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WEST EXPRESS GINGA

A new long-distance train that accommodates to a variety of travelers

Kansai – San’in and Sanyo areas

Kaike Onsen

Tottori Prefectural Flower Park Hanakairo

ADACHI MUSEUM OF ART

The Story Behind The Train

The WEST EXPRESS GINGA will begin operating on September 11, 2020.

Travel around the charming area of western Japan

The WEST EXPRESS GINGA is a new long-distance train, born from the concept of enjoying train travel for everyone from young families to senior citizens.

The cars are colored in lapis navy blue which symbolizes the rich color of the sea and sky famous in western Japan. The long lines running down the side of the cars give the sense of long-distance travel and evokes people’s desire to travel far away.

This train will travel on various lines in the western Japan area.

Combining casual and comfortable

The six-car WEST EXPRESS GINGA offers a different type of seating in each car.

The train has been designed so that riders can enjoy a comfortable trip whether they are travelling alone, as a family, or with a group of friends. Even more, there are free, open, no-reservation-necessary spaces that people can take advantage of to further enjoy the ride.

Why not travel around the charming area of western Japan in the new casual-comfortable style of the WEST EXPRESS GINGA?

HANAYOME NOREN

Kansai-Airport Express “HARUKA”

Marumaru no Hanashi

• Japan’s Newest Sleeper Train, the West Express Ginga

The West Express Ginga is a popular sleeper train in Japan that is difficult to get reservations for. But actually, if you follow the method introduced in this article , it’s possible for anyone to ride it.

This is because it is important to prepare in advance . I had the opportunity to ride the West Express Ginga, so I’d like to share my experience with photos.

• What is the West Express Ginga?
• How can I reserve? How much is it?
• I want to know what’s inside the train!

1. What is the West Express Ginga?

2. west express ginga seat types, 3. fares and prices of west express ginga, 4. how to book west express ginga, 5. routes of west express ginga, 6. access and directions to shingu station, 7. reviews and photos of west express ginga, 8. pros and cons of west express ginga, 9. latest information about west express ginga, 10. summary of west express ginga experience, 11. frequently asked questions about west express ginga.

The “ West Express Ginga ” is a sightseeing train operated by JR West Japan. It operates about 2 round trips per week, changing its route seasonally. The concept of the train is “ a train where you can enjoy a casual train trip .” The exterior of the train is painted in a deep blue color called “Rurikon-iro,” which represents “ the beautiful sea and sky that are the pride of western Japan .”

The car body is a 117 Series train manufactured in the Japan National Railways era, which was renovated as a sightseeing train . The name “West Express Ginga” is derived from the meaning of the train connecting the stars, comparing the western Japan area to the universe and the scattered attractive regions to the stars. During spring and summer, the “San-in Course” runs between Kyoto Station and Izumo City Station, and during fall and winter, the “Kinan Course” runs between Kyoto Station and Shingu Station. One of the attractions of this course is that passengers can enjoy short sightseeing and hospitality at stations along the way. Various seating and lounge spaces are available on board, including family cabins, premier rooms, and women-only cars.

Free Original Video (English Subtitles)

This time, I traveled alone from Kyoto Station to Shingu Station in Wakayama Prefecture (Kinan Course) in a semi-private room called the “ First Seat ” in the Green Car. Here is a review about the train along with some photos.

• The “ Premier Room for one person ” is especially recommended since it is on the ocean side.
• For family use, the “ Family Cabins ” also have a good view because they are only placed on the sea side.

Green Private Room (Premier Room)

The West Express Ginga is a short 6-car train, and the Premier Room is located in Car No.6. It is a fully private room with a lock, so you can rest assured!

There are a total of five Premier Rooms , one for one person and four for two people. The private rooms for two people cannot be used by one person.

Nobi-Nobi Seats (Couchette)

Car No.5 is for the cheapest sleeper seats , called the Nobi-Nobi Seats (affectionately known as the Couchettes). Each seat has individual lighting and a small wall shelf.

These are shared rooms, like the simple bunks of the past, but they are cleaned to the last detail and are very clean .

Wheelchair-accessible Seats

These are wheelchair-accessible seats . The couchette area has a total capacity of 18 passengers: four rooms for four people each and one wheelchair-accessible room for two people.

There is a handicap-friendly restroom and a washbasin directly next to the wheelchair-accessible seating. A baby chair, a baby bed, and a cloth-changing table are also conveniently provided!

Free Space and Lounges

Car No.4 is entirely a free space named “Yu-Sei”. There are several other lounge spaces on the train.

Eating and drinking are allowed in the free space, and the four box seat tables are stylishly decorated with engraved shogi (Japanese chess) boards, chess boards, and go boards!

Compartment (Family Cabin)

Car No.3 has two family cabins for family use , spacious rooms for 3-4 people.

Next to them are the cheapest reclining seats . The reclining seats are cheaper, but unfortunately they cannot be fully flat.

Women-only Car

Car No.2 is a women-only car. There are two types of seats to choose from: couchette and reclining seat .

Thanks to the women-only car, women traveling alone can feel safe. What a surprise, a powder room is also available.

Green Car Reserved Seat (First Seat)

And car No.1 is for the sleeper seat called the First Seats that I used this time. The First Seats do not have a lockable door but if you close the curtain on the aisle side, it becomes a semi-private room.

The fare of the West Express Ginga was 36,500 yen for round-trip transportation (using the First Seat from Kyoto Station to Shingu Station) and one night’s hotel accommodations.

The prices of tickets for the West Express Ginga vary depending on the distance, seat type, and hotel class . Please check the brochure on the official website to see if there is something that meets your needs.

West Express Ginga’s tickets can be purchased through the JR West’s online reservation service called “e5489” or at the ticket office called “Midori-no Madoguchi” at JR stations from 10:00 a.m. on the same day one month prior to the boarding date.

To make a reservation for the West Express Ginga, simply access the reservation page on the official website, select the seat type, then select the section of your ride, boarding date, and boarding and alighting stations . If seats are available, they will be displayed in the search results.

Reservations can also be made by phone using the reservation telephone number listed on the official website of Nippon Travel Agency. Reservations are accepted starting at 10:00 a.m. on each reservation start date.

Personally, I recommend making reservations by phone because it is faster, but it’s supposed that you will not be able to get the seat you want even if you call out of the blue. Please check the reservation start date and time in advance .

• When making reservations by phone, I recommend that you try to make reservations from multiple phones at the same time on the reservation start time.
• It is difficult to get through if you call at exactly 10:00 a.m. The trick is to call a few seconds before the reservation start time .

The Kinan Course of the West Express Ginga takes about 12 hours one way (departing Kyoto Station at 9:15 p.m. and arriving at Shingu Station at 9:37 a.m. the next morning) and travels slowly over a distance of 315 km (195mi).

