Hitachi ‘closes in on £200m West Coast franchise deal’ October 6, 2019 Hitachi is said to be close to clinching a £200m deal to overhaul trains and carriages on the West Coast Main Line. The award would come as a blow to struggling Canadian rival Bombardier, which was also pipped to the post by Hitachi on a £400m deal to build dozens of trains in the East [...]
Thomas Cook paid more than £20m to advisers in days before collapse October 5, 2019 Thomas Cook paid more than £20m to over 30 advisers in its final days as it failed to secure a rescue deal. The payout added to the cash deficit that led to the company’s collapse, with advisers working on behalf of the company, bondholders, shareholders, the pension fund and insurance schemes. They were all involved [...]
HS2 review panel considers axing eastern extension October 5, 2019 The High Speed 2 rail project could be scaled back in northern England to cut costs. Under plans drawn up by the panel reviewing the project, the route beyond the East Midlands to Leeds and Sheffield would be axed. Train speeds would also be cut by 40mph, in a bid to save more than £10bn, [...]
Ryanair ‘saving millions’ in unclaimed compensation October 4, 2019 Ryanair quit an aviation complaints body after being forced to pay more than £3.6m in handling fees and compensation last year. The move could save the budget airline millions but may cause problems for passengers trying to claim money back for flight delays or cancellations. Read more: Ryanair threatening to remove pilot perks over strikes [...]
IFS warns government against fuel duty cut October 4, 2019 The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned the government against cutting fuel tax by 2p per litre in the upcoming budget, which it is reportedly considering, saying it would cost the government £1bn a year in lost revenue. Read more: Fuel duty cut on the cards as threat of general election looms The IFS, [...]
Sun, sea and skint Spaniards: Spain plans up €300m tourism rescue package after Thomas Cook collapse October 3, 2019 Spain is preparing a $300m rescue package for its tourism industry, after the collapse of Thomas Cook is said to have left bars deserted and beaches empty at its holiday hotspots. The country’s tourism minister said the cash would be split across 13 different measures, including a credit line for companies struggling to cope. Read [...]
Big energy suppliers drop third of their profit in a year October 3, 2019 Big Six energy suppliers have lost more than a third of their profits over the last year as they keep losing market share to smaller competitors. EDF, Npower, SSE, Eon and Scottish Power and British Gas, which used to have a near monopoly on supplying energy to households in the UK, saw their share drop [...]
Stagecoach to stop share buy back programme at £30m October 3, 2019 Stagecoach will stop its share buy back programme once it has reached £30m, the transport giant announced this morning. Earlier this year, the firm announced a share buy back programme worth up to £60m over the next year following the government’s decision to bar it from three rail franchises. Read more: Abellio takes over East [...]
Petrol prices fell even as drones struck Saudi oil October 3, 2019 Worries that drone strikes in Saudi Arabia would drive up prices at the pumps for customers seemed unfounded, new data showed as petrol prices fell in September. The cost at the pumps dropped by 0.87p to 127.95 for unleaded petrol, even as diesel rose by a third of a pence to 132.07p per litre. However [...]
Ofgem replaces boss who stuck around to bring in price caps October 2, 2019 The chief executive of Ofgem who extended his contract to help push through a cap on energy prices, designed to save Brits money, will finally step down in February, it was revealed today. Dermot Nolan, who has been in the post since 2014, will be replaced by the company’s head of systems and networks, Jonathan [...]