Go-Ahead held up by roadworks

Go-Ahead, the trains and buses operator, said it expects a lower bonus from its London bus operations because their timekeeping has been spoiled by excessive amounts of roadworks this year.

But despite this it expects overall profits to be "slightly ahead" of market expectations as passengers flock to public transport.

The shares yesterday rose almost 8 per cent, or 97p, to 1,329p.

The strongest growth in passenger revenues and numbers has been at the London Midland rail franchise, with both rising by double digits.