9:15 PM Departure from Kyoto Station The West Express Ginga arrives at track 31 at 8:54 p.m., so be sure to arrive early if you want to take pictures of it!

10:10 PM Brief Stop at Shin-Osaka Station In-train announcements will explain about the train and quizzes will be played.

10:17 PM Brief Stop at Osaka Station The night view from the window is magnificent!

11:42 PM Long Stop at Wakayama Station All passengers go to eat Wakayama Ramen, a specialty of the train.

6:50 AM Long Stop at Kushimoto Station Sightseeing at Hashigakeiwa and sunrise tour

9:05 AM Brief Stop at Kii-Katsuura Station Hospitality by station staff

9:37 AM Arrival at Shingu Station, the Last Stop Upon arrival, you can join a walking tour to the World Heritage Site Kumano Hayatama-taisha Shrine

To get to Shingu Station, take a limousine bus from Nanki-Shirahama Airport for about 2.5 hours .

However, Nanki-Shirahama Airport is served only by JAL (Japan Airlines), so if you are going by ANA (All Nippon Airways), it will take 6 hours from Nagoya’s Central Japan International Airport (Centrair) by bus and train.

Shingu Station Basic Information

Shingu Station (JR West Japan and JR Tokai)

2-1 Jofuku, Shingu-shi, Wakayama 647-0020, JAPAN

About 2.5 hours by bus from Nanki-Shirahama Airport

The West Express Ginga is a 6-car train with various type of seats, private rooms, and lounges. The train departs from Kyoto Station at 9:15 pm.

This is the semi-private room called the First Seat. If the train is operated overnight, the seats are used as beds as well, so two seats are available for the price of one.

There is one pillow, one bed sheet, and one blanket on each seat. The inside of the train is air-conditioned so it is comfortable, not too hot or too cold.

The First Seat does not have a lockable door, but when the curtain is closed, it becomes a semi-private room .

Each seat has its own table and a cute star-shaped lamp . There is plenty of legroom, so it’s so spacious.

It’s nice to have two electrical outlets and two USB ports. Free Wi-Fi is also available, although it is by no means fast.

You can also use your seat as a bed by folding down the backrest of the seat. The bed sheet is well ironed and clean.

It has been transformed into exactly what we had imagined a sleeper train would look like. I’m so excited!

The West Express Ginga’s original lunch box looks light, but it’s actually quite hearty so it will fill you up. At stations along the way, you can enjoy short sightseeing tours and local hospitality provided by station staff.

West Express Ginga’s Kinan Course runs along the coast of Wakayama Prefecture, so the early morning ocean view from the large train windows is stunning.

Advantages of West Express Ginga

The positive aspects I experienced while riding on the West Express Ginga are as follows:

• Seats can be folded down to be fully flat .
• Each seat has its own table and lamp .
• Lounges and free Wi-Fi are also available.

Disadvantages of West Express Ginga

On the other hand, there were 3 points that I felt were not good.

• It takes a long time to reach the destination.
• The price is very expensive .
• The running sound of the train is noisy.

Online Reviews of West Express Ginga

The reviews from users who have ridden the West Express Ginga have been relatively positive . Here were some of the reviews we found online.

It’s clear that many people are highly satisfied with it.

It has recently become possible to purchase a one-way ticket on the West Express Ginga. This makes it easier and less expensive to enjoy a sightseeing train trip! If price is important to you, now is the time to take advantage of it.

(Previously, one-way tickets could only be purchased at the expensive package price that included round-trip transportation and one night’s hotel accommodations.)

I was very satisfied with the nice design of the train and the beautiful scenery from the train window. Would you like to try it someday?

Fore more information about this trip, please check out the Travel Alone Idea’s YouTube video. [ Original Video (English Subtitles) ]

Finally, just for your reference, here are answers to 5 frequently asked questions about the West Express Ginga.

I hope this helps with your future travel ideas.

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Discover Baltic Region with Baltic Travel Solutions

Baltic region

Baltic region is a safe region for travelers. Nice road infrastructure helps to navigate both for groups and individual. Car rental is available and highly recommended. As well as individual travel in general.

Climate is mild central – Northern European with warm summers, rainy autumns and springs and mildly cold winters. Quite rarely temperature goes above 30 or below -5.

Easy travel

All major airlines fly to the capitals – Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw. Bus travel is recommended in between the cities.

Extremely active cultural life for relatively small towns – Opera and Drama theaters, a number of concert halls, private and public concerts at the churches, Jazz festivals and a number of contemporary art festivals.

To say that Baltic States or Poland boasts pristine nature is no exaggeration, which means that many options are available for green tourism from simple walks in the woods to special offerings for bird-watchers, hunters and friends and connoisseurs of nature.

From local traditional souvenirs to local contemporary brands, from worldwide well-known brands to the exceptional luxury – you can find it all and with a friendly prices.

Traditional cuisine is typical of the Baltic region and of northern countries. The food is high in butter and fat while staying low in spices except for black pepper, dill or grains/seeds, such as caraway seeds. Rye or wheat, oats, peas, beets, cabbage, pork products and potatoes are the staples. Meat features in most main meal dishes. But fish also is commonly consumed on the coast of the Baltic Sea: smoked and raw fish are quite common. Traditional Baltic cuisine offers variety of bread and milk products, which are an important part of the cuisine.

Though turning back to the XXI century one has to admit – Baltic States is the destination for foodies. Modern cuisine is based on great natural food traditions, offers a large number of eco options and at the same time invites to dive into new tastes.

Despite that we are so close all the countries are very different. Starting from the language groups – Slavs Belarussians and Poles, Baltic – Latvians and Lithuanians and Ugrofins – Estonians.

We have different architecture: modern Warsaw, Late Soviet Minsk, Baroque Vilnius, Art Nouveau Riga and medieval Tallinn.

So one should visit all countries to see the differences.

The Ultimate Rail Bucket List: 13 Unmissable Train Rides Through Europe

E urope is famous for many things, and one of its highlights is its excellent train systems. Whether you want to explore the beautiful Swiss Alps or enjoy the scenic Italian coast, I know all about the best train journeys in Europe. 

If you’re ready to discover Europe in a new way, check out these train adventures. Below, I’ve listed the most picturesque train rides in Europe for you to explore.

1. The Glacier Express

One of the best train rides in the world is through Switzerland on The Glacier Express. It’s a direct train that connects Zermatt and St. Moritz. The journey takes 8 hours and passes through over 90 tunnels and 290 bridges. The train is known for its spectacular panoramic windows, which allow passengers to view the passing Alps. 

You can choose between first and second class, both of which offer comfortable seats and a three-course lunch. Alternatively, you can opt for the Excellence Class, where every seat provides a window view, champagne, and a luxurious five-course meal. This train journey is well worth it if you want breathtaking views and a truly unforgettable experience.

