Life-saving defibrillators are set to be installed on dozens of trains travelling through Greater Manchester.
Rail operator TransPennine Express (TPE) has started work to install the units on all 51 of its Class 185 trains over the next two months, and can be used by both staff and passengers if someone goes into cardiac arrest.
The defibrillators will be fitted by technology company Siemens Mobility, and will be located in an emergency equipment cupboard in the middle of the train.
Every defibrillator being installed on the trains has step-by-step, spoken word instructions built in to them, which explain how to use on someone in an emergency, so passengers and staff need not panic if they’re unsure what to do.
Computers inside the defibrillators will work to analyse a person’s heart rhythms to find out if an electric shock is needed, and if required, electrodes then automatically deliver the shock.
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⚡Work has started to fit defibrillators across more than 50 TransPennine Express trains
🚆 The life-saving units will be installed on all 51 of our Class 185 trains by the end of March
The defibrillators – which are already installed on TPE’s Nova 1 trains – have been purchased from the British Heart Foundation charity, which is the biggest independent funder of heart and circulatory research in the UK.
The news that the defibrillators are being installed on trains travelling through Greater Manchester and across the UK come after it was announced back in 2023 that the machines were being installed at more than 100 Northern stations to help save people in cardiac arrest.
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Speaking on the installing of the defibrillators on trains, Bushra Khan, who is the Head of Engineering at TransPennine Express, said: “Our defibrillators are a huge benefit to both our customers and the communities we serve.
“This rollout will ensure that people travelling on our services will feel safe and confident that defibrillators are available to help in the event of an emergency, potentially saving lives.”
Featured Image – TPE
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An award-winning vegan restaurant in Manchester has closed – and will become an Irish pub
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s most celebrated restaurants has closed its doors for good, ahead of a major relaunch as an Irish pub.
The Allotment paved the way for vegan dining not just in our city, but across the UK, scooping up awards as it went.
But now the acclaimed restaurant, which stands directly opposite the magnificent Manchester Cathedral, has closed down.
In a statement shared online, The Allotment founder and CEO Anthony Sheridan announced that the restaurant will cease to exist in its current guise, as they prepare to invest in the future of the beautiful building.
Anthony has announced that in the coming months, the space will be transformed into The Sheridan Fiddle, a ‘premium Irish hospitality venue’.
Soon, visitors can expect to see ‘traditional homemade Irish food, perfectly poured Guinness, carefully selected wines, live Irish music and, most importantly, the warm welcome that has always been at the heart of this venue’.
Looking back on almost a decade of The Allotment, the statement shared to followers has also addressed its origins, writing: “Almost ten years ago, I never set out to open one of the UK’s best vegan restaurants.
“I simply wanted to help my little boy.”
Anthony set up the business when his son, Anthony Jr, was diagnosed with Chrohn’s, understanding that a plant-based diet would help him.
The Allotment vegan restaurant in Manchester has closedSigns in the door of Allotment Manchester
The statement continued: “What happened next was something I could never have imagined.
“Together, we built something truly special.
“Over the last decade, The Allotment was named Best Vegetarian Restaurant in the North West, Best Vegan Restaurant in the UK for two consecutive years, and was recognised as the 47th Best Vegan Restaurant in the World.
“But the awards were never the greatest achievement.
“The greatest achievement has been the people, our incredible team, our loyal customers, the friendships we’ve made, and the memories we’ve shared. And seeing thousands of people walk through our doors over the years.”
Anthony Jr is now living in Dubai and running his own gym, which has left Anthony to make the decision to ‘evolve’ the business.
“After a huge amount of thought, we’ve made the decision to begin a new chapter for this beautiful building,” he wrote.
“Rather than closing its doors, we’re investing in its future.”
His statement continues: “Although the concept is changing, one thing never will… Our commitment to making people feel welcome.
“This building has spent the last ten years bringing people together over great food.
“Now, we’re excited for it to spend the next ten years bringing people together in a different way.
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“To every single person who has visited us, supported us, recommended us, celebrated with us or simply believed in what we were trying to create… Thank you.
“You haven’t just supported a restaurant. You’ve been part of our family’s story.
“I hope you’ll join us for the next chapter. Welcome to The Sheridan Fiddle.”
‘I will fight for a better life for all’ – Bev Craig’s speech in full as she’s named the new Mayor of Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Labour candidate Bev Craig has been named the new Mayor of Greater Manchester.
As the polls closed across the region on yesterday’s (30 July 2026) mayoral by-election, it has been announced that Bev Craig is the new Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Craig won with a combined total of more than 300,000 votes, taking into account first and second preferences, beating out Reform UK’s candidate, Sian Astley, who came in second places with just over 157,000 votes.
