Stagecoach announces increased profits and revenues across its main divisions ..and sees opportunities ahead to grow the business. Key points of the report... New West Coast Trains franchise agreed, Extension of South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance and £9m invested in pursuing new rail franchise opportunities.
Sadly, loss of life in another Indian Express train derailment...possibly the result of sabotage...
And more reaction to the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer's comments about "HS3". Now Bristol and Carlisle want to be included!
And an insightful comment on how the Panama Canal extension will affect other transport modes....including rail..
For the full stories, click on the links...
Headlines
UK
Bus demand lifts Stagecoach profits and revenue. (BBC News).
Stagecoach Group plc – Preliminary Results for the year ended 30 April 2014
25 Jun 2014
Financial results in line with expectations
- Adjusted earnings per share* up 5.7% to 26.0 pence (2013 restated: 24.6 pence)
- Full year dividend per share up 10.5% to 9.5 pence (2013: 8.6 pence)
- Net debt+ down £76.4m to £461.6m (2013: £538.0m)
- Current trading in line with management expectations
UK Bus
- Market-leading financial performance and customer satisfaction
- Orders for over £110m of new greener buses for 2014/15
- New contract wins in London driven by good cost control and operational performance
UK Rail
- New West Coast Trains franchise agreed
- Extension of South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance
- £9m invested in pursuing new rail franchise opportunities
North America
- Over 80% increase in operating profit
- megabus.com inter-city services driving growth in revenue and operating profit
- Progress in resolving legal cases at Twin America sightseeing joint venture
Growth opportunities ahead
- Focus on customer service improvements to support modal shift
- Development of megabus.com product and footprint
- Planned extensions or direct awards of South West and East Midlands rail franchises
- Shortlisted for InterCity East Coast rail franchise in partnership with Virgin, with pipeline of other new rail opportunities in UK
Commenting on the results, Chief Executive, Martin Griffiths, said:
“We have met our expectations for the year. Across the Group, we have a strong set of locally-managed businesses which are improving services for our customers, supporting the economy and communities, and adding value for our investors.
“For many years, we have built a sustainable business and attracted more people to greener public transport through a successful combination of low fares, continued investment, innovation, financial discipline and high customer satisfaction. By working together, we believe the public and private sector can best provide high quality bus and rail travel.
“In the UK, we have placed record orders for new vehicles at our regional bus networks in 2014/15, which is a sign of our confidence in continuing to get people out of their cars and back on board the bus. We have the lowest fares of any national bus operator and the highest customer satisfaction. In London, we are winning and retaining contracts on the right terms and our customers are benefitting from improved operational performance.
“Stagecoach is one of the UK’s premier rail operators and we see new franchising opportunities ahead. While we were disappointed not to secure the new Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern rail franchise, we are very pleased that Virgin Rail Group has agreed a new West Coast rail franchise and that we have extended our innovative alliance with Network Rail at South West Trains. Positive discussions are continuing with the Department for Transport with a view to agreeing franchise extensions or direct awards at South West Trains and East Midlands Trains. Our objective is to achieve agreements which will collectively benefit customers, taxpayers and our shareholders.
“Our growing megabus.com business is continuing to expand and is leading a resurgence in good value, high quality inter-city travel options for people in the UK, mainland Europe and North America. In North America, in particular, we have significantly extended our footprint with new hubs, including in Florida. We believe there is a huge opportunity to encourage motorists to switch from the car, and our expansion plans are well on track. Our other wholly-owned operations in North America are performing satisfactorily and we are also pleased to have made progress in resolving the way forward for our Twin America sightseeing joint venture.
“The fantastic response of our professional and committed people to the prolonged extreme winter weather in parts of the UK and North America illustrates how central they are to our success. The Group itself has a strong financial foundation. I am confident we have new ideas and new opportunities ahead to deliver further sustainable growth in our business.”
Copies of this announcement are available on the Stagecoach Group website at http://www.stagecoach.com/investors/financial-analysis/reports/2014.aspx
King’s Cross tops station theft league but crime on Tube falls .(London Evening Standard).
Chancellor’s high-speed rail plan criticised for ignoring Bristol.(Bristol24-7.com).
Mayor George Ferguson: Bristol must not be left out of high-speed rail plan.(SouthWestBusiness).
South Lakes MP wants high speed rail for Carlisle.(ITV News)
Carlisle
Base - Programme Thursday 26 June 2014, Guildhall, London
"GIVING LONDON THE INFRASTRUCTURE IT NEEDS TO MEET ITS 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENT AMBITIONS"
"Understanding the risk and opportunity landscape"
"What makes design, construction and planning future-proof?"