2. West Highland Line

The West Highland Line offers an incredible train journey through Scotland, starting from Glasgow and reaching destinations like Oban, Fort William, and Mallaig. Depending on your final stop along the route, the travel time spans from 3 hours and 30 minutes to 5 hours and 30 minutes. This scenic ride unveils parts of Scotland that are uniquely accessible by train, providing a truly unique experience.

For Harry Potter fans, you’ll want to take the West Highland Lane. This route takes you to Mallaig, and you will pass over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which was featured in the Harry Potter movies. 

3. Bernina Express

The Bernina Express offers a picturesque train trip from Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy. During this journey, you’ll traverse 55 tunnels and cross over 195 bridges, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Rhaetian Railway. The route showcases stunning sights like glaciers, lakes, and numerous mountains.

The train ride duration ranges from 4 hours to 4 hours and 30 minutes. The Bernina Express, with its spacious panoramic windows, provides breathtaking views of the diverse landscapes along the way. While the standard ride is comfortable, consider upgrading to First Class for an extra touch of luxury.

4. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The Venice Simplon-Orient Express train ride is all about luxury and vintage charm. Imagine polished woods, lavish upholstery, and antique features that transport you back to the roaring 20s. The twin cabins offer stunning views during the day and transform into cozy bedrooms at night. Plus, the onboard meals and drinks are simply delicious.

What makes this experience even better is the variety of routes you can choose from. Whether you travel from Venice to Brussels, Geneva to Innsbruck, Paris to Prague, Lyon to Cannes, Rome to Paris, or many others, you can travel between Europe’s major cities in style.

5. Belgrade-Bar Railway

Another fantastic train journey and one of the most budget-friendly options is on the Belgrade-Bar Railway. You can travel from Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, to Bar in Montenegro. This trip lasts about 12 hours and treats you to 254 tunnels and 435 bridges along the way, with the Montenegro mountains offering some of the most stunning views.

For the best experience, consider taking this journey in the summer, when you can fully appreciate the scenery due to longer daylight hours. In winter, the shorter days might mean you miss out on some sights. Depending on your chosen class, a one-way ticket costs between €20 and €40.

6. Flam Railway

The Flam Railway is known as one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys. It takes you across Norway’s picturesque landscapes. Your adventure begins at the edge of Aurlandsjord and ascends to Myrdal Station.

The 20-km railway passes through 20 tunnels and takes about 1 hour for a one-way trip or 2 hours for a round-trip. It’s one of the leading tourist attractions in Norway, famous for its steepness, with 80% of the journey on a 5.5% gradient. You’ll enjoy stunning views of Nordic mountains, waterfalls, and diverse landscapes along the way.

7. Mariazell Railway

The Mariazell Railway is a picturesque journey in Austria. It starts in St. Pölten and ends in Mariazell. Along its 84-kilometer route, it passes through the beautiful Pielach Valley, crossing 19 viaducts and 21 tunnels.

The scenery along this route is incredibly charming during December, with snow-covered landscapes adding to the festive atmosphere.

8. GoldenPass Express

The GoldenPass Express is a scenic train journey in Switzerland that runs from Montreux to Interlaken. It offers three classes: Prestige, 1st, and 2nd, each with varying service levels. The Prestige class is the most luxurious, featuring comfortable leather heated seats, 180-degree rotating seats, and upscale treats like caviar and champagne.

Regardless of your class, the views along the route are breathtaking as you traverse different regions of Switzerland. Mountainous landscapes pass through Interlaken, Gstaad, Chateau-d’Oex, Montbovon, and Montreux. The train ride typically takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete.

9. Cinque Terre Express

The Cinque Terre Express offers an exceptionally scenic train journey through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cinque Terre National Park. This train ride takes you from La Spezia to Levanto, passing through five other charming towns. It operates from March 16th to November 3rd, 2024, and is priced between €5 and €10, with a 50% discount for children aged 4 to 11. Trains run every 15 minutes, starting at 5:00 AM and going until 11:30 PM.

Aside from its affordability and frequent schedule, this train ride is renowned for its stunning views along Italy’s coastline. You’ll be treated to colorful Italian towns and picturesque seaside vistas, making it a one-of-a-kind experience.

10. The Rhine Valley Railway

The Rhine Valley Railway offers an incredible train journey, following the renowned River Rhine through Germany. This scenic route starts in Cologne and passes through Bonn and Koblenz before reaching Mainz.

The journey typically lasts 1 to 2 hours and provides breathtaking views of German Wine Country. Along the way, you can admire the stunning landscape, the river, and the charming German countryside.

11. Odontotos Rack Railway

The Odontotos Rack Railway offers a scenic train journey in Greece, starting from the village of Diakopto and ending in Kalavryta. Along the route, you’ll traverse the gorgeous Vouraikos Gorge, enjoying incredible views of cliffs, tunnels, and bridges.

The one-way journey takes about 1 hour or 2 hours round-trip, showcasing the beauty of southern Greece along the way.

12. El Transcantabrico

The El Transcantabrico is a luxurious train journey across northern Spain along the Bay of Biscay. This adventure lasts 8 days and 7 nights and takes you between San Sebastián and Santiago de Compostela. Along the way, you’ll explore beautiful cities and enjoy impeccable views of Spain and the surrounding waters.

This train ride is famous for its elegant design, excellent service, and delicious food. With its stunning windows, awesome views, and classic charm, it’s an incredible experience.

13. Golden Eagle Danube Express

The Golden Eagle Danube Express is famous for its luxurious accommodations and top-notch amenities. It is often described as a hotel on wheels experience. Travelers can choose between Superior Deluxe Class and Deluxe Class, both of which offer comfortable stays, private en-suite bathrooms, scenic views, and more. The train is especially known for its exceptional Bar Lounge Car and fabulous Restaurant Car.

In addition to its luxurious features, the Golden Eagle Danube Express offers a variety of exciting destinations to explore. These include journeys from Istanbul to Paris, an Eastern European Discovery trip covering Budapest, Krakow, Berlin, and Vienna, and a Christmas Markets of Central Europe adventure through Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich, among other incredible options.

The Complete Guide to the Key West Express Ferry

 Beachfront Solutions/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Imagine traveling from Southwest Florida to Key West in less than four hours. Impossible? Not if you board the Key West Express at either Fort Myers Beach or Marco Island. While the high-speed ferry skims the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, you relax and enjoy the sunshine and scenery. This gives new meaning to the old saying, "getting there is half the fun!"

About the Key West Express

Getting to Key West used to be limited to either driving down the traffic-prone  Overseas Highway  or flying into Key West International Airport, which is not usually practical for those on a budget. Although the drive from Miami can usually be done in less than four hours, those traveling from Southwest Florida may find that the trip takes them all day. 

