At an industry forum attended by eighty senior industry stakeholders the Secretary of State for Transport, the Right Honourable Justine Greening MP, said: “The truth is straightforward and undeniable: the rail industry will only be able to compete for future investment if its long-term cost issues are addressed. I’m pleased to say that the delivery group is demonstrating the industry’s willingness to take on board the challenge.”

The chairman of the Rail Delivery Group, Tim O’Toole, said: “The industry has much to be proud of, serving the enormous growth in passengers and freight while improving safety and performance - but more must be done. Six months ago, the leadership of Network Rail and the major train and freight operating companies came together as the Rail Delivery Group. To serve our passengers and freight shippers even more effectively the Rail Delivery Group must unlock greater efficiencies through collective action and reformed commercial relationships”.

Tim O’Toole continued: “We have made early progress in uncovering the way those challenges can be met. The forum is the start of a process to inform and seek the views of other key members of the industry about our efforts.”

The industry forum heard members of the Rail Delivery Group describe progress with each of the group’s priorities, which cover

  Asset, programme and supply-chain management
  Commercial and contractual arrangements
  Technology, innovation and working practices
  Train utilisation
  Establishing a Rail Systems Agency
  Industry planning

Tim O’Toole concluded: “The Rail Delivery Group will provide the leadership to deliver value for money from these priority areas, which will provide the springboard for further cross-industry efficiencies in 2012”

City.Mobi

Also in Europe today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to London.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

London.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.