Ministers to oversee HS2 amid warnings of ‘dire delivery failure’ October 20, 2024 Ministers will oversee work on HS2, the government has announced, as the transport secretary warned costs had spiralled out of control. Louise Haigh has announced urgent action to bring the cost and delivery of the high speed route from London to Birmingham back under control. It comes as the Sunday Times revealed leaked documents marked [...]
HS2 back on track: Troubled line will run from London Euston after all October 17, 2024 The government is reportedly planning to reverse its decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2, extending the high-speed rail line from London Euston to Crewe. Having originally planned for the project to cost £37.5bn in 2009, the government’s latest estimation in Febuary this year ballooned to anywhere between £72bn and £98bn. Private talks involving [...]
AA: More customers helps profit surge at breakdown giant October 16, 2024 A growing customer base has helped boost profit at the AA after a US investor took a £450m stake in the motoring group. The breakdown giant has posted a pre-tax profit of £39m for the six months to the end of July 2024, up 70 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. The [...]
London Underground workers in Aslef and RMT vote to strike next month October 16, 2024 London Underground drivers will walk out next month, bringing chaos to the capital in a protest over pay and working conditions. Members of the Aslef union voted overwhelmingly to walk out on a number of dates in November, before RMT members backed strikes shortly after. Train operators and management grades will not work on 7 [...]
Vertu Motors: Profit at car dealership giant falls as UK sales stall October 16, 2024 Profit at car dealership Vertu Motors reversed during the first half of its financial year as UK sales of new cars stalled. In interim results filed with the London Stock Exchange, Gateshead-headquartered Vertu Motors reported a pre-tax profit of £22m for the six months to 31 August, 2024, down from the £30.1m it achieved in the [...]
Birmingham Airport to finally shake off demise of Thomas Cook and Flybe October 10, 2024 Birmingham Airport has said it is finally set to shake off the demise of Thomas Cook and Flybe as well as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The transport hub increased its passenger numbers to 98 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, up from 86 per cent in 2022, and is now forecasting it [...]
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers returns to profit October 10, 2024 The company behind Uber Boat by Thames Clippers in London, returned to profit in 2023, it has been revealed. Collins River Enterprises has reported a pre-tax profit of £5.4m for the 12 months, having made a pre-tax loss of £4m in 2022. It is the first time that the business has reported a pre-tax profit [...]
London Underground: Tube strikes loom as workers to vote on walk-outs October 8, 2024 London Underground workers are being balloted on Tube strikes over pay and conditions amid a dispute with Transport for London (TfL). Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) in jobs including customer service and advising passengers in stations are being asked if they want to strike. The ballot closes on 18 October and also [...]
HS2 will reach Euston, transport secretary signals October 8, 2024 Transport secretary Louise Haigh has given the strongest signal yet that HS2 will reach London’s Euston station, ahead of an announcement she said would be coming soon. The Cabinet minister said an announcement on the project could occur during the Budget on Wednesday, 30 October. Speaking to Times Radio this morning, Haigh said: “We’ve said [...]
Honda in the red despite ‘fun’ motorcycles helping to boost European sales by £1bn October 8, 2024 The increasing popularity of ‘fun’ motorcycles helping to boost Honda’s European sales by almost £1bn failed to stop the brand falling into the red during its latest financial year. The Berkshire-headquartered European division achieved a revenue of £4.498bn for the year to 31 March, 2024, up from the £3.523bn it reported for the prior 12 [...]