Stagecoach meets expectations as confidence in buses grows June 25, 2014 Stagecoach has announced financial results in line with the company's expectations for the year ended 30 April. Profit before taxation was in line with analysts’ forecasts of £180m. The FTSE 250 company's performance in the UK was was boosted by new contract wins in London and solid cost control. North American business has been booming, [...]
London’s iconic double deckers are about to get a lot smarter June 23, 2014 Transport for London (TfL) will be introducing screens displaying how many people are sitting upstairs and which seats are available, in a trial system to begin in two weeks. The display screens will be situated next to the driver as people board the bus and between the driver and the staircase before passengers go upstairs. [...]
The new map tool that has data geeks crying with joy June 23, 2014 Two University College London (UCL) researchers have set up a paradise for data-lovers, giving people the ability to map a huge range of social and economic indicators onto their own area, or any in England and Wales. The site looks almost effortless, and is far superior to any similar offerings from government databases. [...]
Amazon joining with Doddle to start railway station collections June 23, 2014 AMAZON customers will soon be able to pick up parcels from railway stations as part of a new deal between the online retail giant and Doddle, the click-and-collect joint venture between Network Rail and Travelex millionaire Lloyd Dorfman. Doddle is currently running a pilot operation at Milton Keynes station, with plans to expand the service [...]
The week in brief – UK agencies win big at the Cannes Lions June 23, 2014 UK agencies and creative shops were well-represented among the winners at last week’s Cannes Lions festival. Adam & Eve/DDB won big for its Harvey Nichols “sorry, I spent it on myself” Christmas work, as did OgilvyOne for its “magic of flying” campaign for British Airways. PHD won two golds for its work with Lego, and [...]
Wood you buy a home like this? Meet London’s new timber homes June 20, 2014 AN ENGLISHMAN’S home is his castle and his castle is almost always made out of bricks and mortar. Many house buyers take these building materials – along with stone and concrete masonry – for granted but it’s actually something of a national obsession. In Southern Germany and Austria, the cold mountain climate is perfect for [...]
Virgin Trains awarded more time on West Coast Main line June 19, 2014 Virgin Trains has been handed a contract to run the West Coast Main Line until at least 2017, less than two years after the firm took the government to court to avoid losing the franchise altogether. The Department for Transport said the extension to Virgin Trains’ franchise would bring better Wi-Fi, £20m in station upgrades [...]
Full steam ahead for Go-Ahead’s railway business as revenues rise June 19, 2014 Transport group Go-Ahead said yesterday that profits from its rail operations were set to beat expectations this year, helped by a drop in energy costs. The FTSE 250 firm, whose joint venture Govia runs the Southern, Southeastern and London Midland franchises, said that the railway business had performed better than expected, though profits were expected [...]
Letters to the Editor – 20/06 – The estuary option, Flatter the better, Best of Twitter June 19, 2014 The estuary option This week, Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Airports Commission, was questioned by the London Assembly. Some of his answers were worrying. He seemed to refuse to acknowledge the benefits a new four-runway hub airport would bring to Britain. When hubs are being built all over the world, with upwards of four [...]
BG Group gets rid of holding in major North Sea gas pipeline June 17, 2014 BG GROUP is selling off its majority stake in one of the North Sea’s biggest gas pipelines for as much as £562m. The London-listed firm said it will still have the right to transport fuel through the Central Area Transmission System (Cats) following the sale of a 62.78 per cent stake to investment group Antin [...]