Get set for Southern Rail strikes next week, after union talks broke down August 5, 2016 There's no easy way to say this: those Southern Rail strikes are more than likely going ahead next week after talks between bosses and the RMT union broke down. Talks between Southern and RMT ended with no resolution this evening, meaning five days of strikes will go ahead next week. That came after RMT offered [...]
Heading to Brighton Pride this weekend? Southern Rail could cause problems due to staff shortages August 5, 2016 Londoners heading to the Pride festival in Brighton this weekend could be in for a longer party than they are expecting, with industrial action set to cause delays, cancellations and a lot of waiting for train services. Southern Rail has warned that "because of continuing train crew shortages, some services may have to be cancelled [...]
RMT has just offered to suspend next week’s Southern strike – but only if it matches an offer by ScotRail August 5, 2016 The RMT union has offered to suspend strikes on Southern Rail planned for next week – but only if Southern meets certain conditions. In an open letter to Southern managing director Charles Horton following two days of Acas talks, the union said it will suspend strikes as long as the company matches an offer made by [...]
Commuters face fresh Southern misery as union ballots members on new strikes August 3, 2016 Southern Rail travellers face fresh commute misery in September after a rail union announced plans to ballot staff over a potential strike. The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association will poll 150 station staff members over Southern railway plans to close ticket offices and cut staffing numbers. 34 offices are set to close, while 49 will only [...]
Jeremy Corbyn ramps up calls for railway renationalisation and for government to take over Southern Rail franchise August 3, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will today ramp up his pledge to renationalise the UK’s railways. At a public rally in Brighton, one of the cities worst hit by the Southern Rail crisis, Corbyn will call on the government to end the franchise and reiterate the Labour Party’s commitment to a nationalised “People’s Railway”. “If there’s [...]
The RMT must cancel its self-indulgent and self-harming Southern Rail strike August 2, 2016 After the vote for Brexit, it is more important than ever that London does all it can to reassure people from around the globe that it remains the best city in the world in which to do business. Part of this is ensuring that London remains a city that works, including that employees and visitors [...]
Hinkley Point C: Prioritising the politically sexy over the economically rational is a waste of money July 29, 2016 The new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point, which has finally been approved by EDF’s board, will be the most expensive power station anywhere in the world. Beset by delays (first proposed in 2006, it was meant to come online in 2017), it won’t be operational until 2025 and EDF will still receive its enormous £30bn [...]
Southern Rail guards to stage five-day strike in August 2016 July 28, 2016 Rail union RMT has confirmed a new round of industrial action involving Southern Rail guards after "a point blank refusal by both the company and the government to engage with the union" ahead of a 21 August deadline. Guards will not work any shifts between 12:01AM on Monday 8 August and 11:59PM on Friday 12 August. [...]
Eurotunnel’s share price drops after profit warning July 20, 2016 Eurotunnel has warned over its earnings this year and next after the pound's rapid plunge in the wake of last month's Brexit vote. The Channel Tunnel operator said its 2016 objective of €560m (£469m) in earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) was now €535m due to a change in the exchange rate. Meanwhile, its [...]
It’s high time Southern Rail got its act together July 12, 2016 Commuters on the troubled Southern rail franchise have had enough, and rightly so. The London and south-east England service has been beset by delays and cancellations caused by engineering works and industrial action. Yesterday, long-suffering commuters demonstrated in Victoria station during the evening rush-hour in protest at the lamentable service they’re forced to endure. The protest [...]