Telegrammed by the Timetable Compiler
For those who missed it yesterday this is what it says in brief:
Yes to HT 7th path,
Yes to GC's 4th path,
Yes to Grand Northern
No to Platinum Trains (Aberdeen - KX)
No to Harrogate trains
Yes in principle to NEEC alterations if conflicts can be resolved.
Nice!
Son of York and railway robber baron George Hudson would be tickled pink.
Moir Lockhead and Richard Bowker have been appointed Vice Presidents of the Friends of the National Railway Museum!
Lockhead, it will be remembered, is famous for misplacing anyone who actually knows how to run a railway.
Meanwhile, Bowker presides over a franchise that appears utterly determined to reduce NRM visitor numbers - by gating the £500k footbridge that the great man himself opened a mere five years ago!
If this is the calibre of the NRM's friends then the Eye hopes it has few enemies!
Goods news for fans of Guided bus routes.
This from Portsmouth Today...
A high-speed bus route on a disused railway track is set to get county approval tomorrow.
This from the Press and Journal...
Scottish train operator First ScotRail, which put up many of its fares by 6% at the start of this year, has reported a 60% jump in profits
An unnamed director received emoluments and pension contributions totalling £466,351 in the latest period, up nearly 70% from the £276,595 payout its best-paid boss received in 2006-07.
Here's a novel thought!
Perhaps if Train Operating Companies paid their fat-cat directors and greedy owner groups rather less, then maybe the railways wouldn't be so bloody expensive to run?
Station car parking charges are unregulated and therefore provide a highly lucrative revenue stream for increasingly cash strapped TOCs.
Normally station users have to bend over and assume the position, whilst avaracious TOCs hoover cash from their glove boxes.
But what's this?
The plucky residents of Liskeard are challenging greedy First Great Western, convinced that free usage of the station car park was guarenteed in perpatuity!
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the case expect DafT to impose the charges, or threaten a reduction in the stopping pattern, if Liskeard council doesn't kowtow.
When is a franchise commitment not a franchise commitment?
When DafT says so, silly!
Bowler tip to Rail Manager on Line for these gems:
This from DafT on the 14th August 2007:
"NXEC will provide a full restaurant service on 87 train services Monday to Friday with an improved range of full meals".
This from DafT on 6th January 2009:
"Catering is not covered by the franchise agreement with National Express East Coast and is a matter for the train operating company".
DafT - making it up as they go along.
As any fule kno a good PR man has to be up to date and ahead of the curve.
But what's this?
A quick visit to the website of soi disant "veteran observer" Rupert Brennan Brown reveals the following:
A date fixed at the 29th April
A picture of said veteran with a non-extant Mayor
and a photo of the late Madam Chairman of the Transport Select Committee, who has been enjoying her reward in heaven for some time.
Good to see this particular spinner has his finger on the pulse!
Exciting news from First Group!
Vehicles maintained by the Aberdeen company's US subsidiary, First Vehicle Services, play an important part in President Obama's Inauguration festivities.
An inquiry is underway to find out how they became out of gauge.
This from DfT...
The Department for Transport held its second annual Listening to Industry Day on Thursday 22 January.
The purpose of the event was for industry to input to our new approach to development of freight policy, including helping us prioritise future policy and investment decisions.
Jim Fitzpatrick, Minister for Freight and Logistics, said:
“Our focus and our approach is now more on the movement of different freight commodities, than on freight modes.
"That is why I arranged this event, because I want to make sure that the needs and impacts of freight are considered in the Department’s investment, regulatory and policy decisions for the future.”
A source close to DB Schenker said: "I am happy to say we currently have lots of new orders - which must be obeyed without question!".
UPDATE: The Major asks...
If this is their second annual "listening to industry day" what do DafT do for the other 364?
What indeed.
Man congratulates boss on good idea!
This from NCE...
