Is HS2 a ‘rail to nowhere’? MPs quiz Harper on viability of delayed £1.2bn Euston project April 19, 2023 In a committee hearing this morning, transport secretary Mark Harper admitted that HS2’s Euston developments were “significantly” greater than the initial budget allocated. His comments followed confirmation that the £1.2bn tunnel from Old Oak Common would be paused until 2024. Harper faced an array of strong questions relating to Euston’s Old Oak Common section of [...]
London rent averages over £900 a month as desperate renters battle over fewer properties April 19, 2023 Private renters in London are faced with the highest costs since 2012 as a sparse and competitive market send the cost of homes in the capital to new highs. Landlords in the capital increased rent by 4.8 per cent in the 12 months to March 2023, up from an increase of 4.6 per cent in [...]
Heathrow to appeal against CAA price cap as airport warns passengers will bear the brunt of ‘underinvestment’ April 19, 2023 Heathrow Airport has said it will launch an appeal against the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) decision on how much it can charge passengers until December 2026. The Competition and Markets Authority will review the airport’s grounds for appeal and decide if any can proceed. Last month the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that the cap [...]
Rail strikes boost National Express revenues as coach operator bolsters electric fleet April 19, 2023 National Express has seen UK coach revenue rise by 87 per cent on the previous year, as rail strikes see passengers opt for alternative transport. Passenger growth at National Express also rose despite the six-day bus driver strike and a higher-than-expected pay settlement of 16.2% per cent in February. Reflecting strong financial performance, National Express [...]
Transport for London warns of huge crowds on Coronation weekend – and here’s what they’re doing about it April 18, 2023 Service providers such as Transport for London which operates the tube and bus network in the Capital have warned of huge central London crowds between 6 and 8 May over the bank holiday weekend. Extra train services are being laid on for the King’s coronation weekend, but the transport operation will not match the scale [...]
Halfords share price soars as retailer’s motoring offering woos cash-strapped Brits April 18, 2023 Halfords‘ share price soared over eight per cent this morning as the motoring and cycling giant revealed its sales could top £1.9bn. The Birmingham headquartered retailer, which has seen its shares slide 30 per cent in the last year, said it expected pre-tax profits to come in at around £90m to £110m, up from £50m [...]
E-scooter rental firm blames vandals for having to pull out of UK city April 18, 2023 An e-scooter rental firm has blamed vandals for its decision to pull out of Sunderland after just four months. Zwings began operating in the city in January after the last provider pulled out, saying rising energy costs were a key factor. But now the rental company said it will cut the number of its e-scooters [...]
EasyJet profits expected to fly past £260m as demand and ticket prices soar April 18, 2023 Easyjet announced a £120m improvement in its first half performance year on year, as the low-cost airline continued to turnaround its business. Headline losses before tax for the first half are expected to be between £405m and £425m, in spite of economic challenges including inflation, rising fuel costs and preparation costs for summer. The airline [...]
Decarbonising fleets ‘impossible’ due to absence of infrastructure and lack of plan, says HGV sector April 18, 2023 The heavy goods vehicle (HGV) sector is calling for an urgent government strategy to drive uptake of zero emission trucks, amid concerns over poor EV and hydrogen infrastructure. New analysis published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed that HGV electric and hydrogen models account for just one in 600 trucks on [...]
AA: Shareholders weigh up major sale of stake in roadside breakdown giant April 17, 2023 The AA’s shareholders are considering the sale of a significant stake in the £2.5bn breakdown specialists, as first reported by Sky News’ Mark Kleinmann. Towerbrook Capital Partners and Warburg Pincus have hired Goldman Sachs to advise on the deal, which could result in three shareholders taking an equal slice of the company. Analysts told Sky [...]