Railway Gongs

Eye congratulates the following:

Knights Bachelor

Tony Hawkhead, chief executive, Groundwork, the environmental charities group

David Higgins, ex-chief executive of the Olympics Delivery Authority, now chief executive of Network Rail

Brian Souter, chief executive, Stagecoach, the transport group

Commander CBE

Terry Hill, chairman of Arup Group Trusts, for services to engineering

Paul Jowitt, president, Institution of Civil Engineers

John McDonough, chief executive, Carillion, the construction and support services group

Peter Rogers, chief executive, Babcock International, the engineering group.

Officer OBE

David Lockwood, MD, Thales, the electronics group

Eye understands that there is no truth to the rumour that Sir Brian earned his gong for services to the carrier bag industry.

UPDATE: This from Globetrotter...

One more for your Railway Gongs:

Congratulations to Dave Newell, of Aslef's Marylebone branch, who received an MBE for promoting rail safety in schools.

The Fact Compiler apologises to Dave for omitting him, and the important work he does, from the original list.

New Trains - 800 days of talk and no trousers!

This from Captain Deltic...

Today, 11 June, is the 800th day since the last rolling stock order was placed.

Note, placed, not preferred bidder selected.

Altogether now, and perhaps ATOC, Network Rail, Passenger Focus, RIA and Sir Roy McNulty might care to join in...

Why are we waiting, why are we waiting...?