Return of the commuters gives Go-Ahead a boost

Go-Ahead, the transport giant behind the London to Kent high-speed rail service, today hailed signs of recovery in the industry and said the recession-fuelled decline in passenger numbers was now "bottoming out."

The firm, which runs the capital's London General and London Central buses, said it was enjoying "strong" passenger numbers on the routes.

Go-Ahead admitted its rail unit's first-half profit would be 50% down on last year because of cuts in Government subsidies, but said revenue at its commuter train routes Southern Railways and London Midland were up 10%.

Even Southeastern, the Kent and Sussex route most hit by the downturn in commuters, saw earnings rise 2%.

Chief executive Keith Ludeman said the 29 Javelin trains running from Kent to St Pancras were "going really well".

Ludeman, who got into trouble in June for telling commuters who wanted a seat on a train to "move to the seaside", added that the new line would increase capacity by 5% and "significantly reduce" the number of people having to stand.