But taking the Key West Express is as easy as parking your car and boarding the large catamaran. You may choose from traveling in air-conditioned comfort inside or soak up the sunshine on the outside deck. A completely stocked galley and bar are available as are large flat-screened TVs with satellite television.

The Key West Express isn't just a day trip. When making your reservations, you can plan to stay over in Key West and come back a different day—simply reserve your return date. When boarding, each passenger is allowed two small carry-on bags or pay an additional fee per piece for larger luggage. Coolers, alcohol, and glass items are not allowed on board the boat. 

Booking Your Trip

Key West Express recommends booking your trip at least eight days in advance. This is not only to ensure you actually get a ticket, but also to make sure there is a boat from your desired location on the date you want. The Key West Express departs from Fort Myers Beach all year round and Marco Island, seasonally.

Be sure to bring your confirmation code and photo ID to the ticket window on the day of your departure. 

Terminal Locations and Parking Information

The Key West Express departs daily from Fort Myers Beach (except when the calendar indicates no sailing) at 8:30 a.m. with ticketing and boarding beginning at 7 a.m. The terminal is located at 1200 Main St, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931. The return trip from Key West to Fort Myers Beach departs daily at 6 p.m. with boarding beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Uncovered, paid parking is available at the Fort Myers Beach location. Travel time to Key West is about 3.5 hours. 

The Key West Express departs from Marco Island seasonally from December through April (except as noted on calendar) at 8:00 a.m. with ticketing and boarding beginning at 7 a.m. During the summer the Ferry leaves from Marco Island on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the same times. The terminal is located at 951 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, FL 34145.

The return trip from Key West to Marco Island departs daily at 5 p.m. with boarding beginning at 4 p.m. Uncovered parking is available at the Marco Island location free of charge. Travel time to Key West is about 3 hours. 

The Key West terminal is located at 100 Grinnell Street, Key West, FL 33040. The company reserves the right to deny boarding to passengers who aren't aboard at least 30 minutes before departure, so be on time!

What to Expect on Board

The Key West Express strives to create a comfortable environment for all its passengers and offers air-conditioned interiors, sun deck loungers, flat screen TVs, and a full-service bar with burgers and sandwiches, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The company prides themselves on their airline-style reclining seats as well, so expect comfort. 

Arrangements can be made to take along your bicycle as well, but space is limited so notify the boat ahead of time. Additionally, the crew can accommodate disabled passengers and their wheelchairs or ECVs.

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The Key West Express docks at the Flagler Terminal, which is only about a 10-minute walk from Duval Street. Transportation is also available should you need to catch a taxi to get to your hotel.

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Train strikes in May 2024: Full list of dates and lines affected

Rail lines are set for disruption in the week following the first May bank holiday as train drivers at 16 rail companies strike on different days.

Thursday 25 April 2024 10:29, UK

Train drivers will stage a fresh wave of strikes and overtime bans in May, causing disruption to the rail network.

The strikes are part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Members of Aslef union at 16 rail companies will walk out on different days from 7 to 9 May.

Additionally, all members will refuse to work any overtime from 6 May to 11 May.

Here is a full list of the services affected by strikes and when.

Rail strike dates

Tuesday 7 May

Strikes will affect c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway.

Wednesday 8 May

Strikes will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

Thursday 9 May

Strikes will affect LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express.

Overtime ban dates

From Monday 6 May to Saturday 11 May union members will not work overtime.

Overtime bans, an action short of a strike, means some services may not be running or may be reduced as drivers refuse to work their rest days.

People are advised to check before they travel, as some areas may have no service.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

How do strikes and overtime bans affect services?

Strikes tend to mean services on lines where members are participating are extremely affected or cancelled entirely, whereas overtime bans often lead to reduced services.

Are there strikes on the Tube too?

There have been regular strikes on London Underground too recently, and while there aren't any planned walkouts for drivers, customer service managers are set to walk out on Friday 26 April in a dispute over terms and conditions.

There will also be an overtime ban for the customer service managers on the following days:

Monday 29 April

Tuesday 30 April

Wednesday 1 May

Tuesday 2 May

Wednesday 3 May

Thursday 4 May

Friday 5 May

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) says the action by its members is likely to cause Tube stations to close at the last minute, including on the Saturday following the strike (27 April), while TfL has said on its website "some stations may need to close at short notice".

Despite the warning, a TfL spokesperson has said they aren't expecting significant disruption.

This action follows strike action taken by the same workers on 10 April, which the TSSA said had a "real impact" with "many stations shut at short notice".

They say they are "extremely concerned" about TfL's 'Stations Changes' proposals.

"We have made it clear that our union will not accept the continued threats to our members' roles, locations, terms, and conditions to stand unchallenged," a TSSA spokesperson said.

"We will continue to take sustained action until London Underground is prepared to negotiate with us in good faith."

Commenting on the impending strikes, a TfL spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that TSSA is continuing with this strike action following a consultation process.

"While we don't expect this action will cause significant disruption, we urge TSSA to continue to work with us to help find a resolution.

"There are no planned job losses as part of these vital changes which will improve the service we provide to customers at our stations."

How can I stay in the loop?

You can use the National Rail's journey planner to see when trains are running.

Be sure to check it close to when you plan to travel, as it will be updated regularly.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Why are the strikes still happening?

Aslef rejected a two-year offer of 4% in 2022 and another 4% this year, saying it is way below inflation, and is linked to changes in terms and conditions.

Aslef said train drivers have not had an increase in salary for five years, since their last pay deals expired in 2019.

The union said after its members voted overwhelmingly in February to continue taking industrial action, it asked the train operating companies to hold talks.

General secretary Mick Whelan said the year-old pay offer of 4% and another 4% was "dead in the water".

Related Topics

• London Underground
• Rail strikes

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May 2024 strikes: Full list of walkout dates, from trains and Tube to flights

Strikes on the uk's rail network and at heathrow airport are set to disrupt travel in may.

With two bank holidays the month of May is often seen as the perfect time to get away but this year that could be hampered by a series of strikes which will cause travel chaos.

Rail services, the London Underground and Heathrow Airpor t will all be hit by industrial action this month, some of it coinciding with the first May bank holiday.

Train drivers union Aslef, Tube workers who are members of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) and around 800 members of the union Unite based at Heathrow are all to stage walkouts or overtime bans during the month.

It means travel disruption will be inevitable for some this month.

When are the train strikes?

Train drivers union Aslef has announced its members will walk out in another series of one-day strikes, coupled with a six-day overtime ban.

This will affect 16 train companies with which the union is still in dispute. over pay for drivers.

Mick Whelan, Aslef’s general secretary, said: “Drivers would not vote to strike if they thought an offer was acceptable.

“They don’t. And that offer – now a year old – is dead in the water.”

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents rail companies, said: “This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the ASLEF leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses once again, while further damaging the railway at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54 million a week just to keep services running.

