Issue 22/2012

13th July 2012

In this issue:

Industry developments this week

Train punctuality data published to the nearest minute for the first time shows 30 percent of trains ran late last year. The Times Transport Briefing

There is a breakdown of trust between Network Rail‘s board and its members, but the row over bonuses must stop to prevent a loss of talent to the private sector, outgoing chairman Rick Haythornthwaite has warned. Financial Times (two articles in PDF)

Southeastern has been fined £65,000 and ordered to pay costs of £22,590 after one of its trains ran out of control for more than three miles in November 2010. Transport Briefing

New rail services

A new £500m rail link to Heathrow airport, which will cut journey times by up to 30 minutes for travellers from south Wales, has been approved. BBC News

Other stories

Deutsche Bahn is hoping a new report will convince the European Union not to force a separation of its rail infrastructure and rail operator divisions in Germany. European Voice

Chiltern Railways, the train franchise which inspired ministers to devise “more flexible” future franchises is in choppy waters – but the government is carrying on regardless. Private Eye

An Arriva Trains Wales service carrying 30 passengers derailed in Pembrokeshire after hitting cows on the line. BBC News

  • The line to Fishguard Harbour is expected to be closed over the weekend. BBC News

A boulder is the likely cause of a GBRailfreight train derailment on the West Highland line late last month, the RAIB have said. BBC News

BTP commander Ellie Bird has spoken to The Herald about how she intends to enforce Scotland‘s new train alcohol ban.

A decision on compensation to be paid to people affected by the building of High Speed 2 has been delayed. BBC News

Finance, business and sharecheck

Summary:

National Express has revealed that it is on the shortlist to operate a regional train business in Germany. The Times

  • The Fitch credit ratings agency announced it had adjusted a National Express grade to BBB-, to reflect its leading position in some transport sectors and diversified earnings. Reuters

Stagecoach has announced a slight fall in full year profits falling 1.5% in the year to April to £202.5m, on revenues that increased by 8.4% to reach £2.59bn. Transport Briefing

  • Stagecoach’s Brian Souter has told The Times he hopes his company’s Megabus operation in the US will mitigate slumping profits at East Midlands Trains and Virgin Trains.
  • Stagecoach last month announced a final dividend to shareholders. Reuters


Click here for other time periods