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The article focuses on transport secretary Theresa Villiers' involvement in the field of politics in Great Britain. It highlights on the things that Villiers has in mind. Notwithstanding, she contends on promoting greater integration between track and train as well as the investments in the railways. Furthermore, she also points out on the tension created by any planning system on both local and national interest.

The article reports on the confirmation of Network Rail Ltd. in Great Britain to build as many as five new inter-city rail lines which could run high speed services. Network Rail chief executive officer (CEO) Iain Coucher said that by 2025, many lines will be filled up, especially those running to and from the north and west of London. He added that the plan will take in action even after company has implemented the investment to boost current capacity.

The article discusses the executive ability of Nirmal Kotecha who was selected as the major projects director of Highways Agency in Great Britain. Kotecha said that he can be an agent of change who is someone who can challenge the status quo and is not afraid of change. He added that he has developed commercial models that drive behavior to unlock value.

The article discusses the issues on rail industry, which is desperate to start building High Speed 2, as well as the problem of political will in Great Britain. It is noted that the transport select committee of Members of Parliaments (MP) slammed the Department for Transport for dragging its heels on high speed rail. It is stated that the push to being planning is because of the lengthy lead-in times and looking congestion, especially on the West Coast Main Line (WCML).

The article reports on the plan of the Conservatives to support the development of new high speed rail line in their election manifesto in Great Britain. Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said that he is working hard on proposals to take high speed rail forward to see if the government cannot start to catch up with countries like France. However, the government was not convinced by the green credentials of high speed rail according to rail minister Tom Harris.

The article reports on the use of a congestion charging scheme to fund the public transport expansion program in Manchester, England. The program will also be funded by a £2.8 billion package which includes £1.5 billion from the Department for Transportation and £1.2 billion from participating Greater Manchester authorities. Congestion is identified as an approach to further growth in the area.

The article reports on the opposition of the Members of the Parliaments (MP) to give the control of the Planning Bill to the independent Infrastructure Planning Committee (IPC) in Great Britain. The bill to build major infrastructure projects in the country will allow IPC to make planning decisions regarding the national project. The rebel group of MPs in support with the Conservative Party have signed an early day motion to take away the amendment from the IPC.

The article reports that BAA Heathrow Airport managing director Mark Bullock left his position in the company after being blamed for the construction delays for the Terminal 5 of the airport. However, BAA's statement tells that Bullock has left because of changes to his role and not for any other reason. British Airways (BA) chief executive Willie Walsh also comments on the issue. It mentions that chief operating officer at London Underground Mike Brown will replace Bullock's left position.

The article presents an overview of the financial and economic condition of the construction industry in Great Britain. A Financial Stability Report released by the Bank of England suggests that banks have made a big mistake by investing on a market, the prices of which is stated to have declined by around 15%. The report forecasts losses in the property sector with a vicious cycle of cut backs and reduced capital spend.

The article reports on the decline of the commercial property market. The total decline for commercial property is reported to be 9.7% for the year to March 2008. The largest fall in the commercial sector is stated to have taken place in industrial development with a 9% fall over 12 months. The retail sub sector is reported to have witnessed a fall of 11.8% for the financial year.

The article presents information on a criticism related to a proposed Construction and the Built Environment diploma. It is stated that the criticisms emerged as the teaching unions expressed doubts and uncertainties about many aspects of the qualification. It is stated that the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Great Britain, was working towards strengthening the maths and physics components of the diploma.

The article reports on the announcement of Transport for London (TfL) that regardless of who wins the mayoral elections for London, England, current Mayor Ken Livingstone's plan for the Tube tunnel will be realised. The two contracts of failed tube upgrade contractor Metronet will be taken in-house by the TfL. Neither of Livingstone's main rivals, Conservative Boris Johnson and Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick, have objected to TfL's plans, although both insist they would run the Tube differently to Livingstone.

The article reports on a series of bad news stories in the construction industry in Great Britain as of April 24, 2008 that affected the image of the industry. The British Office of Fair Trading (OFT) named 112 English construction firms for their alleged involvement in bid rigging, including major contractors Balfour Beatty, Carillion and Interserve. Three Amey Mouchel workers were reportedly jailed for racist bullying. According to Association for Consultancy & Engineering chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin, such stories came at the worst possible time.