“We continue to seek a fair agreement with the ASLEF leadership which both rewards our people, gives our customers more reliable services and makes sure the railway isn’t taking more than its fair share from taxpayers.”

The industrial action will be on:

Tuesday 7 May – affecting c2c, Gatwick Express, Greater Anglia (which includes Stansted Express), Great Northern, Southeastern, Southern, South Western Railway (which includes Island Line) and Thameslink.

Wednesday 8 May – Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway.

Thursday 9 May – LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express.

There will also be an overtime ban from Monday 6 May to Saturday 11 May which may alter the timetable of trains that will be running.

Passengers are advised to check before they travel, as the action is likely to lead to delays and cancellations.

When are the Tube strikes?

Members of TSSA rail union working as customer service manager on the London Underground are already going on strike on Friday 26 April .

TSSA Customer Service Managers at London Underground will also take part in an overtime ban from Monday 29 April to Friday 5 May , which will include the May bank holiday.

This overtime ban is expected to lead to station closures at very short notice.

TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “We will continue to take sustained action until London Underground is prepared to negotiate with us in good faith.”

Transport for London, which runs London Underground, has said it is “disappointed” by the planned action and has urged TSSA urge TSSA to “continue to work with us to help find a resolution.”

A planned strike by Aslef members on the London Underground for Saturday 4 May has now been called off.

When are the Heathrow Airport strikes?

Heathrow, the UK’s largest airport, is facing major disruption in May with a series of strikes across different departments.

Unite union has said almost 800 members will be taking part in a week of strike action beginning at 12.01am on Tuesday 7 May and ending at 11.50pm on Monday 13 May in a dispute over the outsourcing of jobs.

Jobs in passenger services (assisting travellers to catch connecting flights), trolley operations and campus security (security guards responsible for workers at Heathrow and vehicles being checked entering Heathrow) are expected to be outsourced by 1 June.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Heathrow Airport’s actions are deplorable, it is raking in massive profits for the bosses while trying to squeeze every last penny out of its workforce.”

Unite members from passenger services, trolley operations, campus security, firefighters and airside operations will strike from 7 May up to and including 13 May.

In a separate dispute, Unite members at AFS Ltd, an airline refuelling company, are also taking part in industrial action at Heathrow Airport on Saturday 4 May , Sunday 5 May and Monday 6 May (bank holiday) over pay and conditions.

Unite said the action will “inevitably cause widespread disruption across the airport leading to delays and disruption.”

A Heathrow Airport spokesperson said: “We are reorganising our operations to deliver better results for our customers.

“There are no job losses as a result of these changes, and we continue to discuss with Unite the implementation of these changes for the small number of colleagues impacted.

Unite’s threats of potential industrial action are unnecessary, and customers can be reassured that we will keep the airport operating smoothly just like we have in the past.”

Border Force staff, who are members of the PCS union, and responsible for immigration controls and passport checks are due to go on strike for four days between Monday 29 April and Thursday 2 May in the run-up to the bank holiday.

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Trains delayed or cancelled out of Birmingham New Street due to police incident

Train services running out of Birmingham New Street were delayed or cancelled this morning due to a police incident.

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Transport for West Midlands said all lines were blocked, however has now confirmed rail lines have reopened.

Passengers have been warned there is likely to be continued significant disruption as the timetables reform.

Officers from British Transport Police (BTP) were called to the scene following reports of a person in a 'precarious position'.

It has since been confirmed a man has been taken to a place of safety.

A BTP spokeswoman said: "Officers were called to Birmingham New Street railway station just after 7.15am today to reports of a person in a precarious position.

"Officers attended, alongside paramedics. A man has now been taken to a place of safety."

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 7.10am to an incident at Birmingham New Street Station.

"One ambulance attended the scene. Upon arrival we found a man. He was assessed by ambulance staff and was uninjured. He received self care advice before being discharged at the scene.”

Avanti West Coast said on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this morning: "Due to trespassers on the railway at Birmingham New Street all lines are blocked.

"Trains running through this station may be cancelled or delayed."

Transport for West Midlands said rail tickets were being accepted on National Express West Midlands buses.

It posted on X: "Due to an ongoing emergency services incident at Birmingham New Street, all lines are currently blocked.

"Cross-ticket acceptance is with @nxwestmidlands buses."

National Express West Midlands warned that bus services may be busier than usual.

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May train strikes: How will the next rail drivers’ walk-out affect passengers?

In three days of ‘rolling’ walk-outs, most of the train operators involved will cancel all services, article bookmarked.

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National rail strikes by train drivers will enter a third summer with a series of “rolling” walk-outs, one region at a time, during May .

Members of the Aslef union aim to halt thousands of trains on 7, 8 and 9 May 2024 – with commuters who normally go to the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday among the targets.

The aim is to disrupt services on the 14 rail firms in England that are controlled by the UK government and represented by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG). Rolling strikes cause maximum disruption for minimum loss of pay.

In addition, six days of overtime bans will cause further cancellations from 6 to 11 May. The first day is the early May bank holiday, while the last coincides with Take That performing in Manchester .

The previous national industrial action by train drivers, comprising an overtime ban and rolling regional walk-outs, hit passengers in April .

Industrial action by Aslef train drivers in their dispute over pay and working arrangements began in July 2022. The union is demanding a no-strings pay award, but rail firms – directed by ministers – say any increase is contingent on radical reforms to working practices in order to reduce public subsidies.

During the dispute, hundreds of millions of journeys have been cancelled. Billions of pounds have been lost to the UK economy – particularly hospitality businesses.

Taxpayers are pumping cash into an increasingly decrepit and unreliable railway to the tune of £90 per second on top of the normal subsidy. Over the course of a year, that amounts to £2.8bn in addtional public cash.

The quarrel has become increasingly bitter, with no sign of any progress towards a settlement.

Caught in the middle of a seemingly intractable dispute: the passenger. In a snap social media poll for The Independent that garnered 2,142 responses, one in three passengers say they will permanently travel less after the industrial action finally ends.

For passengers, these are the key questions and answers.

Which rail firms are involved?

Aslef is in dispute with the 14 train operating companies (TOCs) that are contracted by the UK government to provide rail services. They are:

Intercity operators:

CrossCountry

East Midlands Railway

Great Western Railway (GWR)

TransPennine Express

Southeast England commuter operators:

Greater Anglia

GTR (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Thameslink)

Southeastern

South Western Railway (including the Island Line on the Isle of Wight)

Operators focusing on the north of England, the Midlands and links from London

Chiltern Railways

Northern Trains

West Midlands Railway (including London Northwestern Railway)

When are the train drivers walking out?

Drivers belonging to the Aslef union will strike in the following pattern:

Tuesday 7 May

C2C, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, South Western Railway. Commuters around London comprise the main target.

Wednesday 8 May

Avanti West Coast , Chiltern, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, West Midlands Railway and CrossCountry. The aim is to cause maximum disruption on key intercity lines as well as Midland commuter services.