"THE LONG VIEW: HOUSING, ENERGY AND TRANSPORT KEYNOTES AND PANEL"
"Placemaking: ensuring development and regeneration serve London and its needs"
Scheme presenters:
Rob Leak, chief executive, Enfield Council
Helen Fisher, programme director, Vauxhall Nine Elms
Expert discussion lead:
Christian Wolmar, transport writer and broadcaster, and potential Labour London mayoral candidate
Julia Moulder, development director, Catalyst Housing and chair of G15 development directors group
Chris Fry, director, Temple Group
UK Heritage
Great Railway Treasure Hunt | North Yorkshire Moors Railway :: A steam train adventure through the stunning Yorkshire Moors.
Peter’s Railway is a intriguing story about Peter and his Grandpa building and operating a miniature steam railway on a farm. Written by Christopher Vine this wonderful journey of fun, facts and adventure takes you through the stories of railways old and new. The books can be bought in our shops and on-line.
This year a free competition for children under the age of 14 years is running in conjunction with over 50 heritage railways and museums and a prize fund of £1000. The 1st prize is £300, 2nd prize is £100 and another prize of £100 for an entrant who has visited the most railways or museums in the Treasure Hunt. There are also 10 runner-up prizes of £50 each. Closing date 30th September 2014.
Download the North Yorkshire Moors Railway leg of Peter’s Railway Treasure Hunt and view other participating venues here. The more railway sites visited, the more points can be collected and the greater the chance of winning. So start planning your day trips, short breaks and holidays now.
Be sure to read all the Rules in the pdf. Good Luck!
Christopher Vine will also be signing books at Pickering Station for the Autumn Steam Gala.
Casualty | The UK's Only Main Line Heritage Railway(GCR)
June 1934: Cock o’the North(The Engineer)
Readers of our current issue will have noticed our feature on the rebuilding of the LNER P2 locomotive, the most powerful steam loco ever built to handle passenger services in the UK. Back in 1934, our reporters marked the building of the original P2, Cock o’the North, when it was truly a state-of-the-art innovation
Read more: http://www.theengineer.co.uk/in-depth/classic-archive/june-1934-cock-othe-north/1018825.article#ixzz35fmHXK14
Signalling Day Experience.(National Railway Museum)
Kidderminster Station Signal Box.
Africa
Railways Africa.
COSATU STRIKE OVER METRORAIL FARES
GAUTENG RAILWAY PLANNING
FULLY CENTRALISING MAIN-LINE CONTROL
TRANSNET FREIGHT RAIL BUSINESS UNITS
NEW LOCOS IN LIBERIA
NAMIBIA’S TSUMEB LINE UNDER REPAIR
More Here
For a taste of travel in Africa, get your copy of Chris Tarrant's Extreme Railways Journey
-Congo's Jungle Railway.- Here
Australia
When Islam came to Australia.(BBC news).
A feature which describes how between 1860 and 1930 up to 4,000 cameleers came to Australia, bringing their camels with them. Many were from Afghanistan,and also from India and present-day Pakistan. They played a key role in opening up the deserts, providing supplies to remote mission stations, and helping to lay the Overland Telegraph Line and the Ghan Railway line, which still runs today, crossing the Australian desert from north to south, the name "Ghan" deriving from "Afghan", as the train's logo of a cameleer clearly shows.
For a taste of the Ghan, get your copy of Chris Tarrant's Extreme Railways Journey
-Australia's Outback Railway.- Here
France
France to sell part of GDF Suez to fund Alstom deal.(BBC News).
India
After selling 5 lakh passes in 4 days, Railways roll back hike -(www.mid-day.com).
(lakh = 100,000.)
India steps back from rail fare increases (Ft.com)
Ministers suspect Maoist hand in Dibrugarh Express derailment.(Business Standard).
According to this report, the Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani express derailed this morning at around 2.15 am near Chhapra, leaving at least four people were dead and eight others injured ....
India passenger train derails in Bihar.(BBC News).
12 coaches of Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express derail. (Times Now on YouTube)
The Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express derailed near Chhapra in Bihar at around 2:10 am leaving four persons dead and eight injured. 12 bogies of the train derailed at Golden Ganj. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and relief operations are on. The railway official haven't ruled out the possibility of a sabotage.
USA
Impact of Panama Canal Expansion.(Wave Point Consulting).
The widening of the Panama Canal , due to be fully operational by January 2016, has resulted in a debate on the implication of the widened Canal on freight rates, customer service levels and the future earning potential of railways..etc. This report makes interesting reading..
www.progressiverailroading.com
Other Railway Press
SmartRailWorld
| Hover-car transit to debut in Tel-Aviv in 2015 | ||
By Luke Upton, 25 Jun 2014
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Tell us your Railway News!