Wincanton to run Morrisons’ M Local centre October 7, 2012 WINCANTON, the logistics company, has won a multi-million pound contract to run Morrisons’ new distribution centre in West London as the grocer prepares to roll-out 20 convenience stores across the capital by year-end. Wincanton said the five-year contract will see it managing both the 100,000 square feet warehouse, opening in Feltham next year, and the [...]
PM is shunted off track by Branson win October 3, 2012 THE COALITION’S rail policies have been left in disarray by the collapse of the West Coast handover, after “terrible mistakes” in the bidding process were uncovered. Department for Transport officials met with erstwhile winning bidder FirstGroup and current operator Virgin Trains yesterday to make peace and ensure the intercity rail route continues to run after [...]
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix Britain’s trains October 3, 2012 THE announcement of the suspension of not only the West Coast train competition – which covers trains from Euston to the north west – but the whole of the rail franchising programme and a number of the department’s officials, has sent shock waves through Britain’s rail sector. Patrick McLoughlin, the secretary of state for transport, [...]
FTSE 100 down on poor Chinese data October 3, 2012 The leading share index slipped back under the 5,800 mark this morning, as weak Chinese services sector data weighed on investor sentiment. Mining stocks were hit, as the poor outlook from Asia raised concerns about raw demand. Leading the fallers in early trade was Lamprell, down more than 32 per cent, as it issued its [...]
Probe into rail bids as First’s contract axed October 2, 2012 THE GOVERNMENT last night backed down to Sir Richard Branson’s legal challenge over FirstGroup winning the West Coast rail route, admitting to “significant technical flaws” in the process. Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin cancelled the competition, which controversially saw the route awarded to First from December. The process will now have to be rerun, with Virgin [...]
Aviation report could alter the route of HS2 September 30, 2012 THE HIGH-SPEED rail link between London and the North could be relocated to pass through Heathrow, if the government allows the airport to expand after 2015. The Department for Transport (DfT) yesterday said that a bill will be introduced by the end of 2013 to get the ball rolling on building High Speed 2, as [...]
Fresh Tube strike looms as RMT ballots over driver-free trains September 27, 2012 TUBE union the RMT yesterday said it will ballot drivers for industrial action over plans to introduce driverless trains to the London Underground. The union is angry at imminent tests of driver-free Tube trains on the Jubilee line, which it argues could lead to unstaffed stations and ticket offices. “Every train must have a driver, [...]
Bidders line up to take on the Essex Thameside rail franchise September 27, 2012 FOUR companies are believed to have submitted bids for the Essex Thameside rail route by yesterday’s deadline. The Department for Transport received proposals from National Express, which currently runs the route under the c2c name, as well as FirstGroup, Abellio and London Overground operator MTR. All four firms were shortlisted last March. The winner, to [...]
The City should put its financial expertise at the service of infrastructure September 23, 2012 INFRASTRUCTURE hit the headlines once again last week, as the Confederation of British Industry urged quicker progress on delivering major transport and energy projects. This is a contentious subject, and calls to fast-track spending in this area are nothing new. In fact, the government has already taken steps to underwrite up to £40bn of investment, [...]
London to get 600 Routemasters September 20, 2012 ■ Transport for London yesterday agreed to roll out 600 new Routemaster buses over the next four years, but fare-payers will bear the cost. TfL will buy the buses directly from the manufacturer, after bus operators were reluctant to splash out on the vehicles individually. Around 93 buses will appear by the end of 2013, [...]