News

Millions of train tickets now up for grabs with 50% off as massive UK ‘rail sale’ returns

The 'Great British Rail Sale' is back once again.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 23rd January 2024

Millions of train tickets for journeys across the UK are now up for grabs with up to 50% off as a popular nationwide sale is back.

With the UK Government‘s ‘Great British Rail Sale’ having just made its highly-anticipated return this morning, this means that passengers will now have from today (23 January) up until 29 January to claim half-price discounts on a huge range of selected Advance and Off-Peak rail tickets.

Over a million discounted tickets are available in this week-long sale to destinations all across England and Wales, as well as on cross-border trips into Scotland too.

Tickets will be redeemable on journeys taking place between 30 January and 15 March 2024.

Millions of train tickets are now up for grabs with 50% off / Credit: gov.uk | National Rail

The price of a ticket from Manchester to Leeds, for example, would usually set you back roughly around £8.60, depending on destination stations, but with the 50% discounts on offer through the ‘Great British Rail Sale’, that very same ticket is now available for just £4.30.

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A ticket from Leicester to Sheffield is usually a standard price of £7.30, but this week, you can book your journey in advance for just £3.60.

The first Government-organised ‘Great British Rail Sale’ took place back in 2022, and apparently saw passengers save around £7 million on rail tickets, as well as having encouraged around 70,000 adults who had not travelled by train since the COVID-19 pandemic to hop on board, according to the Department for Transport.

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The Government says it’s decided to bring back the ‘Great British Rail Sale’ to kick off this new year as it’s “committed” to helping families with the cost of living, working with the rail industry to boost tourism, encouraging sustainable travel, and also to connecting friends and families across the UK.

“The return of the Great British Rail Sale is good news for passengers,” Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said as the sale launches today.

“With discounts on more than a million tickets, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to connect with friends and family and explore great destinations across the country, and I hope passengers make the most of this sale and choose to travel by rail.”

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Manchester Piccadilly
Discounts are part of the returning ‘Great British Rail Sale’ / Credit: Network Rail

Sale tickets have now started to become available online.

If you want to get your hands on them, the Rail Delivery Group has a central webpage to help customers find the best deals here, but tickets can also be found on all ticket retailer websites for journeys taking place between 30 January and 15 March 2024.

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Only a limited number of tickets are available, and no further sale tickets will go on offer once sold out, so you’ll need to act fast.

Featured Image – gov.uk

News

Man United broadcaster FlexUTD responds after suffering ‘awful’ racist abuse on camera

Danny Jones Danny Jones FlexUTD responds after racist abuse by woman in post-match video Man United

Manchester United content creator, YouTuber and digital presenter, FlexUTD, has shared a disappointed but defiant response following a racist incident captured during a video after the game this weekend.

Flex – real name Flex Alexander – is a familiar face among Man United fans and a well-known personality across the online English football culture, having previously worked with another popular fan channel in The United Stand before founding his own brand, United View.

Whilst recording his regular post-match analysis outside Old Trafford after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, the social media influencer was interrupted by a woman and fellow United supporter.

After seemingly giving someone a quick shout-out, she then proceeds to wander out of frame before appearing to utter a racial slur off-camera in the form of an offensive twist on the fan base’s famous anti-Glazer chant.

racist woman on man united fan cam
racist abuse united view
Credit: United View (via YouTube)

In the video shared to the official YouTube channel, he is visibly stunned by the racist outburst and members of the crew behind the camera can also be heard asking, “Did you just see what I think you said?”, adding “There’s always one or two.”

The identity of the female United fan is still unknown and although her face remains blurred for legal reasons, Flex himself did come out on social media to ask people to “find this woman” in order for the club to identify her and the authorities to punish her accordingly.

Still taken aback by the racial slur, Flex simply goes on to describe the off-hand abuse as “crazy” before insisting that the moment will be staying the full edit so as not to let the incident go unnoticed.

Ever since the video was released, other Reds, football fans and content creators alike have been sharing their support online.

One person wrote, “It’s 2024 and we’re still seeing people saying racist things and they think they can get away with it. Hope Flex gets justice for this.”, while another tagged the club and added: “Can’t be having these type of fans enter the stadium.”

Flex has since responded online in a separate video, thanking people for their heartfelt messages, but despite assuring that he has a “thick skin”, he quite rightly went on to add that people of colour shouldn’t have to deal with that kind of intolerable behaviour and he is simply “tired”.

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Retired striker and former United coach Benni McCarthy also reached out online to offer some kind words, writing: “Hi mate, hope you [are] ok. That was absolutely unnecessary and you shouldn’t have to deal with such behaviour. Stay strong bro and behind you all the way.”

The club themselves are yet to issue a statement regarding the incident but with both current players and former staff responding, it likely won’t be long before the individual is identified and issued with a ban. United had to deal with similar incidents regarding racism and homophobia last season.

It goes without saying that we condemn discrimination in all its forms; our thoughts go out to Flex and everyone else affected by the incident and hope the incident is dealt with swiftly. The beautiful game is for everyone and there’s no room for racism in any walk of life. #KickItOut.

You can watch Flex’s full video addressing the situation, in which he urged people to “stay strong, keep fighting” and “stick together”, down below:

FlexUTD’s full response following the appalling racist incident on 4/11/2024.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — United We Stand (via YouTube)/FlexUTD (via X)

News

Family pays tribute to ‘big family man’ found dead 10 days after going missing

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Tributes have been paid to David Edmonds after his body was found. Credit: GMP

The family of a man who was found dead in Wigan 10 days after he was reported missing have now paid a touching tribute to him.

David Edmonds, 55, has been described by his loved ones as a ‘big family man’ who loved sports, travel and his family.

David had been missing for nine days after last being seen in the Bodmin Drive area of Platt Bridge at around 11pm on Sunday 20 October.

Tragically after extensive searches, on Wednesday 30 October police found a body, later confirmed as David.

His wife has now released a statement on behalf of his family, describing him as a ‘happy chap’ who was well-loved by his family, friends and colleagues.

She said: “He was a hard worker and worked all his life. His first job was with his father at a local factory, and he worked there from a young age up until recently.

“He was a big Everton supporter and loved going to the matches. He held season tickets since he was a child. David liked all sports and watching anything with a ball, cricket, football, and rugby, especially Wigan rugby.

“He also liked horse racing; we would go to the races in York every year.

“He loved going on holiday and we travelled a lot together, we went to Australia, New York, Tenerife, and Benidorm.

“David was a big family man and adored his three nephews. He will be missed by all of us, he was so loved.

“We would like to thank the police and everyone who shared appeals on social media or went out searching for David.”

David’s family have asked for privacy whilst they grieve his loss.

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Featured image: GMP

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