Train tribute to key workers
FIRST IN NEW-LOOK FLEET HONOURS FRONTLINE STAFF
THE first new East Midlands Railway train with free wi-fi is in service and has been named The Key Worker.
The name is a tribute to railway staff, NHS staff and people in the other key worker occupations who have kept the country going through the pandemic.
The company, which has the franchise for the Midland main line, promised a new fleet of rolling stock, all with free wi-fi for everyone on board.
East Midlands Railway runs trains from Leicester to locations including London, Norwich, Liverpool, Manchester and Lincoln.
The Key Worker – a Class 170 Turbostar - is initially running on the Robin Hood Line between Nottingham and Worksop, but other new trains will eventually arrive throughout the network.
Will Rogers, managing director of East Midlands Railway, said: “The introduction of our first 170 is an exciting milestone for us and a real boost for EMR Regional. They offer passengers significant improvements and benefits and will make journeys more comfortable and convenient.
“It is fitting to name the first train into service as The Key Worker in honour and to say thank you to everyone who has worked so tirelessly in recent months to support us all.”
The Key Worker is also the first train on the EMR network to use the new East Midlands Railway livery.
With a different design to the Class 15x fleet that they replace, the Class 170 trains offer wider doors that are closer to the middle of the carriage to make it easier to enter and exit for passengers, as well as more table seats.
The new trains will all include various upgrades including the introduction of power sockets, improved CCTV, enhanced information systems and better toilets.
Andrew Pritchard, of Transport for the East Midlands, said: “We welcome the introduction of newer and better quality trains to the East Midlands and naming the train
“The Key Worker values the frontline staff who have worked tirelessly and kept delivering.”
The first 170 train will be joined by a further two next month.
These units will operate initially on the Nottingham to Worksop route before being rolled out more generally as part of the company’s plans for 2021.
arrests were made after an operation involving a tyrebursting stinger device, a helicopter and a police dog overnight.
Police said the incident began when thieves trying to steal a catalytic converter in Highfields Road, Hinckley, were disturbed and fled the scene in a car.
The vehicle was stopped in after a stinger device was used to burst tyres, but the occupants fled on foot.
A police dog from the Special Operations team was called in to track them while the helicopter searched overhead.
Two men, aged 39 and 31, and a 16-year-old boy were later arrested.
A fourth suspect may have got away.
The Road Policing Unit, which stopped the car, said in a tweet in the early hours: “What an absoTHREE lutely awesome display of teamwork this evening.
“Suspects stealing catalytic converters in Leicestershire and neighbouring counties identified, located, stung. Suspects run, tracked by dog and arrested.”
They were congratulated Chief Constable Simon Cole.
On the Market Bosworth police page on Facebook, some Barlestone residents said people had been told to stay indoors while police searched for a fourth susBarlestone by pect in the area. One asked police: “Why are police telling residents to go indoors if the suspects have been detained?”
Inspector Jamie Osborne said: “Dealing with catalytic convertor thefts has been a priority area for the police.
“We are extremely grateful to members of the public for coming forward immediately.
“It is vitally important any information is reported to us as quickly as possible.
“This was a perfect example of what we can achieve when everyone works closely together.”
Police said the number of thefts of catalytic converters began to rise in late 2018.
In 2018, about 280 such thefts were recorded. That rose to 618 in 2019.
After a lull earlier last year at the start of the pandemic, numbers have risen again in recent months.
Anyone with about the thefts police on 101. information can call the
MEMORABILIA from a long-lost brewery could be sitting on shelves in Leicestershire, a collector believes.
Richard Percival, who has Britain’s largest collection of brewery trays, said he is hoping to find items missing from his collection relating to Thomas Salt & Co Ltd Brewery.
Richard, who lives in Rutland, said: “With time on my hands, I thought I’d use the Covid situation to try to track down some items that may well still exist in Leicester.
“I am a collector of brewery memorabilia, or breweriana to give it the correct name. My other passion is my collection of memorabilia from once Thomas Salt & Co, of Burtonon-Trent.
“That is why there are strong links to Leicestershire.
“Salt’s brewery was one of the big four brewers in Burton at the turn of the 20th century.
“They had offices in England, Scotland, Ireland and Germany.
“The old advert pictured demonstrates that the company had a branch office in Horsefair Street in Leicester.
“All their offices were not only promoters of Salt’s famous ales and stouts but also distributors of their advertising and promotional materials.
“Salt’s produced all sorts of items, including mirrors, showcards, matchstrikers, ashtrays, jugs, coasters, pens, playing cards and even outside lanterns.
“The company’s trademark was a
Maltese Cross, which was registered in 1876. The business became a limited company in 1893 and was particularly well known for its pale ales.
“Sadly, due to poor trading, the business was purchased and closed by Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd in 1927.
“The photographs featured are just a few examples of Salt’s memorabilia missing from my collection.
“If any reader could help me find anything from this brewery I’d be very grateful.
“There is a contact form on my website which features all the known pieces of Thomas Salt & Co Ltd and, of course, my extensive collection of brewery trays.”
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