A new era unfurls #1

Good news for the freight community.

Today saw the official opening of Telford International Railfreight Terminal.

Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers, travelled from London to do the honours.

Alas.

Her train was delayed by signalling problems on the West Coast Main Line.

Perhaps surprising considering that Network Rail's rather splendid £2.4m advertising campaign was commissioned to celebrate the succesful conclusion of a £9bn upgrade.

No matter.

Iain Coucher boasted in December that "a new era will unfold on the West Coast Main Line".

Many are asking for the old one back.

For you ze football is over

As Gordon Brown prepares to meet the remaining members of England's 1966 World Cup winning squad at Downing Street today more good news from our passenger focused railway.

This from those nice people at DB owned Chiltern...

Please be aware that we will not be stopping any services at Wembley Stadium Station on 10 June, from 1200 until the end of service. We will unfortunately not be providing a service for those going to see the England game at Wembley Stadium.

The safety of both our regular passengers, and the additional travellers using our services because of the strike, is paramount, and we therefore have taken the difficult decision to withdraw services to Wembley on 10 June. Unfortunately this will also affect the evening journey of those who commute to/from Wembley Stadium station.

Typical of the Germans, bloody sore losers.

New Thameslink 4000 boss

Network Rail has announced that Jim Crawford will be new programme director of the £5.5bn Thameslink upgrade.

Mr Crawford is currently the programme director for the £3.5bn signalling, power and communications national programme.

He takes over on July 20th.

Pyramid of piffle

Naughty Boris and naughty Transport for London!

With London crippled by the RMT Underground strike TfL has been glibly assuring passengers that:

"Oyster pay as you go will be accepted on National Rail journeys in Greater London"

Not so!

TOCs are furious, accusing TfL of having a problem "aligning fact with public statement".

Or lying in old money.

UPDATE: Mayorwatch takes up the tale...