Crossrail executive chairman Doug Oakervee said today that he was 'encouraged' by the idea of an island in the Thames Estuary to replace Heathrow.
Now there is a surprise!
***Boriswatch has the latest details of Estuary Aerodrome - including proposed links into the rail network***
Go-Ahead must still think they are in with a chance on the South Central franchise.
This from the Kent News...
Train company U-turns on carriage cuts
Fat chance, what with their splendid performance on London Midland and all.
At last a spot of honesty from the Department for Transport!
A number of trade titles, including Modern Railways, are running DafT ads for Franchise, Finance and Contract Managers.
But what's this?
Can it be true?
Zero £multi-billion contracts?
Zero Heart of Government?
Zero Major Expansion?
We knew it was bad, but surely it can't be this bad?
This from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust:
The second run of The Peppercorn Pioneer on Sunday 1st February 2009 will now start from Doncaster with 60163 Tornado, picking up at York and running through to Durham.
This change of itinerary is because the Trust has been advised by Network Rail and the British Transport Police that due to significant concerns regarding crowd control at Newcastle Central station on Sunday 1st February.
Just imagine what all those braying Macums and Geordies would do on seeing a brand new shiny Kettle. Within 10 minutes the local scrappies would be inundated with copper piping...
More good news from Europe.
Raedwald has discovered that soon we shall all be Criminals in the eyes of the state, following a decision made by those masters of democracy the EU Council on the 20th January.
The Fact Compiler, ever keen to be ahead of the pack, has therefore taken up Old Holborn's kind invitation to "Insult... the State, Nation or State symbols" on-line.
So below is what our tin-pot Eurocrat friends can do with their tacky duster:
As Patrick McGoohan never tired of saying "I am not a number, I am a free man". At least I used to be...
UPDATE: John H writes...
"Oh come on.
"Get real. Here's a better analysis...
"Link left wing blog to libertarian and retire to safe distance..."
You pays your money you takes your choice.
Now this is how Network Rail should select Public Members
Teresa Villiers - get on down !
Another gem from Wednesday's PAC:
"Within two years of the formation of the Rail Service Delivery Directorate in 2005, 30% of the staff had left."
Perhaps the figure would be better if Dr Mitchell had led from the front... and gone first.
Dr Death and the Department for Transport knows exactly which TOC's are in the sh1t.
As this under reported session of Wednesday's Parliamentary Accounts Committee shows.
Dr Mitchell declined to say in public exactly how many are close to the wall, for fear of further damaging share prices, but agreed to disclose the information to the PAC in camera.
However, he did confirm that, according to the Department's internal system for tracking franchise health, "A small number of companies are showing red".
Paradoxically DafT's tracking system was introduced following the collapse of previous East Coast franchise holder GNER.
With DafT having form for accepting ludicrously ambitious franchise bids can it be a surprise that history is in danger of repeating itself?
In Memorium National Express
So, Farewell
Then
National Express.
Famous for running buses
Coaches and
Trains.
You asked DfT for help
But they said
No.
Perhaps because Dr Death
Likes restaurant cars
But not on-board crew.
"Making travel simpler"
That was your Catchphrase.
It will be now.
With apologies to E J Thribb
A reader writes...
No student of Britain's railways in the 21st century should miss this gem published yesterday on the ORR website.
It's only 21 pages, so won't take much time to read.
However, comprehending it will take considerably longer.
UPDATE: This from someone, evidently with time on their hands...
My Dear Fact Compiler
It is not so opaque as to be beyond comprehension, although the basis of Beardie Rail's argument probably is.
This document has come about because Virgin based their Moderation of Competition argument without reference to the Railways Act 2005.
Therefore, much time and money has been less than helpfully expended on legal fees in an attempt to define when a train "calls" at a station.
As an aside the 1000 or so front line rail staff awaiting their P45s from Bowker, Ludeman and Souter can draw comfort from the professionalism and added value being delivered to the railway by these £300+ per hour comedians.
