Rosco update

The current turbulence in the world's financial markets has not left the Rolling Stock Leasing Companies unscathed.

With the price of capital soaring little new business is being written.

Earlier this month RBS managed to flog Angel Trains to a consortium led by Babcock and Brown for £3.6bn. The deal did nothing to restore market confidence in BB whose share price continued in free fall and is now worth 30% of its start of year value.

Meanwhile over at Porterbrook the world's 'Oldest Active Data Room' has received yet another spring clean as Banco Santander plays host to the latest bidder undertaking due diligence on the Derby based firm.

Only at HSBC does all appear quiet.

Indeed, so much so that MD Peter Aldridge is reported to be looking "very relaxed".

Should anyone see Peter purchasing a new lawn mower at B&Q please could they let the Fact Compiler know.

Frying pan fire

***An interesting piece in tomorrow's (yep - tomorrow's) Sydney Morning Herald on Angel's new owners.***

Railway Eye readers will be aware of the recent volatile share price of former parent RBS.

It appears that all may not be well Down Under either.

You can read the SMH Business section here.

Freightliner sold

***Freightliner has been bought by Arcapita***

3i Press Release here

UXB at Bromley by Bow

***17:17 - An unexploded Second World War bomb has resulted in the suspension of London Underground services through Bromley by Bow. Disruption could last for up to 48 hours***

***17:50 - Services now restored after ministrations from the Bomb Disposal Squad***

***18:45 - DB lawyers allegedly flying in from Germany to contest potential abatement claim from TfL against Loo Roll concession***

***20:45 - Is 2000lbs quite big then?***

***23:52 - Sources close to DfT say Ruth Kelly now believes she has found a cheap way to do Crossrail groundworks at Stratford***

Three in the frame for Freightliner

SNCF, Go-Ahead and Arcapita are rumoured to be interested in buying intermodal, coal and infrastructure train operator Freightliner, which has been put on the market by private equity owners Electra Partners and 3i.

The Sunday Telegraph's business section has Bahrain investment fund Arcapita leading the field.

Metronet transfer to TfL

***Metronet's transfer to TfL will complete on Tuesday 27th May.***