InterCity rail operator West Coast Trains saw profits rise sharply during the year to 28 February 2009 to just under £99m, according to its annual accounts. Turnover was 1% down at £779m, whilst costs also fell (thanks to a cut in track access charges) by almost 5%. This was the first full year of the [...]

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To be honest, the promised review by the Government of the future of passenger rail franchising was a bit of a damp squib. It was commissioned late last autumn in the wake of the East Coast Main Line fiasco last summer. And, given the speed with which it was carried out, one cannot help feeling [...]

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At first sight, today’s news about the number of vacant properties in town centres may seem to have little to do with transport or buses. In fact, the figures are very important indeed, because they tell us a great deal about the overall prosperity of our town and city centres – upon which the viability [...]

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Arriva Cymru, the North Wales bus operator, saw strong revenue growth and improved profits in the year to 31 December 2008, according to its annual accounts. The year saw a £1.1m deal to acquire the assets and bus routes of Llanberis independent operator KMP, a deal completed in June 2008. Revenue and costs at the [...]

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Arriva Kent Thameside, the Dartford-based bus operator, built on strong recent performances and beat the onset of the recession to record a 35% increase in operating profits in the year to 31 December 2008, according to its annual accounts. The 169-vehicle company operates the award-winning Fastrack bus rapid transit system that links Dartford, Gravesend, Bluewater [...]

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Arriva’s Leciestershire operations saw a 10% increase in operating profits during the year to 31 December 2008, according to its annual accounts. The 254 vehicle business, smaller since the sale of its Hinckley depot and network to Centrebus, achieved a very small increase in revenue despite the shrinkage, but acheived a small saving in operating [...]

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Arriva’s North West subsidiary, which runs 286 buses on services in Cheshire and West and South Lancashire, slipped into the red in the year to 31 December 2008, according to its annual accounts, recording a loss of £0.49m on turnover of £47m. Revenue fell in both cash and real terms, whilst operating costs continued to [...]

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