The final result didn’t come in until close to 11pm last night, but in the end, Craig’s win was described as being a ‘decisive’.
The new Mayor of Greater Manchester has been elected! Bev Craig will take up the role from Monday.
A full table of votes from the 10 districts and the Greater Manchester result will be available on the GM Elects website#GMElectspic.twitter.com/fERMwv7pyT
— Greater Manchester Combined Authority (@greatermcr) July 31, 2026
The new Mayor has been elected after Andy Burnham was required to stand down from the role following his victory in the crucial Makerfield by-election last month, winning 24,927 votes (54.8% vote share) and a majority of 9,231.
The role of Greater Manchester Mayor also holds Police and Crime Commissioner powers, so as an elected MP, Burnham was disqualified from holding the office of Mayor.
Of course, since that Makerfield by-election win, you might recall that Andy Burnham has then gone onto become Leader of the Labour Party, and therefore, Prime Minister, so it would probably have been tricky for him to balance two major roles at the same time anyway, even if he could.
Craig’s election to Mayor also means that she will no longer serve as the Leader of Manchester City Council – with further updates to be provided on that in due course.
Bev Craig’s first speech as Mayor of Greater Manchester in full
“I never believed as a girl growing up in a council estate that one day I would have the chance to stand for the place that I love, the place in this world that I’m proud to call home, and to offer my service to make our city region better.”
“Because Greater Manchester is special.
“We talk a lot about our history. We talk about the role that we’ve played from the birth of the Industrial Revolution to the trade union movement and Peterloo. From the suffragettes through to modern inventions and splitting the atom and the invention of the modern computer. We’ve changed the world in many ways in the past, but Greater Manchester’s potential lies in its future.
“And when Westminster walked away from us, when we were struggling as a deindustrialized city region, it was the people in this place that began the journey to rebuild.
“People often ask me, what is it that I feel makes Greater Manchester so special? And it’s our people and our communities. And during this campaign, I’ve got to see that firsthand in every single corner of this city region.
“In every pride, village, town, and both our cities, I find fantastic people doing incredible things against the odds every single day. Rejecting the politics of hate, but standing with their neighbours, looking out for each other. The spirit of a place that their neighbours will give their final pound in their pocket to help their struggling friend do the right thing.
“But for too many people across our region, life is simply too hard. The generational belief that we had that if you work hard and you did the right thing, then your life would be better, and the life of your kids would be better, is something that many people just don’t feel at the minute.”
“And that is the challenge that we in politics have to face up to. And it’s why I set myself a simple test, and I make that commitment to you today, that every single decision I take as your mayor of Greater Manchester will pass the test of making your life better.
“It will put more money in your pocket, and that was one of the reasons that my first pledge was around free buses for eleven to eighteen year olds to put five hundred quid in the pockets of families and give a message to our young people that they could be anything they wanted to be and go anywhere they wanted to go.
“That everyone in our city region deserves a good quality home that they can afford in a safe neighbourhood, and that everyone has to feel the benefits and successes of growth. You have to feel it in your pocket with good jobs in every corner of our city region, and you’ve got to see it on your high streets and when you walk out your front door, restoring pride into our, our high streets and town centres.
“But it can’t just be about building the basic fundamentals of a good life. It’s creating a good life. It’s letting people make those decisions where they plan with optimism and hope for the future. Things like spending time with friends and family with enough money in your pocket to do it, to plan for your holidays, to plan for your trips, to be able to think of the life you’re creating for your kids.
“And that’s what we can do here in Greater Manchester. And the final thing I’ll say is that this is about the city region that we want to be. This is the Greater Manchester that we can be. And that has to come with the belief that we can build things that make life better.
“And I’ll say this really plainly. To those that voted for me, thank you. To the Labour support that’s in doubt, thank you. To those of you that lent me your vote, thank you. And for those of you that didn’t vote for me, I will still be your mayor because I will defend this city region with every bone in my body, and I will fight for a better life for all of us.
“So the hard work begins. I’ve done this with a promise and a plan, and my promise and commitment to you is that I will make this city region better, but I will work for everyone. I will be a greater mayor for everyone. And we have to heal.
“We have to move away from divisive politics that try and pit neighbour against neighbour, and we’ll work together.
“We’ll do it together, we’ll deliver it together, and we will build a Greater Manchester that works for all of us, that we’re all proud of, where everyone feels welcome and everyone has a chance to succeed. Thank you.”
Emily Sergeant -
20th February 2025 
