Southend Airport eyes 2.5m passenger target this year amid growth spurt April 29, 2019 London Southend Airport owner Stobart Aviation has set its sights on reaching 2.5m passengers this year and 5m by 2023, in a move that would take it closer to its rival London City Airport (LCA). Southend Airport, which grew nearly 40 per cent last year, said the addition of EasyJet and Ryanair, which started flying from [...]
Scrap franchise system and let TfL control London commuter routes, says rail industry April 29, 2019 The rail franchise system should be scrapped and responsibility for commuter routes handed from central government to local authorities such as Transport for London (TfL), the rail industry has said. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the industry, has today unveiled its proposals for the Williams rail review, which transport secretary Chris Grayling called last [...]
A new book about austerity has put Keynesian economists on the defensive April 29, 2019 Notoriously, economists quarrel about almost everything in their subject. But since the publication of John Maynard Keynes’ General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money in 1936, they are supposed to agree on one point: that increases in government spending boost demand and output, and reductions in government spending depress them. Indeed, according to the theory, a [...]
Siemens and Babcock among winners of £750m Network Rail signalling contract April 29, 2019 Network Rail has awarded contracts collectively worth £750m to companies including Siemens and Babcock to to deliver signalling and telecoms across the UK. The contracts are for projects such as stand-alone level crossings, stand-alone major telecoms and related civil works. Other firms to pick up the contracts include VolkerRail Special Businesses, Atkins, Linbrooke Services and Colas Rail. Signalling [...]
Bish bash Bosch: German auto supplier signs deal to work with Powercell on HGV fuel cells April 29, 2019 Bosch said today it has reached a licensing agreement with Swedish firm Powercell to work together on mass producing hydrogen fuel cells for trucks and lorries. Read more: Toyota sells electric car tech to startup in return for China green credits The German company, which is a major supplier to global car and lorry makers, [...]
Online car dealer firm Auto Trader announces board shakeup with retirement of CEO April 29, 2019 Online car ad group Auto Trader has promoted its finance boss as its new chief executive following the decision of the incumbent Trevor Mather's decision to retire. Mather will retire from the positions of CEO and director on 31 March 2020, allowing Nathan Coe, who is the current chief operating and financial officer, to take [...]
Airbus and Boeing set for record-breaking year despite turbulence in the sector April 29, 2019 The world’s biggest aeroplane manufacturers are on course for another record-breaking year, new figures show, despite industry turbulence. Airbus and Boeing delivered 311 planes to customers in the first three months of 2019, one more than the same period last year, ADS said today. Read more: Senior warns Boeing's 737 Max groundings will hit profits The trade [...]
Fracking tsar launches broadside against government’s de facto ban in resignation letter April 28, 2019 The UK’s shale gas commissioner has resigned and blasted the government over industry regulations that make it “nearly impossible” for the sector to develop. Natascha Engel, who had been in the job just under seven months, said the government’s refusal to review its policy on seismic tremors amounted to a de facto ban on the [...]
French rail firm SNCF threatens legal action against government over failed HS2 bid April 28, 2019 France’s state-owned rail company SNCF is threatening legal action against the UK government after it was barred from bidding from a contract to run HS2 in an ongoing dispute over pension liabilities. SNCF is the latest firm to get caught up in a row over pensions, which prompted the Department for Transport (DfT) to bar Stagecoach [...]
SSE talks to Talktalk over £1bn retail unit after scrapping Npower deal April 28, 2019 Scottish energy supplier SSE has approached a number of its rivals, and broadband provider Talktalk as it tries to find a buyer for its £1bn retail division. The company has promised to update shareholders on the future of the unit before its full year results towards the end of May, after a merger deal with [...]