Thursday 9 May

LNER , Northern and TransPennine Express. This is aimed at users of the East Coast main line and passengers in the North of England and southern Scotland.

What are the predicted effects at each operator?

The Night Riviera sleeper train from London to Penzance and the Gatwick Express from London to the Sussex airport will be cancelled throughout the industrial action period.

For other operators, these are the probable service patterns – though travellers should check shortly before their planned journeys. Where trains are running, the normal hours of operation are likely to be curtailed.

Disruption is also likely on days before and after strike days. TransPennine Express says: “Plan carefully for any rail journeys as services may start later and finish earlier than usual.”

Greater Anglia will run to and from London Liverpool Street to Stansted airport, Southend, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich.

Southern will run a shuttle service between London Victoria and Gatwick airport.

Thameslink will run a shuttle service between London St Pancras and Luton (town and airport stations).

Great Northern will run a shuttle service between London King’s Cross and Cambridge.

South Western Railway will run between London Waterloo, Woking and Guildford, with some other suburban services likely.

Southeastern will passengers not to travel, but is likely to run services between London St Pancras and Ashford on the high-speed line; Charing Cross and Orpington; and London Bridge and Dartford.

C2C will cancel all services.

Five train operators – Avanti West Coast, Chiltern, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Railway and CrossCountry – are likely to cancel all train services.

GWR will run no long-distance trains, but will connect Reading with Oxford and Basingstoke, as well as a link from Bristol to Cardiff and some branch routes in Devon and Cornwall. The company says: “Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.”

Northern and TransPennine Express will cancel all services. LNER will run a skeleton service on core lines between around 7am and 7pm. Its main Edinburgh-Newcastle-York-London line will have at least one train an hour, with some additional trains on the southern part of the network.

What about the overtime ban?

Members are also refusing to work their rest days from Monday 6 to Saturday 11 May, inclusive. As many rail firms depend on drivers working overtime, hundreds – possibly thousands – of trains will be cancelled.

Greater Anglia, Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Railway will run a reduced timetable on each day of the overtime ban.

GWR typically says the overtime ban will cause “some short-notice alterations and cancellations, especially at weekends or late at night”.

But Southeastern says: “We expect to run our full service during this time, except for Tuesday 7 May, which is the strike day on our network.”

Which rail firms are not involved?

Some publicly funded train operators will run normally: ScotRail, Transport for Wales, Transport for London (including the Elizabeth line) and Merseyrail.

“Open-access” operators on the East Coast main line – Grand Central, Hull Trains and Lumo – are unaffected. But many of their services will be crowded on days of industrial action. They duplicate journeys of strike-hit companies, including LNER, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and Northern.

What is at stake in the dispute?

The train drivers demand a pay rise to reflect high levels of inflation since they last won a pay award; Aslef says some members have not had an increase for five years.

But the government insists that even a modest pay increase is contingent on radical changes to long-standing working arrangements in order to reduce costs – and the huge subsidies the railway is currently receiving from the taxpayer.

Since the pandemic, travel patterns have changed. Ticket revenue is about one-fifth down on pre-Covid levels. As taxpayers will foot the eventual bill for the train drivers’ pay rise, the Treasury as well as the Department for Transport will sign off any deal.

Ministers believe train drivers’ terms and conditions are part of the problem. To keep costs down, they must accept changes to how they work, such as making Sunday part of the working week everywhere.

On 27 April 2023 the Rail Delivery Group offered a pay increase of 4 plus 4 per cent over two years covering the 2022 and 2023 pay awards – subject to a host of changes on terms and conditions, covering a wide range of issues including driver training, Sunday working, sick pay and new technology.

The union say this is completely unacceptable. The train drivers will negotiate on changes, but only after they get a decent no-strings pay offer on top of their current pay.

They believe the money will be found to meet their demands, as it always has been in the past. Aslef has also always “sold” reforms to working arrangements for an extra few per cent on their pay and does intend to change that process.

Meanwhile, the corrosion in confidence among travellers continues, with no rail passenger able to plan journeys more than two weeks ahead – that being the minimum notice the union must give for industrial action.

What do the employers and government say?

A spokesperson for Rail Delivery Group said: “This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the Aslef leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses once again, while further damaging the railway at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54m a week just to keep services running.

“We continue to seek a fair agreement with the Aslef leadership which both rewards our people, gives our customers more reliable services and makes sure the railway isn’t taking more than its fair share from taxpayers.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Aslef’s leadership are acting like a broken record – calling for strike action time and time again while remaining the only rail union continuing to strike, as well as the only union refusing to put a fair and reasonable pay offer to its members for over a year.

“The transport secretary and rail minister have done their part to facilitate this pay offer- one which would take train drivers’ salaries up to an average of £65,000 which is almost twice the average salary in the UK.

“Aslef bosses should take the lead of the other rail unions, put this offer to their members and stop their campaign of contempt for passengers.”

What does the union say?

The general secretary of Aslef, Mick Whelan, said: “It is now a year since we sat in a room with the train companies – and a year since we rejected the risible offer they made and which they admitted, privately, was designed to be rejected.”

He said that negotiations were last held on 26 April 2024.

“Since then train drivers have voted, again and again, to take action to get a pay rise. That’s why Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, is being disingenuous when he says that offer should have been put to members. Drivers would not vote to strike if they thought an offer was acceptable. They don’t. And that offer – now a year old – is dead in the water.

“Our pay deals at these companies ran out in 2019. Train drivers at these TOCs have not had an increase in salary for five years. That is completely wrong. The employers – and the government – think we are going to give up and run away. They’re wrong. In the words of Tom Petty, we won’t back down …”

When will the strikes finally be over?

The working assumption is now that it will take a change of government. No prime minister since Margaret Thatcher has demonstrated such contempt for Britain’s railway as Rishi Sunak. On the eve of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow , he announced the halving of Air Passenger Duty on domestic routes – encouraging travellers to switch from rail to air.

Tearing up years of cross-party agreement, the prime minister scrapped plans for HS2 north of Birmingham and demanded a swift sell-off of protected land to ensure the project could not be resurrected. And Mr Sunak has tolerated 18 months of intermittent strikes by train drivers with no apparent appetite for a settlement.

What does the Labour Party say?

Louise Haigh, Labour’s shadow transport secretary, said: “It is a staggering dereliction of duty that the transport secretary hasn’t got around the table with the unions to try to resolve it since the Christmas before last.

“Labour will take an unashamedly different approach to the Tories, and will work with both sides to reach a deal in the interests of passengers and workers. If the transport secretary took this sensible approach then perhaps we wouldn’t still be having strikes on our railways.”

How much has all the disruption cost?

According to the RDG, industrial action from June 2022 up until mid-January 2024 cost the rail sector around £775m in lost revenue. That does not include the impact of the most recent strikes and overtime bans, which probably add a further £200m to the losses.

