IEP to become Tram-train! Official, no really!

Ixion - Railway Eye's resident louche traction and rolling stock engineer has just spotted this table in the InterCity East Coast franchise consultation document.

Table 5.1 SET Train configurations
			Seating capacity
	Type	Formation	Total	First	Standard
HST replacement	Bi-mode	Full	630	132	498
Class 365 replacement	Electric	Half	331	27	304
Class 313 replacement	Electric*	Third	250		250
Tram-train	Bi-mode	Quarter	150		150
Class 180 replacement	Bi-mode	Half	273	27	246
IC225 replacement	Electric	Full	688	132	556
Spares	Bi-mode	Full	630	132	498
*Dual voltage

It casts shocking new light on DfT Rail's aim of gaining economies of scale by maximising the range of applications for the Super Express Train...

UPDATE: This from Underground Ernest...

Can we get a variant to replace our Piccadilly line stock?

UPDATE: This from our man at 222 Marylebone Road...

Surely, if DfT is seeking economies of scale and IEP is seen as a Class 365 replacement, the new Thameslink stock would be a logical application for an ultra-high density variant?

With that massive acceleration 30 trains an hour would be possible... probably...

Tories commit to Crossrail and HS2

This from New Civil Engineer...

Shadow chancellor George Osborne has today pledged that his party will build London’s £15.9bn Crossrail scheme and start work on a north-south high speed rail line should they win the next General Election.

As today's announcement signalled the third change in Tory economic policy in almost as many days, Eye wonders how long this particular commitment will last.

DfT lacks leadership - Official

Exciting news from the Department for Transport!

This from the 2009 DfT staff survey:

9. Leadership & Change Management
B40 I feel that DFT as a whole is well managed 49%
B41 Senior Managers in DFT are sufficiently visible 53%
B42 I believe the actions of senior managers are consistent with DFT's values 47%
B43 I believe senior management has a clear vision for the future of DFT 40%
B44 Overall, I have confidence in the decisions made by DFT's senior managers 42%
B45 I feel that change is managed well in DFT 25%
B46 When changes are made in DFT they are usually for the better 22%

Indeed!

UPDATE: This from Leo Pink...

Do we have the score for the statement

I believe St**rt B*k*r has at least three ingenious solutions to every conceivable railway problem?

Man loses shirt off back for rail tickets! - Official!

This from News:Lite...

Man tattooed with train logo... for free rail tickets

Story here.

ORR seeks to improve data available to industry

This from the ORR...

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) today launches a project aimed at improving the data it makes available to the rail industry.

The regulator is keen to shed light on how data can be most effectively disseminated to the rail industry, and is seeking views through a range of interviews and an online survey. Information emerging from the research will inform the future delivery and scope of ORR’s data.

ORR chief executive Bill Emery said: “The study will help us better understand how we can best deliver rail data and statistics to the rail industry and interested public.

“It is vital that the rail sector has ready access to reliable and useful information so that it can continue to improve standards of service, safety and efficiency for rail users.”

To take part in the online survey, which runs until 15 February 2010, click here.

How the media works - Broadcast news

With a bowler tip to Obnoxio...