth faster than the UK average, and this funding can be the key to unlocking even more growth in the decade to come.
“It’s a major boost for our own plans to deliver £10bn of investment over the next 10 years, build thousands of new homes, create skilled jobs, and open up new opportunities right across our city-region.”
Daisy Jackson -
22nd January 2024 