To go over the main points
5. informs us that Beardie Rail's Moderation of Competition (MOC) applies to Kenny O - MK flows, even though only XC have ever used it and since 13 December no longer do so at all. A Ghost Bus has been deployed instead.
27. NR says that a train arriving at or departing a terminus station does not "call" there.
33. As does the surviving bit of Beardie Rail, which has never run a train to Kenny O, but is still scared of potential revenue extraction...
44. ORR says this is bollocks.
52 Tells us how the Railways Act 2005 defines a call, the wording of which which accords with ORR.
55 tells us that The Regulator likes cross London services and wishes to protect them, then appears to argue that in the light of 44 above, a train TO Clapham Junction falls under the purview of the protection afforded trains projected beyond Clapham Junc onto WCML.
83 confirms that the Southern service to MK via Kenny O is a franchise commitment.
85. ORR shows us it can spell Kensington. Thank Goodness.
and in 90, ORR tells all concerned to get on with it.
So now someone with dirty hands and an orange jacket can try gauging a Class 375 into the new platforms at MK.
Hurrah!
Lets hope it fits.
I hope this is helpful. My account will be with you shortly.
Many thanks for taking the time to explain this Mr Rumpole
Somebody, somewhere, is not telling the truth.
The consensus amongst the transport hacks (Grauniad, Independent & Times) is that the owner groups told Geoff Hoon that they needed additional financial support or there was a risk of service cuts.
However, according to a 'DfT Spokesman' today:
"No train operating company has approached us for service cuts or additional financial support. This issue was not raised in the meeting with Geoff Hoon yesterday."
Who is doing the spinning? Railway Eye would be grateful for guidance.
Telegrammed by our International Correspondent
The National Railway Museum has its begging bowl out again.
According to the NRM the cost of the Flying Scotsman overhaul has risen as a result of unforeseen problems, including increased prices for raw materials.
The markets appear to disagree about steel prices...
...and aluminium...
...and non-ferrous...
but you'd have to ask Mystic Wolmar about spot prices for unobtainium.
Rail hack Chris Randall writes...
"Thought you might be interested to see a piece in last November’s Rail Professional, in which I predicted that DafT would be forced into an embarrassing policy U-turn if TOCs turned up en-masse at Marsham Street with begging bowls in hand.
"Following yesterday’s showdown between Buff Hoon and the increasingly panicky owner groups it appears it’s just a matter of time before DafT is forced to cave in to their demands and hand over billions more taxpayer pounds to keep franchises from going under.
"So much for franchises being non-negotiable!
"All of which brings to mind the all-singing, all-dancing launch of National Express East Coast in December 2007 when I had the temerity to ask National Express boss Richard Bowker if the TOC was prepared for an economic slump.
"The former SRA boss looked at me as if to say, ‘what sort of fool would ask such a bloody daft question’ and smugly insisted that NX had done all its sums and nothing could blow it of course.
"Funnily enough, I think Christopher Garnett said something very similar when he bid £1.3bn for the East Coast!"
This from the Daily Telegraph...
They include Brian Souter, chief executive, who pledged 24m shares worth £28.7m.
With environmental pressure to end the curse of plastic bags perhaps Souter has used the cash to corner the market?
This from the DfT...
Transport Minister Andrew Adonis and London Mayor Boris Johnson today announced the appointment of Tony Gregory as the new independent Crossrail Complaints Commissioner.
Tony Gregory is the former Assistant Complaints Commissioner for Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the Assistant Referee for Crossrail in which he was responsible for adjudicating on issues arising from the dissemination of information about the development of the Crossrail scheme in its early stages.
Where is Bernard Gambrill when you need him?
This from the BBC...
Gordon Brown is to order Labour MPs to back a controversial plan to exempt details of MPs' expenses from the Freedom of Information Act.
And these wise words from Nick Clegg:
"At a time when families are having to count every penny, it is outrageous that MPs are seeking to hide how they spend their money.
