This just in from our man at the back...
As this franchise lurches from one crisis to another, the RMT is calling for strike action at the ex Silverlink depots as the management finally get to grips with the various Spanish Practices that have been taking place.
However, now they have done that, the management have introduced some ridiculous payment structures to tempt traincrew into working overtime and rest days to keep them out of the do-do as they failed to recruit enough staff to service the new timetable.
Drivers now have a guaranteed minimum of 11hours payment for working a no duty day and guards have 10 hours. Both supposedly temporary arrangements but wait for the unions to call the 'custom and practice' argument to make it permanent.
In the meantime the station staff who aren't treated with the same kid gloves are left to get on with it, i.e. lump it.
Sundays remain voluntary for the time being.
UPDATE: An 'anonymous' reader mails the following implausible tale...
Rumours around Euston that Richard Branson has been offered a blank cheque if he takes over the Midland franchise.
But he wants a name change to Virgin Suburban, and wants to see the Overground banished from Euston.
I can't say if that's true, but it's hardly unexpected.
Though I'm not sure what TfL will make of Beardie's demands regarding the Overground.
Make of this what you will.
UPDATE: Sim Harris writes:
Interesting that the notion of no Overground at Euston has been revived, even in the context of Beardie taking over LM.
Actually, it was on the TfL "maybe" list as recently as late 2007.
The argument is that Overground (i.e. Watford DC) delivers people to a terminus where the Underground is already woefully overcrowded in the morning peak.
Serious consideration has been given to diverting the Watfords via Primrose Hill (Opportunity missed! Ed) and then taking them along the North London Railway to feed people down into the City - perhaps at Dalston Junction when the ELR is opened?
I don't believe the idea is dead, either.
