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Additional engineering work on New Year's Eve.
VIRGIN Trains
have been advised by Network Rail has announced that engineering
work at Rugby is planned for the four days after Boxing Day, cannot
now be completed as scheduled and will continue through into 31
December 2007.
Chris Gibb, Managing Director for Virgin Trains said:- "I am
very disappointed that Network Rail (NR) has given us so little
opportunity to warn our passengers of this further disruption. We
were first warned of the possibility of this additional work on 6
December. We had already agreed with NR several months ago that 31
December would be the day between Christmas and New Year that we
would be able to run direct services to and from Euston. This
information was placed in the industry's booking and information
systems in good faith with about 50,000 customers now having already
planned and booked their journeys. Because of the seriousness of the
situation we felt it necessary to refer the matter to the Office of
Rail Regulation (ORR). We simply cannot have NR bullying train
operators in this way just because their engineering planning
processes are in a mess.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has now considered the matter
and decided to investigate whether NR has breached its operators'
licence, but has decided it is not in the longer term interests of
passengers to issue a provisional order preventing the line closure
at Rugby on 31 December 2007.
Virgin Trains will operate the best possible service for their
customers on 31 December and guarantees that everyone will get to
their destinations in time to celebrate the New Year. The pattern of
service will be trains between Euston and Northampton with a
frequent replacement coach service from Northampton to Birmingham
International connecting into trains to the West Midlands, North
Wales, North West England and Scotland. Journey times are likely to
be extended by approximately one hour although in some cases this
could be more.
For further details all customers intending to travel on New Years
Eve should check as near as possible to 31 December with
www.nationalrail.co.uk.
Passengers with valid tickets can use the following alternative
routes:-
North West via Sheffield to London St Pancras
West Midlands to London Marylebone
North West and Midlands via Reading to London Paddington
Scotland to London Kings Cross" |
WHEN SANTA GOT STUCK IN THE WINDOW
THE stockings
are hanging on the mantelpiece and the sherry and mince pie are on
the hearth, but according to nearly a quarter of British children,
there’s a good chance that Santa will be sneaking in through the
back door, rather than abseiling down the chimney!
The survey, carried out by Bar-Be-Quick, providers of Firepak, was
undertaken amongst children aged between 4 and 7. It revealed that
Santa’s modern day methods of present delivery also include
'magic-ing' presents through the letterbox.... (12%) and
using magic fairy dust to shrink himself small enough to squeeze in
through the window (8%). Coming down the chimney remains, however,
Saint Nicholas’ favourite method of making an entry (56%) although
nearly half of the children surveyed claimed that they worry about
him getting stuck!
THE R&A ANNOUNCES LITTLESTONE,
PRINCE’S AND ROYAL CINQUE PORTS AS LOCAL FINAL QUALIFYING VENUES FOR
2011
ST ANDREWS,
Scotland, 20 December 2007 witnessed the R&A announce that
Littlestone, Prince’s and Royal Cinque Ports as the Local Final
Qualifying venues for the 2011 Open Championship, which will be held
at Royal St George’s.
The clubs have a close association with The Open and have hosted a
wealth of R&A Championships over the years.
All three staged
Local Final Qualifying in 2003, the last time The Open Championship
was played at Royal St George’s.
The Open Championship was played at Royal Cinque Ports, Deal, Kent
in 1909 and 1920. More recently the Deal club was the venue for The
Amateur in 1982, The Seniors Open Amateur in 1987 and the St Andrews
Trophy in 1992.
Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent hosted The Open Championship in
1932. Last year, the club was the qualifying course when The Amateur
Championship was played at Royal St George’s.
Littlestone Golf Club, New Romney, Kent hosted the 1996 Boys
Championship and Boys Home Internationals.
But we now look forward to Royal
Birkdale hosting the 2008 Open! |
