Letters to the Editor – 30/10 – HS2 flaws, Housing mobility, Best of Twitter October 29, 2013 HS2 flaws [Re: FTSE bosses lose faith in HS2, yesterday] That half of the surveyed FTSE 100 bosses are now against HS2 further underlines why the project has deep faults. The business case for HS2 is flawed, highlighted by the government’s own report, which lowered the expected benefit-cost ratio and revised an assumption that business people [...]
FTSE bosses lose faith in high speed 2 October 28, 2013 LEADERS of the country’s biggest companies are losing faith in the planned High Speed 2 railway, a poll out yesterday showed, in spite of a renewed push by the government to convince businesses that the project will benefit the economy. A poll of 34 of the FTSE 100’s chairmen found that 49 per cent believe [...]
MPs doubt Thameslink railway upgrade will complete on time October 28, 2013 THE LONG-RUNNING Thameslink railway upgrade project could miss its intended 2018 completion date, a group of MPs warn in a report released today. The public accounts select committee said it is “not confident” that new trains for the cross-London route will be delivered on schedule – because it took the Department of Transport three years longer than expected [...]
London wakes up to damage after storm hits October 28, 2013 LONDON was battered by 70mph winds and heavy rain yesterday, leaving at least four people dead across southern England and putting severe pressure on the city’s transport links. More than a hundred trees fell across train tracks leading to the capital, meaning most operators cancelled and delayed morning services. Services on the Overground were cancelled [...]
Transport bosses in stay-at-home storm October 28, 2013 READERS that chose to stay at home rather than face the chaos that was the St Jude storm yesterday were in excellent company. Several witnesses due in front of the House of Commons transport committee, including representatives of British Airways, Heathrow, Gatwick and the Local Government Association, were unable to show up. Even some of [...]
Storm chaos as gale force winds hit Britain October 28, 2013 Cancelled rail services leave London and South East in lockdown as gale force winds hit COMMUTERS are facing chaos this morning after the looming storm heading towards southern Britain prompted rail companies to cancel and delay a swathe of services. While the exact timing of the worst of the St Jude storm could not be [...]
Why we should all remember the man who built Canary Wharf October 28, 2013 THREE major forces help drive progress: economic and legal institutions; people, especially risk-taking buccaneers and entrepreneurs; and chance. The creation of Canary Wharf is a case study of how all three factors interact: its rise from the ashes of the bankrupt Docklands transformed London’s economy, enabling it to build and retain a world class financial [...]
Budget for High Speed 2 to face fresh questions October 28, 2013 THE BUDGET for the controversial High Speed 2 railway is under the spotlight this week as a new business case for the scheme is published and MPs vote on a bill that allows the project to proceed. Danny Alexander, the Treasury minister, said yesterday he is “very confident” that HS2 will be delivered within its [...]
More passengers set to feel the squeeze on London’s busy buses October 28, 2013 THE CITY’S buses will become more crowded unless Transport for London adds more services to meet soaring demand, a report out today from the London Assembly claims. The assembly has called on the Mayor of London and TfL to pinpoint which routes they would improve in the coming years. The number of bus trips rose [...]
Stobart profits get boost from Autologic buy October 24, 2013 BRITISH haulier Stobart Group’s first-half revenue from continuing operations jumped 33 per cent, helped by its acquisition of Autologic Holdings in mid 2012. The company, whose Eddie Stobart trucks deliver goods to retailers like Tesco, reported an underlying pre-tax profit of £13.8m in the six months ended 31 August, up five per cent from a [...]