News

Major bank holiday rail disruption after person is hit by train

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 29th August 2022

Train services between London Euston and Manchester have been severely delayed and cancelled today after a person was hit by a train. 

Emergency services were called to an incident between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction early this morning.

All lines were blocked, with services passing through those stations delayed by up to two hours or cancelled altogether. 

Some lines have now reopened but, according to National Rail, the disruption is expected to continue until at least 2pm today. 

Avanti West Coast has added an additional train service to help with the disruption. 

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Earlier today, the train operator said: “Due to a person being hit by a train between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction all lines are blocked. 

“Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 120 minutes.”

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Customers who were meant to travel on an Avanti service have been told they can use their tickets on board other trains to help them get home. 

Read more: Vue in Manchester is selling bargain £3 cinema tickets this weekend

Mancs can use LNER services towards Edinburgh, then use TransPennine Express to get from Leeds back to Manchester. 

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Avanti West Coast services have been severely impacted in recent weeks when the company announced it would slash its timetable ‘until further notice’ due to ‘severe staff shortages’. 

Passengers have been unable to book tickets in advance after services were cut down to as few as one per hour. 

For full details on the disruption today, check here.

Featured image: Avanti

News

Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre

Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.

Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.

A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.

Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.

It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.

Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.

As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.

Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.

The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.

Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.  

Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.

The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.

Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.

Read more:

“Help us be a lifeline to organisations on the frontline,” Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity urged in it’s public appeal for donations.

You can help make sure ‘A Bed Every Night’ is a reality for all by donating here.

Featured Image – EthelRedThePetrolHead (via Flickr)

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