The article offers information on plans for high-speed rail alignments running north from London, England unveiled by consultant Atkins. Transport, planning managing director Andy Southern stated a high-speed rail network should be viewed in terms of its benefit to relieving congestion and economic gain as well. The project shows a potential to reduce carbon emissions from transport in Great Britain. Network Rail chief executive officer (CEO) Iain Coucher admitted that new high-speed lines were under observation.

The article on the partnership between Network Rail Ltd. and British Transport Police to conduct a daily flight across eight regions in Great Britain to protect and maintain its infrastructure. The Air Operations Unit makes two flights per day to check track and overhead cables in order to ensure the rack is free from obstructions. Pilot Matt Leaver said that helicopters is more cost-effective despite expensive rate compared to track patrols.

The article reports that Network Rail Ltd. has received its fine for £14 million for overruns during the New Year at Rugby, London's Liverpool Street and at Glasgow's Shields Junction in Great Britain. Chief executive Iain Coucher of Network Rail admitted the allegations of overambitious to get the work done on time. He further explained that the overruns were essentials for the completion of the work to improve the transportation.

The article addresses the uncertainty surrounding the issue of how the European Union emissions trading scheme will work after 2012. In Europe, the price of carbon released into the atmosphere by industry is far from being truly open to market forces; rather it is dictated by Brussels via the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. With no certainty about which companies will be handed carbon credits or whether they will be able to buy enough of them after 2012, Lafarge has decided to suspend investment in new cement plants.

The article deals with the dispute between rail engineers and National Grid over a disused South Yorkshire rail tunnel in England. National Grid wants to install a set of cables in the disused 4.5 kilometers double track Woodhead rail tunnel, which runs between Sheffield and Deepcar. But, rail campaigners including Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher claim the tunnel needs safeguarding so it can be used by freight services. They have warned that the cabling would create an irrevocable loss of rail capacity.

The article discusses the flooding in Great Britain in summer 2007. Association of British Insurers (ABI) climate change policy advisor Swenja Surminski, said the summer floods were the most costly natural disaster in Great Britain. Before last summer, ABI modelling had suggested that the costs of a severe inland flood would be less than the £3 billion cost of the summer 2007 floods. Clearly the rainfall was exceptional, and authorities were simply unprepared for the scale and breadth of devastation.

This article features Jerry England, director of civils at Network Rail. He is reputed to have summoned all the major contractors of the Great Britain Highways Agency. England's job at Network Rail is in two parts: he works with colleagues in the infrastructure investment part of the business, and ensures that they deliver the best solution. England wants his contractors to bring work practices from other industries, and adapt them to the railway.

This article reports on the 2007 summer floods in England. The rising waters brought particular devastation to Hull, Sheffield, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire and Rotherham. According to the Environment Agency, the rain broke records. Flood levels were higher than the infamous 1947 floods, when downpours coupled with rapidly melting snow and ice from the harsh winter brought chaos to vast tracts of the country.

The article addresses a national lamp post shortage triggered by Public Finance Initiative (PFI) lighting contractors bulk-buying lighting columns. The shortage means that some local authorities in Great Britain are unable to replace ageing columns. In total, since street lighting was flagged as a good candidate for PFI in 2002, 25 schemes have been approved. The Department for Transport recently awarded PFI credits to Oldham and Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Councils for a joint 25 year, £140 million street lighting PFI.

The article reports on the decision by the Transport for London (TfL) to abandon its Tube cooling programme. A specialised sub-contractor working extensively on the Tube upgrade contracts announced that the cooling programme has been stopped, with funding instead being diverted into the Victoria railroad line upgrade project.

The article analyzes how civil engineers will comply with the plan of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to improve security in public places and prevent terrorism in Great Britain. Gordon's plan for public security was introduced in response to incidents that occurred days after replacing Tony Blair. According to MFD Security Director Chris Bowes, civil engineers have launched initiatives to prevent terrorist attacks.

