Delays ahead: rail franchising in disarray
If FirstGroup’s shareholders are happy about anything this morning, it will be that their chief executive is also a lawyer. The government’s decision to cancel the West Coast rail contract,…
Coalition accused of ineptitude and waste
Precisely a month ago, the then rail minister Theresa Villiers struck an uncompromising note as she promised the government would “robustly” defend the legal challenge by Virgin Trains over its…
Alstom – what’s the deal?
In a low interest rate environment, it is questionable when a company funds a deal through equity rather than debt. While there may be many good reasons for such a…
FirstGroup sees first signs of recovery
FirstGroup said it had seen the first signs of recovery in its UK bus business but warned there was considerable work to be done to turn round the underperforming division,…
FirstGroup chief aims to soothe fears
It must be galling for Tim O’Toole, chief executive of FirstGroup, that two of the three defining episodes of his two-year tenure have seen this committed rail man struggling with…
Greyhound UK on brink of extinction
What began three years ago with American rock music and live greyhound dogs as promotional tools looks set to end at Stand 5, a forlorn parking space 100 meters from…
Crossrail to receive £1bn state guarantee
The £1bn order for new trains for the Crossrail east-west London rail line will be among the first recipients of a government guarantee designed to kick-start essential infrastructure, Danny Alexander…
Investors keen to ride Brazil bullet train
A Brazilian plan for a “bullet train” linking Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo is attracting strong foreign interest, despite heavy criticism and three failed attempts to pull in investors.…
US transport stocks signal deeper slowdown
©AP A downturn in US transportation stocks is indicating a deeper slowdown in the global economy and suggesting that the broader market rally has more to do with central bank…
Olympics bus passenger numbers rile Johnson
Passenger numbers on London buses barely changed over the Olympics and Paralympics, in spite of a decision – backed by Boris Johnson – to hand staff extra payments for working…
FirstGroup in dual franchise provisions
FirstGroup is having to double up on preparations to take over the disputed West Coast rail franchise with a state-owned train operator in case a legal battle with Virgin Trains…
Peugeot – tough driving conditions
Like a driver trying to navigate in torrential rain, Peugeot is just about making the right moves to keep on track. Faced with a dire European market (71 per cent…
Peugeot in talks to sell 75% Gefco stake
PSA Peugeot Citroën is in exclusive talks with Russian Railways to sell 75 per cent of its Gefco logistics division to the rail operator for €800m. The French carmaker, which…
Falling coal demand hits Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern, the number two rail operator in the eastern US, became the latest to show the effects of changing energy consumption when it warned third-quarter profits could be more…
Rail equipment demand set to jump
Demand for rail equipment and services around the world is set to jump by almost a fifth in the next five years to €170bn a year, underlining the sector’s resilience…