"MPs should stop trying to hide their work in secrecy and accept that the same rules that apply to everybody else should also apply to them."
Readers of Railway Eye who would like MPs to show how they spend OUR money are invited to sign up to the Facebook Group - I object to MPs concealing their expenses
UPDATE: Bloody hell - that was quick!
Telegrammed by Barry Spotter
With the Stourbridge Branch still awaiting the introduction of the comedy Plastic Parry Mover, bustitution remains the order of the day.
However, good news reaches Railway Eye from Cambodia!
For those in a hurry forward to 2mins and 10 secs into the video.
Perhaps this is the new, environmentally friendly, version of the Parry People Mover?
UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic...
Railway Eye is to be congratulated on discovering DfT's secret test track for the Bi-mode IEP. No wonder there is so much confidence in the project.
So London Midland has apologised for their dreadful recent performance.
Read Steve Banaghan's frank admission here.
As Go-Ahead is obviously imbued with a new spirit of honesty and openness perhaps we will soon see Keith Ludeman apologise for threatening to withdraw services if DafT didn't renegotiate their franchises?
Then again perhaps not.
When faced with difficult questions the Department for Transport prefers others to do their dirty work.
Latest to come to DafT's rescue is ATOC.
This written answer emerged from Marsham Street on Monday 19th January...
Bob Spink (Castle Point, UKIP) Hansard source
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent increase in rail fares has been announced by each train operating company.
Paul Clark (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport; Gillingham, Labour) The Association of Train Operating Companies issued a press release citing the average fares rises for January 2009. This was published in November 2008 and is available from their website.
Indeed it is - here.
And yes it does include a list of TOCs and their January fares increases.
But what's this?
The list is incomplete!
Where are the entries for the three open access operators?
Could ATOC's deliberate omission of Hull Trains, Grand Central and Shropshire & Wrexham have anything to do with their embarrasing decision not to increase fares?
UPDATE: Tom over at Blairwatch writes...
It's simple, you're confusing 'Train Operating Companies' with 'Companies that Operate Trains'. Do try to keep up, old chap.
Let us hope that the Honourable Member for Castle Point isn't as easily confused!
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch was formed to help improve railway safety.
It is tasked with investigating accidents and incidents on the railways, without apportioning blame, and publishing the results so that lessons can be learnt and safety improved.
On the 22nd of January 2008 a young man lost his life on the foot crossing at West Lodge, Haltwhistle.
Today, almost exactly a year after this tragic event, RAIB finally published its report.
Why has it taken so long?
UPDATE: J M Gold writes...
A serious point, and there may be a serious answer.
RAIB are frequently advertising for accident investigators.
The pay looks more than reasonable, but they seem to have to offer lengthy training, which suggests that experienced railway people aren't coming forward.
No less worrying is the content of the report.
Network Rail's procedures call for regular review of level crossing safety. The two most recent reviews identified clear shortcomings at this crossing, but no appropriate action was taken.
I think this is a real problem with modern management methods, which respond to problems by creating procedures. This generates a constant stream of reports which are passed into the "system".
Much time is spent filling in paper (or perhaps nowadays a computer database) to provide a record that the procedure has been followed, but all too often nothing is actually DONE.
The Sunday Times has further details on the company DafT has set up to progress HS2.
The business section names top civil servants Bob Linnard and Timothy Wellburn as directors.
But what's this?
No mention of who the Chairman is!
With DafT having read Eye's take on that particular appointment it's perhaps no surprise that they may now wish to play it down!
Good to see The Observer has been paying attention!
Dan Milmo reports today that potless National Express East Coast is planning to charge for reservations
A story broken by the Eye way back on the 6th January.
However, the Observer still appears to have only two fifths of the details correct!
Telegrammed by the Archer
Heathrow gets a third runway
The roads get another £6bn
The railway gets….