The article reports on the impact of the weak performance of the U.S. dollar in the foreign exchange market on the construction industry in the Middle East. The decreasing value of the U.S. dollar has caused a global credit crisis. The construction industry in the Middle is one of the sectors that are being affected by such value decrease. Construction costs in the region are increasing due to the value of the dirham and the global credit crisis.

The article focuses on issues surrounding the business failure of Metronet. Metronet is responsible for repairing and maintaining the London Undeground tracks and stations. Based on interviews conducted by the Great Britain Parliament's Transport Select Committee, it was found that Metronet did not have a clear picture of what it was supposed to be doing from the start.

The article reports on the government approval of a funding package for the Crossrail infrastructure project in Great Britain in 2007. The project is expected to get under way in three years time, and the Crossrail Bill that will enable the project to go ahead is making its way through the final stages of the parliamentary process, and is expected to gain Royal Assent in the summer of 2008. The project involves building 16 kilometers of twin bore running tunnels up to 40 meters below ground, as well as eight underground stations.

The article reports that Network Rail and Virgin has published the findings of their inquiry on the tragic Grayrigg derailment in Cumbria, England on February 23, 2007. According to the report, passing trains had shaken loose the nuts and bolts holding three stretcher bars in place at the Lambrigg 2b points, where the accident occurred. Stretcher bars are used to keep the points at a fixed distance apart, so if they fail or become detached, derailments is almost inevitable.

The article reports that contractors are nearing the end of a three-year programme to plug disused mines, which are threatening to swallow up parts of the Cheshire town of Northwich, England. People have mined the salt below Northwich since Roman times, making the mining companies rich, but creating huge cavities under the ground into which the modem town could suddenly sink. Wrekin Construction consulted with Tom Brooks, an associate at Arup's Birmingham office who had experience of working with subsidence from limestone mines in the Midlands.

The article reports on the flood damage on the Cotswolds Line in England. The last bout of rain brought particular damage to the Cotswolds Line, which runs from Oxford to Worcester, with 127mm of rain falling in just 24 hours. The entire Cotswolds line was effectively underwater and only as the waters receded did the damage become apparent. But one small piece of good fortune is that the line was already slated for an upgrade, so this has now been brought forward.

The article comments on the rail ambition of the government of Great Britain which sets a blueprint for the 21st century. The government's High-Level Output Specification (HLOS) and Statement of Funds Available (SOFA) were published, giving a much clearer idea of how the railways will develop over the next five years. Moreover, the Rail Technical Strategy document, which looks forward 30 years, paints a picture of greater standardisation and efficiency in the railways.

The article reports that a hastily arranged press conference in July 2007 brought together London Underground Limited (LUL), Metronet, and administrator Ernst & Young. The idea was to explain what happens now that the troubled contractor in charge of upgrading two thirds of the Underground is in administration.

The article discusses the author's experience of visiting the Bakerloo line underground being refurbished by Metronet in London, England. He was told to notify the team if he found asbestos below and was warned to avoid rats. The night work involves removing the ballast, taking out the old rail and putting in a flat-bottomed rail and new check rail. They clean-up and leave before the first passengers arrive at around 5 a.m. when the concrete will be acceptably strong.

This article deals with the plan to construct a new road linking Sharjah, United Arab Emirates with the port of Khor Fakkhan. Ruler, the Emir of Sharjah, hopes this will give Khor Fakkhan a competitive advantage over Dubai's Jebel Ali port on the east coast. Much of the road will follow the route of a wadi, but it has to allow for occasional heavy rainfall so there will be a number of culverts. Road gradient is limited to a maximum of six percent to allow for heavy freight traffic.

This article deals with expansion plans for the Jebel Ali port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The £206 million expansion incorporates berths suitable for the largest Post Panamax super tankers, so channels 17 meters deep must be dredged. Material will be used to create the reclaimed land and artificial island. Halcrow subsidiary HPA is responsible for the dredging contracts, let to contractors Hyundai and Jan De Nul Dredging.