UKHospitality estimates the lost business for places to eat, drink and stay amounts to almost £5 billion. Kate Nicholls, the organisation’s chief executive, says: “Ongoing strike action hurts businesses, prevents people from getting to work and significantly erodes confidence in the rail network.”

In addition, there is an unknowable loss of revenue from passengers who have adjusted their lifestyles or found alternative forms of transport; businesses that have stopped making trips and are using online communication instead; and people trimming back on travel because of the lack of certainty.

What about the new minimum service levels law?

Legislation now allows the transport secretary to stipulate minimum service levels (MSLs) on strike days amounting to 40 per cent of the normal service. The government says the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 aims “to ensure that the public can continue to access services that they rely on, during strike action”.

No train operator is seeking to impose the new law on the train drivers’ union. LNER said it might do so earlier this year, and opened consultations. Aslef immediately called a separate five-day strike on LNER alone. Then the train operator said it would not require drivers to work, and the strike was called off.

The Transport Select Committee has previously warned of potential unintended consequences of the legislation. The Conservative chair, Iain Stewart, said: “There is a risk of MSLs worsening worker-employer relations and that, as a result, MSLs could end up making services less reliable.”

The minimum service level rules do not apply to union bans on non-contractual rest-day working – so there would be no benefit in imposing the law when an overtime ban is in force.

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Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Voting Highlights: Nearly 61 per cent turnout in Phase 2 polls

Lok sabha elections 2024 phase 2 voting highlights: according to election commission data, tripura recorded the highest voter turnout at 78.53 percent, followed by manipur at 77.18 percent..

India Election 2024 Phase 2 Voting Highlights: In the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, covering 88 seats across 13 states, nearly 61 percent voter turnout was reported. Polling for the second stage of the seven-phase elections started at 7 am and ended at 6 pm, with several states experiencing intense heat conditions. The first phase of polling took place on April 19, covering 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories. The Election Commission (EC) said that polling remained largely peaceful. The initial figure at 7 pm indicated a voter turnout of 60.96 percent, which is expected to increase as reports from all polling stations are compiled.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Prime Minister Modi, is aiming for a stronger majority for a third consecutive term, while the opposition bloc, INDIA , hopes for a resurgence after setbacks in the 2014 and 2019 elections. According to Election Commission data, Tripura recorded the highest voter turnout at 78.53 percent, followed by Manipur at 77.18 percent. In Uttar Pradesh, the turnout was 53.71 percent, and in Maharashtra, it stood at 53.84 percent.

Key contenders in this pha se were leader Shashi Tharoor, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and actor-turned-politician Arun Govil. Notable figures such as Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar ’s brother DK Suresh ( Congress ) and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) are also in the fray. Meanwhile, BJP stalwarts Hema Malini, Om Birla, and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are seeking re-election to continue their winning streaks. Other notable contests include Tejasvi Surya (BJP) defending his Bangalore South seat against Congress’s Sowmya Reddy, and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel (Congress) contesting from Rajnandgaon, a BJP stronghold for over three decades.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Second Phase Voting Live Updates: Polling was held across 88 parliamentary constituencies in 13 States/UTs, along with one part PC (Outer Manipur).

Polling concludes in all 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala. With less than an hour remaining for the conclusion of polling in the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the state registered a turnout of 64.73 per cent at 5.20 pm on Friday.

Officials searched the chopper of BJD leader K Pandian during election campaigning in Odisha’s Umerkote earlier today.

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1783811985651421255

Former BJD member, who was denied a Lok Sabha ticket by the party, joined BJP in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar on Friday, in the presence of state party chief Manmohan Samal and former Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi.

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1783797955230621828

Union Minister Anurag Thakur, the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur, expressed enthusiasm and encouraged voters during the Lok Sabha elections , urging them to turn out in large numbers despite the extreme heat.

“Not even extreme heat could stop voters from casting their votes. This kind of enthusiasm should be there among all voters because the opportunity to elect the 18th Lok Sabha has arrived in the world’s largest democracy,” Thakur said.

He also appealed to the youth to turn out in large numbers to vote, stressing that every voter should exercise their right. (ANI)

Former Indian cricketer Javagal Srinath cast his vote at a polling booth in Mysuru during the Lok Sabha Polls on Friday.”It is our right to come and vote. We want the people to come out and vote…I think people should come out. Voting is important…” Srinath told ANI.

Karnataka is voting for 14 seats in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Friday, with the remaining 14 scheduled for May 7th.

AAP MP Swati Maliwal, alongside Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, campaigns in the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency in support of AAP Lok Sabha candidate Kuldeep Kumar, where as BJP has pitted Harsh Malhotra for the East Delhi seat.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783793714256826650

In Porbandar, Gujarat , Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that, in his conversations with young men and women today, it’s evident that every first-time voter, every youth, has made up their mind to choose Modi ji as their leader.

“They want to bring the leadership of Mansukh Mandaviya to Porbandar. Work is going on to make Porbandar Railway Station world-class. Today all the youth also decided how to utilize the area around Porbandar station in a better way…” he said.

Voting is ongoing at 857 polling stations, covering 13 assembly segments across eight districts. In the first phase of elections, sections of the Outer Manipur seat, including 15 assembly segments, and 32 assembly segments of the Inner Manipur, went to the polls on April 19th.

As the polling for the second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha elections is currently underway, BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy, predicting a landslide victory for the BJP and NDA, said, “In 13 states, 88 constituencies are going to polls, with five in Bihar. What I have heard from my friends, colleagues, and analysts is that we are surging… the BJP is surging, the NDA is surging. It is obvious that the BJP and NDA are heading for a landslide victory, and PM Modi is going to come back with a thumping majority.”

A groom arrived at his designated polling station in Udaipur, Rajasthan, to cast his vote in the Lok Sabha elections .

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783786171593867394

After casting her vote, Aisshwarya DKS Hegde, daughter of Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, “It’s about the country today. If only the country grows, I or any other individual will grow…I have no intentions (to join politics). I am an educationist and I am happy doing that. Everyone needs to work in different fields to make India proud and I am working in a field which is so required right now.”