...a new company to help consider the case for HS2 and further work to consider the case for further electrification
Is there no end to the bounteousness of this government?
***The Conservatives will cancel the expansion of Heathrow if they win the next General Election, Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers said today.***
Telegrammed by our Independent Expert
Transport Secretary Geoff "Doom" today announced grandiose plans for a new "HS2" from Heathrow to Birmingham in his Commons statement giving the OK to Heathrow's third runway – and global warming meltdown.
Back in the real world of travelling to the West Midlands, Beardie's lieutenants are counting their blessings, as trains to and from Euston this week have been merely "late" rather than running as "buses" or not running at all.
But as a precaution, Virgin's canny PR people are givng away Chiltern Railways' Birmingham timetables in prominent displays alongside the Euston booking office.
Always hedge your bets, as Bernie Madoff used to say!
Good news for SWT passengers
Whilst DfT has prevented the TOC closing many ticket offices there may be no one left to staff them.
This just in from SWT...
...a reduction of 480 roles... 200 to leave the company
Nice touch SWT, slip this out whilst the media are busy with the Heathrow announcement!
Good news for the Roscos.
Following the embarrassment of the Competition Commission pointing out that it was DafT's own franchising policy that made rolling stock expensive rather than monopolistic Roscos, the Department appears to have retreated into its Marsham Street bunker.
This defeatist written answer on the 18 Dec last year
Adrian Sanders (Deputy Chief Whips, Torbay, Liberal Democrat) Hansard source
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the economic downturn on rolling stock operating companies; and if he will make a statement.
Paul Clark (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport; Gillingham, Labour)
This is a business issue for the rolling stock leasing companies and is not for the Department for Transport to determine.
Perhaps if DafT had adopted this approach in the first place it wouldn't have jizzed several million quid of our money up the wall in initiating a pointless Coco investigation.
UPDATE: Captain Deltic snorts...
Several million??
More like £25 million minimum!
The interesting bits from DafT's announcement:
Despite earlier denials Deutsche Bahn have now confirmed that they are interested in Eurostsar.
This from Reuters...
'LCR, whose principal stakeholder is Britain's Department for Transport, is open to selling Eurostar UK Ltd. "We are aware of Deutsche Bahn's interests and would be interested in hearing their proposal," said a government spokesman.'
DB it will be remembered is still owned by the German government
Meanwhile the Labour government continues to oppose state ownership of the railways... unless of course the state doing the owning is German, or French, or indeed anyone as long as it isn't British.
As SWT evidently need to save money The Fact Compiler has a suggestion.
Why not fire your media agency?
After all there is not much point in placing an ad on the Hamilton Advertiser website offering £8 SWT tickets to London.
That's probably kept one booking office open an extra hour.
UPDATE: Telegrammed by a geek...
Was that screen shot sent in by someone in Hamilton, or from someone living/working in the SWT area?
A lot of advertising is triggered not by the site but by where the user is located.
Your IP can be used to determine your location, and then appropriate advertising served.
It might not be a phuk-up at all.
Clever chaps these IT johnnies!
The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Corporation (BTMUCC) has launched a new rolling stock leasing company.
The new entity already has 27 locomotives and 50 freight cars on lease to lessees in the UK and Belgium.
As railway wags will quickly transform BTMUCC into 'Butt Muck' it comes as no surprise that the new ROSCO will be known as Beacon Rail.
Good news from our caring, sharing, modally-agnostic Government:
According to Downing Street "The 450 Jaguar-Land Rover staff who have been told today that they are to lose their jobs, will be given Government help to find work".
Presumably railway workers, who have been losing their jobs hand over fist, can go stuff themselves?
Charming!
'Zeppelin raid fatalities blamed on railway'.
Presumably Prince Harry's nick-name faux pax means we can no longer finger the Hun for this one!
UPDATE: Our man with a wind turbine on his chimney writes...
