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14
Chief Operating Officer’s Report
Since the launch of the original Daventry to Mossend service
in 2006, the project’s success has resulted in the launch of a
further three UK trains, running between five and six days
per week. Potential routes are constantly in development,
with an additional Wakefield to Mossend service due to
commence in September 2011.
Going forward, our rail freight operations will be positioned
within the Group’s new Transport and Distribution Division.
Infrastructure Engineering
Stobart Rail’s Infrastructure and Civil Engineering Division has
become one of the UK’s leading names in rail network
maintenance, repair and improvement. Operating throughout
the UK, Infrastructure Engineering is active in delivering
earthworks, structures, bridge replacement, permanent way,
emergency works, drainage and lineside infrastructure works.
This year has seen the business awarded a package of rail
maintenance contracts from Network Rail which will see
waterproofing work undertaken at three major rail bridges
across the North West between April and December 2011.
Under the contract we will be working on Foxfield Viaduct
on the Cumbrian Coast line near Millom and two other
railway bridges over the M6 motorway at Knutsford and
Sandbach in Cheshire.
Our expertise in track-related engineering is gaining wide
recognition, with an increase in national contracts and
continued work on Stobart Group’s rail-related projects.
Following the Group restructuring, the Rail Infrastructure
business will become part of the new Infrastructure and Civil
Engineering Division.
Stobart Developments
Stobart Developments is responsible for the development and
improvement of the Group’s property holdings. The Division
concentrates on the regeneration of brownfield sites into
valuable business space, recycling often contaminated land
back into use.
Wherever possible, during redevelopment or improvement,
environmentally responsible innovations are introduced.
These range from recycling of concrete and steelwork into
hardcore and valuable scrap, through to lime stabilisation to
bring make previously contaminated land suitable for
construction.
Following the Group restructuring, the developments
business will also be part of the new Infrastructure and Civil
Engineering division.
Stobart Air
London Southend Airport (LSA) is predicting passenger
growth to 2 million passengers per year by 2020.
The construction projects required to make LSA a fully-
functioning regional airport by 2012 are all on target to meet
their completion dates. The new LSA rail station and car park
are now complete and the new control tower is fully
operational. Construction of the new passenger terminal and
aircraft stands is progressing well, whilst construction of a
prestigious new 126 bedroom hotel at the entrance of the
airport has recently been granted planning permission, and
is scheduled to commence shortly.
Approval of the plans to extend the runway was granted in
April 2010. When completed in Winter 2011, the extension
will greatly enhance the airport’s business. The will result in
increased services, as it will enable the airport to attract
commercial passenger services to a variety of business and
holiday destinations that are not currently served by London
Southend Airport.
The extended runway and the airport’s location outside the
congested London Air Traffic Control Area, coupled with
excellent rail access via the new dedicated railway station,
make it an ideal location to meet the demand for European
business and leisure travel. These flights will typically use
aircraft with up to 160 seats, such as the popular Airbus 319,
Boeing 737 and Embraer 195.
Passenger flights from LSA to destinations in Ireland
commenced on 27 March 2011. Operated by Aer Arann, the
new flights serve Waterford and Galway, twice daily, seven
days a week.
In recognition of the contribution that the recently approved
runway extension will make to air travel in and out of
London, in September 2010 LSA was awarded the European
Regions Airline Association (ERA) Airport Achievement
Award for 2010/11. Assessed by a panel of aviation experts,
this prestigious award signifies the best achievement by an
ERA member airport over the preceding 12 months. LSA’s
success is based on the positive role it has played in support
of future intra-European air transport operations.
William Stobart
, Chief Operating Officer
May 2011