Tom Birch RIP

This via the Institution of Railway Operators...

It is with great sadness we share the news that Tom Birch passed away on Thursday 8th August 2013 in the presence of his family, after his courageous battle against cancer.

Tom was most recently Operations Director (Projects) at Chiltern Railways and a member of the Arriva Franchise Bid Team. 

He was also previously a Board member of the IRO and a member of the Midlands Area Council since its inception. He was a great proponent and contributor to the IRO education programme and, as members of the IRO, we owe Tom a great deal. He will be missed by all who had the pleasure of working with him.

We would like to pass on our condolences to his family, his many friends and his colleagues.

Tom's funeral will be held in Derbyshire on 3rd September 2013.

Rest in peace Tom.

Wattage Watch - Reading

This from Rover...

The new canopy at Reading is so high the lights make no difference in daylight. 

But even on the temporarily uncovered platforms, makeshift lights have been installed that burn the watts all day:

Switching off that lot during daylight hours should provide one or two immediate savings for CP5. 

You're welcome!

Pointless signs - Retford

This from a Swift Tern...

The contents of both near identical.

Railway Garden Competition - Mill Hill East

Bunker steps out of the err... bunker!

Word reaches Eye that former TOC MD Graeme Bunker is reining back on his commitments in the kettle and charter world.
 
Interesting.

Perchance this is connected with the dearth of operating talent in the industry, a situation compounded by the need for bid teams able to handle a bow wave of franchise renewals and extensions?

No doubt Bunker's background in high profile special rail projects (and kettle based stunts) will see him re-emerge in TOC-land soonest!

Time for HS2 to be scrapped?

There is an exciting poll on the Express and Star website!

It invites readers to vote on whether HS2 should be scrapped.

Affirmative views appear to have the ascendancy at the mo...

You know what to do!

Remember: Vote early, vote often!

Railway Garden Competition - King's Cross

This from Only Two Misters...

These buddliea are prospering from within the NR boundary above Gasworks Tunnel at King's Cross. 

What I particularly like is the way they offset Kings Place, which houses NR's corporate HQ.

Railway Garden Competition - Wolverhampton

Railway Garden Competition - Worcester Shrub Hill

This taken at the appropriately named Shrub Hill station..

And complemented by a delightful mobile planter!

Marvellous!