Travel

Passengers travelling between Glasgow and London by train are facing major disruption due to a strike by Aslef members over pay. The union, which represents train drivers, said its members have not received a pay rise for four years and are demanding a fair and sensible offer from the train companies. Strike affects Avanti West Coast and LNER trains The strike, which started at midnight on Thursday, affects Avanti West Coast and LNER trains, which operate cross-border services between Scotland and England. Aslef said the strike will force the train companies to cancel all services and a ban on overtime…

The W Hotel, a luxury brand of Marriott International, has opened its first property in Scotland at the heart of Edinburgh’s new St James Quarter. The hotel features a distinctive ‘walnut whip’ design that has been the subject of much debate and controversy. A landmark in the skyline The W Hotel Edinburgh is part of the £1 billion St James Quarter development, which aims to transform the city’s east end with a mix of retail, leisure, residential and office spaces. The hotel occupies the upper floors of the ribbon-shaped building that spirals up to a 12-storey spire. The bronze-coloured facade…

W Edinburgh, a new luxury hotel by Marriott International, has opened its doors to the public, offering a spectacular experience of the Scottish capital. The hotel is part of the £850m St James Quarter development, which also includes retail, dining, leisure and entertainment facilities. SushiSamba: A Fusion of Flavours on the Rooftop One of the highlights of the hotel is SushiSamba, a restaurant concept that blends Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine, culture, music and design. SushiSamba is located on the 10th and 11th floors of the hotel, featuring a main dining room with views of Edinburgh’s skyline, a bar and…

The Scottish Government has announced a series of new initiatives to support the sustainable development of tourism in the Highlands, with a focus on empowering local communities and protecting the natural environment. A New Fund for Community-Led Tourism One of the main initiatives is the creation of a new fund for community-led tourism projects, which will provide grants of up to £100,000 for groups that want to develop or enhance tourism facilities or services in their areas. The fund aims to help communities to benefit from the economic and social opportunities of tourism, while also addressing the challenges and pressures…

Scandinavian Airlines suspends popular service to Norwegian capital Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has announced that it has withdrawn its Edinburgh to Oslo service until further notice. The airline said the decision was made amid wider financial considerations rather than individual commercial success. The route was a popular choice for travelers between Scotland and Norway, especially during the summer season. However, the airline said it may reintroduce the service once its “resource situation is more clear”. SAS faces challenges from Covid-19 and competition The withdrawal of the Edinburgh-Oslo route is part of a larger restructuring plan by SAS, which has been hit…

A new campaign is calling for a radical overhaul of the bus network in Strathclyde, Scotland, to make it more affordable, accessible and environmentally friendly. The campaign, called Better Buses for Strathclyde, is backed by trade unions, environmental groups and public transport advocates who want to see the region follow the example of Greater Manchester, which recently retook control of its buses after decades of deregulation. Why buses matter for social and environmental justice The campaign argues that buses are essential for people on lower incomes, who rely on them to access jobs, education, health care and other services. Buses…

A campaign to bring buses in the Strathclyde region under public control has received support from various organizations, including trade unions, environmental groups and health charities. The campaign aims to improve the quality, affordability and accessibility of bus services in the area, which covers 12 council areas and has the largest number of bus users in Scotland. Why public buses are needed The campaign, called Better Buses for Strathclyde, argues that the current bus system is not serving the needs of the communities or the environment. It claims that buses are unreliable, expensive and poorly connected with other modes of…