The article reports on the renovation of an office building in Manchester, England, completely transforming it from a 1950s eyesore into something light, modern, and a key component of the Manchester City Council's city centre overhaul. According to Ralph Brade, managing director of consultant engineers Robinson, the client wanted to increase the floor space. The existing façade was to be demolished and the remaining six-storey skeleton strengthened.

The article reports on the major maintenance work at the Guri dam in Venezuela. Maintenance work needs to be done on the penstocks at the base of the dam, where water flows from the lake behind the dam into the turbines. Mabey will be supplying props to be installed by specialist divers. At 90 meters depth, divers will be working in complete darkness, under vast pressure and in extreme danger. The props incorporate hydraulic jacks which extend to the shaft walls of the dam.

The article focuses on the reconstruction of the Grayrigg railroad site in Cumbria, England, following the derailment. Birse Rail is the lead contractor brought in by Network Rail. Engineers have been working at the site round the clock following the tragic derailment of the Virgin Trains 17:15 service from London Euston to Glasgow on February 22, 2007. The possibility of criminal prosecutions has not been ruled out so reconstruction efforts had to be planned meticulously to ensure vital evidence was not disturbed.

The article discusses the impact of the decision handed down by judge Sullivan against the British government's plans on nuclear energy on the government and the nuclear industry. At first glance, this is a disaster for the nuclear industry. Until the verdict, it was anticipated that third generation nuclear power stations would have been ready around 2016. But more consultation could push this back by two years to 2018. British prime minister Tony Blair remained defiant in his support of new nuclear energy.

The article presents an update on an investigation on the collapse of a four storey building in London, England in February 2007. The accident caused traffic chaos in the city as debris was thrown into the road forcing its closure. The building was undergoing renovation work at the time of the failure. It is thought the collapse could have been caused by a weakening of the soft red brick facade during sand-blasting.

The article reports that engineers are bypassing major charities and aid organisations to carry out localised relief work. Many engineers were left frustrated that their offer of relief work was not taken up by the large charities. Since then many companies, reacting to pressure from staff, have found alternative ways to contribute. Relief charity RedR-IHE's head of humanitarian services Dave Hampson says there has been a move away from large charity and relief agency projects.

The article reports on the redevelopment of the Lough Key forest park in Ireland. The 250 meters long treetop walkway will also be one of the new features of the 350 hectare forest park. Moylurg, a partnership between Roscommon County Council and Coillte Teoranta, has been seeking design proposals for the revitalisation of the park since 2003. Managing the £4 million project is Ferguson Mcllveen. The walkway will be opened in spring of 2007.

The article reports on the brokendown bridge in Montreal, Quebec due to poor maintenance. Heavy road salting, required during Canadian winters was thought to have created a corrosion cocktail that easily penetrated the movement joint where the road deck slab met the cantilever supports, an acknowledged weak spot, according to engineers. Five people were killed during the said collapse.

The article focuses on the infrastructure investments made by the Brazilian government specially in the civil sector. It states that the Brazilian government has been pushing its Growth Acceleration Programme (PAC) by investing nearly 553 billion pounds in infrastructure. It states that significant proportion has been set aside for civil infrastructure to give the country a new look for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. It mentions details of various construction projects.

The article reports that according to Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd. (DSRL), the iconic sphere at the Dounreay nuclear reactor site in Scotland has to be demolished as it is contaminated with radioactivity.

The article reports on the help needed by the firms bidding to build the new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in England to tackle the complexity of the project and to deliver the quality of workmanship required.

The article reports that Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) will cut 102 jobs due to an annual spending cap imposed by the British Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).

The article presents information on how contractor Bam Nuttall is constructing Lizard lifeboat station with the help of a down-the-hole hammer technique. It is stated that according to geotechnical manager Chris Wade, around one-quarter the time to drive each pile is taken by the hammer technique as compared to the grinding method.

The article discusses the increasing interest in using geothermal power. To use the energy of underground heat, water is pumped into faults where it is heated by the high temperatures found deep underground, which is then returned to earth's surface to drive turbines and produce power. Google.org climate and energy initiatives director Dan Reicher says geothermal energy has the potential to deliver vast quantities of uninterrupted power.