Station staff at Colchester just told me that it is not permitted to wear a switched off camera, with lens cap fitted, on the station!
No wonder NX haven't retained the franchise.
Customer service from the 'Attila the Hun book on How To Win Friends & Influence People'.
UPDATE: An update from Mr Miles...
On the back of the Eye piece above I've just had a call from Virgin Trains who said:
"You are welcome to remove your lens cap & take photos at our stations whenever you like."
That's the way to get shortlisted for a franchise!
Eye wonders if there are other ways to get shortlisted for a franchise? Not being German certainly appears to be one. Readers may know of others...
UPDATE: This from Our International Correspondent...
I didn't know that being nice or nasty to a railway hack was a way to win or lose anything of consequence, let alone a franchise.