Telegrammed by the Major
Scribblers and industry commentators may be sad to hear that Network Rail's Midland Press Office will cease to exist from Monday 22nd February.
According to NR:
The York press office will cover the North East, East Midlands and Lincolnshire.
The Manchester press office will cover the North West, West Midlands and Staffordshire.
The soon to be defunct NR Midland Press Office is of course the vestigial tail of the erstwhile BR London Midland Region Public Affairs empire, which was also based in Birmingham, and included amongst its luminaries such legends as the great Phallex Murray and The Vice Marshall himself (deep doff of the bowler. Ed).
No matter - tempus fugit.
But what is confusing Brum hacks is the timing of the closure decision.
Which has been announced just as NR prepares to spend vast sums of taxpayers' money in putting a brand new roof on New Street station.
Surely not evidence of NR's lack of joined up thinking?
UPDATE: This from NR's Chief Spinmeister, Kevin Groves, for it is he...
It is indeed sad to see the Midlands office close.
It is particularly sad to lose a popular and effective member of the media team but CP4 efficiencies have to be made in all departments and resources reallocated as best we can.
We’re all joined up too as the £650m rebuild of Birmingham New Street will have its own dedicated communications professional looking after all its needs, including media.
