17th February 2012
In this issue:Industry developments this week
Two legal campaigns against the High Speed Two line were announced this week:
- The HS2 Action Alliance has served a formal letter on Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary asking her to scrap the scheme which would see trains hurtling through the Chilterns. Daily Telegraph
- Camden council signalled is to join the judicial review. More than two-thirds of the 323 homes earmarked for demolition along the entire route are within the first half-mile in central London. The Guardian
The freight train which derailed at Bletchley a week ago halting services on the West Coast main line was travelling too fast, the Office of Rail Regulation has said. Evening Standard
Network Rail has dismissed calls for the chairman of its remuneration committee to step down following the controversy over executive bonuses. BBC News
Taxis and cars are to be banned permanently from Edinburgh Waverley station as part of anti-terrorism measures. BBC News
Rail operators will no longer be allowed to make money from forcing passengers onto replacement buses at the weekend, under new Government plans. Daily Telegraph
New services
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has fixed the final piece of rail in place on the London Overground extension to Clapham Junction. Transport Briefing
Chiltern Railways is understood to have secured the legal permissions it needed to deliver a new rail link between Marylebone and Oxford following difficulties with a bat protection licence. Transport Briefing
ASLEF has welcomed Ken Livingstone’s plans to construct two new underground lines in London if he wins the mayoral election. Press release
Other stories in the press
The RMT union is to strike on three dates on the Heathrow Express, starting 26 February, in a dispute over a sacked driver. BBC News
“Patience is wearing thin” after three days of disruption to Southeastern services near Canterbury caused by a gas leak, Charles Horton has said. BBC News
Network Rail is to require employees at its new offices in Milton Keynes to live within an hour and 15-minute commute of the building after moving much of its workforce from London and elsewhere. Financial Times
A Kent MP is meeting London transport bosses over fears that London Overground may take over the running of some of the county’s train services. BBC News
Network Rail is funding a £5 million programme to fit additional disc brakes to road rail vehicles amid calls for safety improvement. Press Association
Bombardier has renewed its threat to shut the plant in Derby unless it wins the tender for Crossrail trains. Financial Times
A transport pressure group has called for the next generation of Scottish trains to be nationalised and not leased by private companies. Railnews
Platforms at Green Park and Oxford Circus London Underground stations are to be cooled this summer. BBC News
Transport for London is increasing the penalty charge for travelling without a valid ticket from £50 to £80 this weekend. Transport Briefing
Holding group sharecheck
Summary:
FirstGroup announced an interim dividend per share which was paid out on 1 February to shareholders on the register of members at the close of business on 6 January, accounting for the sharp drop after that date.
Shares in the Go-Ahead Group rose by almost 5 per cent in late December after itraised full-year operating profit forecasts on the back of strong passenger growth at its rail franchises.
Shares in Stagecoach rallied in early December after the group declared an interim dividend.
