A former railway station in Saddleworth, Greater Manchester, has been transformed into a luxurious Airbnb accommodation, offering a unique experience for visitors. The station, once a bustling hub for passengers, now features a restored 1895 Great Western Railway carriage, available for rent at £200 per night. This ambitious project was spearheaded by local train enthusiast Nigel Brooke, who invested £27,000 in the restoration.

The original Delph railway station ceased passenger services in the 1950s. Today, thanks to a meticulous restoration, guests can stay in a carriage that has been authentically refurbished to reflect its historical roots. The exterior of the carriage has been painted in its original colours, guided by historical drawings and charts. Inside, visitors will find a blend of period wallpaper and modern amenities, including a comfortable bed and stove.

Nigel, a retired wallpaper designer, personally oversaw the interior design, stating, “I designed all that interior decor, but it was led by original pieces that I found during the restoration.” The carriage, which was built in 1895 in Swindon, served on the Metropolitan Railway before being decommissioned in 1940. Over the years, it had fallen into disrepair but was salvaged through Nigel’s efforts.

The initial purchase price of the carriage was £8,000, which was transported from Gloucester by road. It is now positioned on two concrete walls to align perfectly with the original platform, ensuring easy access for guests. Nigel detailed the restoration challenges, noting, “One side was covered in tin – that must have been put there in the 50s or 40s to protect one side.” Fortunately, the oak frame remained sturdy, allowing for a more straightforward restoration process.

The restoration involved carefully removing and replacing deteriorated sections with replicas made from the original materials. Nigel remarked, “What I had to do was take each piece off carefully that was rotten and replicate it and rebuild it, using the original bits.” Given its age, the carriage was in remarkably good condition, and Nigel is confident that it will remain a viable accommodation option for many years.

With the carriage now fully restored, Nigel plans to expand his Airbnb offerings by converting the station’s former waiting room into an additional guest room. He has noted that visitors have developed a fondness for the historic site, saying, “People absolutely adore it, there’s a lot of history here. It’s a beautiful place.”

Reflecting on his acquisition of the property in the 1980s, Nigel expressed his gratitude for owning such a unique historical building. He aims to make the station even more inviting by transforming a waiting room into a space with an ensuite bathroom, allowing larger groups the opportunity to stay together.

As the restoration project nears completion, the Delph railway station is set to welcome more guests eager to experience a bit of history during their stay.

Adrian Lewis, a two-time world champion in darts, has opened up about his current situation as he considers a return to professional competitions. The 40-year-old, known by his nickname “Jackpot,” has taken a step back from the sport for the past 26 months, primarily due to personal challenges, including his wife’s serious health condition.

In a recent appearance on the Tops and Tales podcast, Lewis revealed that his wife, Sarah, suffers from an incurable kidney disease, which has required significant time spent in hospitals. He also mentioned the challenges of caring for their daughter, who has both autism and ADHD. Lewis described the emotional toll of balancing family responsibilities with his professional aspirations: “She’s still a diamond,” he said of his daughter, emphasizing the family’s strength amidst their struggles.

Lewis’s Tour Card, which allows him to compete in PDC events, expired at the end of 2024. To regain his place on the ProTour, he would need to return to Q-School, a qualifying event for players seeking to earn their Tour Cards. Despite the hurdles, Lewis is committed to ensuring he is fully prepared before making any decisions. He stated, “I want to make sure I’m 100 percent ready, mentally right and just go at it all guns blazing.”

The darts star had a prolific career from 2004 to 2024, during which he became a back-to-back world champion in 2011 and 2012, and secured a third major title at the 2013 European Championship. Reflecting on his career, Lewis has expressed the emotional rollercoaster that comes with competing at the highest levels.

Earlier this year, Lewis shared with The Guardian the mental strain he experienced while performing under pressure. He described the intense highs of competition and the subsequent lows when returning home, stating, “You’re on such a high and then when you come back home, you go low. You’re constantly picking yourself up and you haven’t really got time to enjoy anything.”

