Unions won’t risk royal day strike action January 11, 2011 TRADE UNIONS have downplayed the threat of potential strike action on the day of the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton. Threats to ruin celebrations on 29 April incensed the city, after fears unions could bring London to a grinding halt, as millions the world over turn their focus on the capital for [...]
Petrofac gives job to drilling boss who quit over oil disaster January 5, 2011 OIL services firm Petrofac has hired the former boss of BP’s exploration and production (E&P) arm to run its energy developments business, less than four months after he quit BP in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico disaster. Andy Inglis, 51, will join the Petrofac board in March after relocating to London from Houston, [...]
Fare hike hits commuters January 3, 2011 COMMUTERS returning to work following the Christmas break have been hit with a fare hike of up to 13 per cent on annual rail season tickets. Rail passengers in London and the South East are facing increases as high as 12.8 per cent on some high-speed lines. Yearly tickets will increase across the country by [...]
City streetworks vital for business success January 3, 2011 ANYBODY who has ventured out onto the Square Mile’s streets knows the City’s microclimate – shaped by a so-called urban heat island effect – has not escaped the Arctic winter. The freezing weather has caused transport misery for people up and down the country and unfortunately, at the risk of stating the obvious, the weather [...]
Surviving trial by canape December 22, 2010 THINK of a job interview and you probably imagine something like the more frightening parts of The Apprentice, where you are confronted with a panel of beady-eyed people who fire questions at you. But for many City jobs an integral part of the process is meeting in a social situation, either a meal or a [...]
The City is back but under new management December 21, 2010 BRITAIN’S financial landscape has been transformed since we last shone a light on the City’s most powerful figures two years ago. The City A.M./CityJet Power Hundred 2011 list ranks the most influential figures in UK finance as we head into the new year. It should be no surprise that it is very different from 2009. [...]
SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT BE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE SEVERE WEATHER? December 20, 2010 JENNIFER DEVLIN | RSA GROUP JENNIFER DEVLIN | RSA GROUP“Yes, most definitely. I feel they could have spent more money and have done more about the whole country, not just London, especially when it comes to trains.” JOHN HEAGREN | TPD ASSOCIATES “Not really, between now and the last time of the snow, they couldn’t [...]
Coalition rejigs high speed line December 20, 2010 THE government has caved in to pressure from Conservative backbenchers by changing the planned route of the UK’s new high speed rail line from London to Birmingham. Transport secretary Philip Hammond said the changes would “significantly mitigate” the impact of the 250mph trains on towns and villages bordering the railway. The proposed line passes through [...]
Evening snow storms set to cause more havoc on trains December 19, 2010 FREEZING conditions and further snowfall are threatening to leave commuters stranded this evening. “The forecast is for continuing freezing weather and for more snow on Monday evening which will have an effect on services,” said a spokesman for Southeastern trains. Late evening delays are more likely than delays in the morning, he said. If track [...]
Go-Ahead sees profit growth in train travel December 14, 2010 TRANSPORT group Go-Ahead said yesterday that it expects first-half operating profit to nudge ahead of its expectations, driven by its rail unit, but will not move its full-year targets given the economic uncertainty. The company, which operates commuter rail franchises including Southeastern and London Midland, said yesterday its bus division is expected to remain robust, [...]