This written answer given on the 2nd December by Moley...
David Ruffley (- Shadow Minister, Home Affairs; Bury St Edmunds, Conservative)
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the average age of rolling stock used on the Norwich to London railway line was during (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) to date in 2009.
Chris Mole (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport; Ipswich, Labour)
The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested in relation to the average age of rolling stock used on the Norwich to London railway line.
The Eye is still struggling to understand how the Department can produce a meaningful Rolling Stock Plan if they don't have access to such basic data.
As regular Eye readers will be aware Ministers have been assuring Parliament that such a thing will be published in the "Autumn".
As it is now winter perhaps Marsham Street has finally admitted it's just not up to the task?
UPDATE:
Just thought I'd pause from welding up a Pacer underframe to point out the DfT Rail doesn't need to know the age of rolling stock because it is assumed that all ex-BR stock will run forever.
UPDATE: This from J Alfred Prufrock...
The Autumn ends with the winter Equinox, which falls on 21 December.
Mr Mole has also said that the Plan is proving to be a major challenge and he hopes to get it out by Christmas, which this year falls on 25th December...
But note that he did not say Autumn of which year.
UPDATE: This from Trailer Second...
Captain Deltic welding a Pacer underframe?
Their underframes will outlast us all.
In fact the MOD want them for the next version of the AFV, expected to be built by a "British led Consortium" of Krupp, Mitsubishi and Fiat...
UPDATE: This via North Pole depot...
Every year my delivery Plan is a challenge, but I usually manage to achieve it on the night.
However this year I have had to find a new piece of "sliding stock" myself.
Despite promises of a re-worked underframe from a "surplus" Oldham Loop unit (thanks for trying Captain D!), I have had to resort to a short term lease arrangement on a flatrol from a Heritage Line in return for some guest appearances before the big night itself... as if I didn't have enough to do.
So tell DafT they'll be very lucky to get any Plan in their stockings from me!
Père Noel
Gare du Pôle Nord
Grimsby and Back
3 years ago
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