As he navigates this challenging period, Lewis acknowledges that he is at a crossroads in his career. The decision to return to professional darts hinges on his ability to balance personal obligations with competitive aspirations. “I’ll never write it off and say I’m never going back to the PDC because that would be my aim again,” he remarked, indicating that he remains hopeful about his future in the sport.

For Lewis, the path forward involves careful consideration of his mental and emotional readiness. As January approaches, he will continue to evaluate his position and the possibility of rejoining the professional darts circuit.

Investigators are examining the mental health of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was piloting an Air India flight that tragically crashed into a residential area. This inquiry has drawn unsettling parallels to previous aviation disasters, notably the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in March 2014 and the Germanwings disaster in March 2015.

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott previously suggested that the pilot of MH370, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, may have deliberately crashed the aircraft in a “murder-suicide,” resulting in the loss of all 239 individuals on board. Meanwhile, the co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525, Andreas Lubitz, locked the captain out of the cockpit and crashed into a mountain in France, killing 150 people in what is now recognized as a confirmed case of pilot suicide.

The focus of the ongoing Air India investigation is shifting towards Captain Sabharwal’s mental well-being, with multiple sources indicating that he may have faced mental health challenges. Aviation safety expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan revealed that several fellow pilots had expressed concerns about Sabharwal’s mental state, stating, “He had taken time off from flying in the last three to four years. He had taken medical leave for that.”

While Air India declined to comment on the matter, an official from Tata Group denied claims that Captain Sabharwal had taken medical leave. The preliminary report from investigators did not reveal any significant findings related to his mental health, but the inquiry continues, with a focus on examining Sabharwal’s medical records.

Details of the Crash Investigation

Preliminary findings have provided insight into the cockpit conversation just moments before the crash. A voice recording captured a frantic exchange between the pilots as they realized the aircraft’s engines had failed. One pilot questioned why the engines were cut off, to which the other pilot replied that he had not done so.

The investigation has also confirmed that there was no significant bird activity around the aircraft at the time of the incident. Additionally, all crew members were breathalysed upon arrival at Ahmedabad airport and were deemed fit to operate the flight. Both pilots had successfully passed their Class I medical exams within the past two years, which assess their psycho-physical capabilities.

As the investigation unfolds, the examination of Captain Sabharwal’s mental health may shed new light on the circumstances surrounding this tragic event, raising important questions about the psychological screening processes for pilots in the aviation industry. The focus remains on ensuring safety and understanding the factors that lead to such catastrophic incidents.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly advised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky against targeting Moscow in the ongoing conflict with Russia. This statement follows reports of a recent phone conversation where Trump and Zelensky discussed the potential for strikes on the Russian capital and the possibility of supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles.

During a briefing on the South Lawn of the White House, Trump responded to a question about whether Zelensky should attack Moscow, saying, “No, he shouldn’t target Moscow.” This remark comes amid a backdrop of increasing tensions in the region, where Ukraine has been engaged in a protracted conflict with Russia since 2014.

In the same conversation, Trump reportedly asked Zelensky why Ukraine had not intensified its military operations against Moscow, suggesting that such actions could increase pressure on the Kremlin. Zelensky’s response indicated that the capability to strike existed, contingent on receiving appropriate weaponry from the United States. “We can, if you give us the weapons,” he said, according to a source cited by The Washington Post.

Reports from the Financial Times suggest that Trump has been privately encouraging Ukrainian officials to escalate strikes deep into Russian territory. The possibility of sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine has been under consideration, which would mark a significant shift in U.S. military support. These missiles were recently employed by the U.S. in precision strikes during military operations in Iran.

Amid these discussions, Trump expressed a sense of disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating he was “disappointed but not done” with the Russian leadership. He indicated that the U.S. could impose 100 percent secondary tariffs on Russian goods if a peace deal is not reached within a 50-day timeframe.

The geopolitical implications of these statements are significant, as they underscore the delicate balance of military engagement and diplomatic negotiations in the region. The U.S. response to the conflict in Ukraine continues to evolve, with a focus on supporting Ukraine while managing relations with Russia.

As the situation develops, the international community remains watchful of the potential consequences of escalating military action and the ongoing efforts for peace in one of the most contentious areas of the world today.