Sticking to the fax Why Northern rail and Dolly hold on to their old machines
The Guardian|November 02, 2024
There's not much Dolly Parton and Northern rail bosses can claim to have in common. Frustrated commuters from Manchester to Middlesbrough might complain the train service barely works 9 to 5. What does unite the two is that neither can let go of the fax machine.
Robert Booth
Sticking to the fax Why Northern rail and Dolly hold on to their old machines

Banned in the NHS and dropped by the Premier League after one too many player transfers was thwarted by faulty transmissions, the fax machine was this week blamed for commuter misery by the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. With a face like thunder after half an hour hearing Northern's executives explain their service's dismal performance, he said: "I have heard that you're still using fax machines... Can that possibly be true?"

It was, admitted the bosses. A quarter of a century after email took hold and 40 years since fax became ubiquitous, rostering and train crew processing are still done by fax in 2024, they explained. Burnham could barely believe it. There was a time when faxes delivered grand news - Michael Jordan's 1995 return to the NBA ("I'm back," he faxed) or the save-the-date invitations for Prince William and Kate's 2011 wedding. But this was a cause for embarrassment. It was a sign of "disregard for the travelling public", Burnham said.

"It looks like the railway industry will get round to it when it gets round to it, when the faxes arrive," he said.

There are fax machines in the collections of the Science Museum in London and the Smithsonian in Washington but Northern Rail is not alone in keeping its use alive.

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FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE GUARDIANSe alt
The Guardian

Peace deal

What will the agreement entail?

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2 mins  |
November 27, 2024
'I felt the scapegoat' Bellingham laments media treatment on England duty
The Guardian

'I felt the scapegoat' Bellingham laments media treatment on England duty

Jude Bellingham has said he felt the \"whole world crumbling down on me\" after being mistreated and made a scapegoat for England's defeat in the European Championship final.

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2 mins  |
November 27, 2024
The Guardian

United spent £8.6m sacking staff in drive to cut costs

Manchester United spent £8.6m on redundancies in the first quarter of its financial year due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's drive to reduce the workforce from around 1,000 by 250, the club's latest accounts show.

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1 min  |
November 27, 2024
The Guardian

Slot says contract dispute may be bringing best out of Salah

Khephren Thuram on his father Lilian's activism, what Thierry Henry always told him, and facing Aston Villa

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2 mins  |
November 27, 2024
Saka leads Arsenal's charge to blast away doubts on the road in Europe
The Guardian

Saka leads Arsenal's charge to blast away doubts on the road in Europe

This was some response to charges of being shot shy. Arsenal's lack of cutting edge on foreign trips had been the pre-match talking point but it turned out they had saved up a hiding for the continent's form team.

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3 mins  |
November 27, 2024
City stunned by late fightback as Guardiola's winless run goes on
The Guardian

City stunned by late fightback as Guardiola's winless run goes on

Manchester City's losing sequence is over - just. But they are still a listing ship that can go down at any moment.

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3 mins  |
November 27, 2024
Kerr breaks new ground coaching men at Hearts
The Guardian

Kerr breaks new ground coaching men at Hearts

Shelley Kerr will lead male player development at the Edinburgh club

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1 min  |
November 27, 2024
'He's a cool cat' Special Bethell ready to pounce on Test debut
The Guardian

'He's a cool cat' Special Bethell ready to pounce on Test debut

Test debutant has impressed everyone from a young age but can he carry off batting at No 3 against New Zealand?

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3 mins  |
November 27, 2024
West Brom deny Isidor and hold out for draw
The Guardian

West Brom deny Isidor and hold out for draw

Sunderland extended their unbeaten run to 10 games but, as the smattering of gentle boos that greeted the final whistle testified, it was most certainly not a cause for celebration on Wearside.

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2 mins  |
November 27, 2024
George in the groove and ready to rock for England
The Guardian

George in the groove and ready to rock for England

Manchester United left-back was never going to let rehab end her dream and hopes for a Wembley bow against USA

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2 mins  |
November 27, 2024