"The Zeppelin attack on Nottingham completely explodes rail's so called 'green' credentials.
"At a time of national emergency, when every ton of coal counted, the direct ancestor of East Midlands Trains was wasting precious energy, and increasing global warming, by leaving gas lights burning all night.
"Who will hold Tim Shoveller to account?!?"
UPDATE: Biggles writes...
"Maybe Chiltern or LOROL could bring back the Schienenzeppelin (pictured below)?"
Right. Stop this. it is getting silly!
Something to delight those who know Chester station.
This from the Chester Chronicle ...
Dozens of pet rats dumped at Chester Railway Station
How did they know?
The latest Trainsadrine survey sounds nearly as scientific as those of Railway Eye.
According to their latest press release...
"The results of the first rail passenger poll of 2009... revealed that over 78 % of passenger travelling on the Liverpool to Norwich train line said they were unsatisfied or very unsatisfied with the service.
"This is the worst customer satisfaction results in the UK .
In a second poll, over 65% of passengers also called for east Midlands train company MD, Tim Shoveller, to resign."
The Fact Compiler tried to follow the link to the rest of the story, alas, Trainsardine still can't type their own web address correctly (hint: one dot too many before the org).
No matter.
From the sublime to the ridiculous.
The results of the latest exciting Eye poll shows that more than three quarters of you believe that Iain Coucher is in the sh1t.
Whatever that may mean.
Less froth please Trainsadrine and a little more substance.
They can't mean this can they?
This from the BBC...
Acting Sgt Sarah Price, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "There has been an unfortunate accident involving a male in collision with a train."
Some collision!
All appears not to be well in Devon & Cornwall judging by a naughty video that has appeared on Photobucket.
Not for the feint hearted, or those easily offended, it explores the difficulty of booking a day's annual leave.
As there are bound to be loads of complaints please direct them to FGW Rosters Section in Swindon.
UPDATE: This from Fidothedog over at The Lone Voice...
"Although having never worked on the railways, that video could apply to many a company I have worked for."
And this from a Teutonic reader...
"Die Bahn ist die Bahn...Heil Bahn!"
Timing as they say is everything.
Smart money suggested that Go-Ahead would keep it's head down after turning London Midland into a disaster zone in recent weeks.
So full marks to Go-Ahead for deciding to announce 300 job losses on the South Eastern today.
A move designed to gladden the hearts of Ministers battling growing unemployment figures, especially after Go-Ahead recorded profits of £131.1 million last year.
With DafT due to announce the winner of the South Central franchise in the summer, Go-Ahead must hope Ministers have short memories.....
"I say, Holmes, aren't you being a little hard on the ORR? They have produced a statement after all."
"Indeed, Watson, and what did it say?"
"Well, Holmes, it said they are taking it all 'very seriously indeed' and are 'closely monitoring what NR is doing to get things working again'."
"And what do you deduce from this Watson?"
"That they are watching, Holmes."
"So Watson, which is more deserving of supper; a watchdog that watches, or a watchdog that barks?"
If only DafT and Cambridge County Council had listened to Cast Iron - the lobby group seeking to return a railway line to St Ives.
This from Transport Briefing...
"Fears that the Cambridge to St Ives guided busway project could cost more than planned have prompted promoter Cambridgeshire County Council to delay the construction of passenger facilities."
How splendid. The UK's first freight busway.
Looks like BoJo's decision last year to cape the Dagenham Dock extension has hit the DLR hard.
Indeed if this page, on the TfL website, is anything to go by it rather looks like the project team have entered a state of denial!
Perhaps they hope Boris will think again.
Deluded fools.
Thought for the day
As a 110 mile/h TSR is imposed on the WCML fast lines between Euston and Rugby, Iain (WCML Job Done) Coucher might recall these lines of Kipling:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre.
This in today's FT...
Virgin demands rail reliability
A spot of prescient reporting by Mr Wright.
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