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783763872522104959

88 seats have gone to polls across 13 states and Union territories in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections . Here is the voter turnout till 1 pm according to the ECI data:

Assam – 46.31%

Bihar – 33.80%

Chhattisgarh – 53.09%

Jammu and Kashmir – 42.88%

Karnataka – 38.23%

Kerala – 39.26%

Madhya Pradesh – 38.96%

Maharashtra – 31.77%

Manipur – 54.26%

Rajasthan – 40.39%

Tripura – 54.47%

Uttar Pradesh – 35.73%

West Bengal – 47.29%

After the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of the erstwhile state into Union territories on August 5, 2019, this is the first significant electoral contest being conducted in Jammu and Kashmir. Incumbent MP Jugal Kishore Sharma of the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) is vying for a third consecutive term in the Lower House of Parliament after winning the 2014 and 2019 elections. The other key candidates contesting for this seat against Sharma are Raman Bhalla from the Congress and Ankur Sharma from the Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal. Read more

88 seats have gone to polls across 13 states and Union territories in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections . Here is the voter turnout till 11 am according to the ECI data:

Assam – 27.43%

Bihar – 21.68%

Chhattisgarh – 35.47%

Jammu and Kashmir – 26.61%

Karnataka – 22.34%

Kerala – 25.61%

Madhya Pradesh – 28.15%

Maharashtra – 18.83%

Manipur – 33.22%

Rajasthan – 26.84%

Tripura – 36.42%

Uttar Pradesh – 24.31%

West Bengal – 31.25%

Amid phase 2 of polling for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has lodged several complaints over EVM issues and central forces intimidating female voters in West Bengal.

The party lodged 58 complaints between 7 to 8 am and 54 complaints between 8 to 9 am.

BJP ‘s Bengal chief and Balurghat candidate Sukanta Majumdar on Friday went to cast vote along with his wife but did not find his name on the list. The name was found later after he created a scene at the polling booth.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783714530666983535

Voters present there started protesting against Majumdar, who was accompanied by Central forces for troubling them. Majumdar was also seen entering into a verbal spat with the voters at the booth. The Bengal BJP chief claimed one of the workers of his party was beaten up outside the booth and there were Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers within 100 metres of the booth.

“The police is doing nothing. TMC workers within 100 metres of the booth is shouting slogan at us. Our booth agent was beaten up. The TMC is indulging in hooliganism to win the election ,” said Majumdar, IE reported.

Amid the polling for phase 2, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, “Karnataka is going to poll; the state is giving very big results and people are very happy as whatever we said in the last elections we have delivered…Women are cutting across the party line, all of them are favouring us and I thank all of them…For the first-time voters- the youth of this country, I have to say that Congress has put up a beautiful manifesto…You have to make a change as it is needed, you have given 10 years and now let’s go for a change…”

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah casts his vote at a polling booth in Siddaramana Hundi village of Chamarajanagar, while Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid casts his vote in Bengaluru.

Congress candidate from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram seat Shashi Tharoor says that the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is about India ‘s future. “The country we have grown up in and took for granted have changed in the last 10 years. It has veered in a very different direction,” he says.

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1783725905539416257

Senior Congress leader AK Antony cast his vote in Thiruvananthapuram. Second phase of polling for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is underway across 13 states today.

88 seats have gone to polls across 13 states and Union territories in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections. Here is the voter turnout till 9 am according to the ECI data:

Assam – 9.71%

Bihar – 9.84%

Chhattisgarh – 15.42%

Jammu and Kashmir – 10.39%

Karnataka – 9.21%

Kerala – 11.98%

Madhya Pradesh – 13.82%

Maharashtra – 7.45%

Manipur – 15.49%

Rajasthan – 11.77%

Tripura – 16.65%

Uttar Pradesh – 11.67%

West Bengal – 15.68%

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, businessman N R Narayana Murthy, his wife and Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty and former cricketer Rahul Dravid were among the early voters as polling began in 88 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Union Minister and Bengaluru North BJP candidate Shobha Karandlaje cast her vote on Friday. She said, “For its security and development, the country needs PM Narendra Modi for the third time. So, we are celebrating that festival today. We hope to win with a large margin from here…”

Congress MP and candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor queued up outside a polling booth in the constituency as he waited for his turn to cast his vote. He is up against BJP candidate and Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783705428188070223

As 88 seats went to polls on Friday in phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to participate in record numbers.

He took to X and stated, “Urging everyone in constituencies voting today, in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, to participate in record numbers. A high voter turnout strengthens our democracy. I especially urge our young voters and women voters to turn out in great numbers. Your vote is your voice!”

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1783666704591048835

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his family cast their votes at a polling booth in Jodhpur on Friday during phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783694505621004521

After exercising her franchise in Bengaluru, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “… I want more and more people to come out and vote…I think it is clear that people want a stable government, they want good policies, progress and development and that is why they are coming out. They want to see PM Modi continue his term…”

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783694932026466364

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Rajasthan’s Jodhpur, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, cast his vote at polling booth number 81-83 in Jodhpur. Voting is underway in 13 seats in Rajasthan in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, With this polling on all the seats in Rajasthan will be completed.

Congress candidate from Alappuzha, KC Venugopal, cast his vote at a polling booth in the constituency on Friday. He is in the fray with CPI(M) candidate AM Ariff and BJP ‘s Sobha Surendran.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reached the BES polling booth in Bengaluru to cast her vote in the Lok Sabha elections. Karnataka is voting on 14 seats today in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783685524437475384

Among the prominent contestants are Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi (Wayanad) and Shashi Tharoor (Thiruvananthapuram), Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Thiruvananthapuram), BJP ’s Tejasvi Surya (Bengaluru South), Hema Malini (Mathura), Arun Govil (Meerut), Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar ’s brother DK Suresh (Bengaluru Rural) and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy (Mandya).

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783685374403137876

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP -led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 56 of the 89 seats that are polling in phase 2 while the Congress -led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) bagged 24 seats. Six of these seats have been redrawn as part of the delimitation exercise.

With phase 2 on Friday, polling will conclude in Kerala, Rajasthan and Tripura. In the first phase on April 19, polling was completed in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1).

There are a total of 1,210 candidates in the fray today. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded the most candidates in this phase at 74, followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) at 69 and the Congress at 68. Karnataka, with 14 seats going to polls, has the most candidates at 247, followed by Maharashtra (8 seats) at 204 and Kerala (all its 20 seats) at 189.

Kerala is voting to elect all 20 members of Parliament in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections today. The counting of the votes will be done on June 4. Among the key candidates in the fray in the south Indian state are Congress leader Rahul Gandhi , Shashi Tharoor and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783672493578023364

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1783671652448096262

The polling has begun across 89 seats in 13 states and Union territories and will continue till 5 pm amid tight security.

In the Phase 2 elections, in Kerala alone, over 2.77 crore people are eligible to vote, with more than five lakh being first-time voters. Rahul Gandhi, the incumbent MP from Wayanad, faces challenges from CPI’s Annie Raja and BJP’s K Surendran. Tharoor, aiming for his fourth win in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, competes against Chandrasekhar (BJP) and CPI’s Pannyan Raveendran. Similarly, Hema Malini faces Congress’s Mukesh Dhangar in Mathura, while Om Birla squares off against Prahlad Gunjal of the Congress in Kota. Union Minister Shekhawat seeks his third victory from Jodhpur, opposing Congress candidate Karan Singh Uchiyarda.

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