Railway Garden Competition - Sleaford

This from a Mr Dogboxdriver...

Lincolnshire's first entry of this year's contest is this fine effort at Sleaford station. 

Note especially the distant jungle waiting to swallow the railcar...

Railway Garden Competition - Newhaven Harbour

This via @mikewallis11...

Keep 'em coming!

VTEC in Fake News - Shocker

This from Captain Deltic (for it is he)...

You can imagine the good Captain's consternation when PR firm Hope & Glory sent out a photo of the recent reconstruction of a 1977 East Coast Main Line line-up featuring the handover of the blue riband of high speed traction from the Deltic to IC125.

They kindly attached a black and white print of the original 1977 event.

Which only emphasised that there was something missing from the 2017 line up. Something big and green, with a smokey exhaust and not Flying Scotsman?

But, wait a minute, or 31 minutes to be precise.  Here's a correction from  Hope & Glory with a new photo and caption featuring  D9002 in all its two tone glory, plus some other trains.

And the correction arrived before Captain D had a chance to register his protest.

So who in VTEC spotted this faux pas and ordered a prompt re-issue by their PR agency? (Eye's money is on one D Horne Esq. Ed)

Court backs ORR on Heathrow TAC

This from the ORR...

Court upholds ORR decision on Crossrail charges

As the independent regulator for the UK’s railways, we have a statutory role in ensuring charges to run trains on relevant networks are underpinned by evidence and comply with legal requirements.

In May 2016, taking into account representations and evidence from affected parties, including considerable documentation and submissions from Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL), we decided HAL is not permitted to introduce all of its proposed new charges for train operators to use its track, which links Heathrow ‎Airport to the Great Western main line.‎

HAL launched a judicial review of our decision and after a three day hearing, the court has dismissed HAL’s application and upheld our decision. We welcome this judgment and we will now work with all the affected parties to enable Crossrail services to start running as scheduled into the airport.

Perhaps just as well. 

Not much point in being too greedy when you need your TfL friends to support your exciting expansion plans...

Railway Garden Competition - Clapham Junction

This week sees the Chelsea Flower Show!

So with this in mind here is the railways contribution at Clapham Jct.



Keep 'em coming!

RMT makes welcome gesture

Amidst all the ghastliness of recent hours, a small but significant gesture from The Brothers...

RMT SUSPENDS STRIKE ACTION ON MERSEYRAIL, NORTHERN RAIL AND SOUTHERN RAIL

Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said:

“In light of the horrific bombing in Manchester last night, and the heightened safety and security alerts on our transport services, RMT’s executive has taken the decision to suspend the 24 hours of strike action scheduled for Tuesday 30th May on Merseyrail, Northern Rail and Southern Rail.

“Our thoughts and solidarity at this time are with the people of Manchester.”

Quite.

Tory manifesto - Welsh railways

This from Julian and Sandy...

With the Prime Minister facing a difficult day in Wales over her U-turn on the 'dementia tax' I thought it might be worth looking at what the Tory party manifesto had to say about rail in Wales.

Here's the relevant section:

Wales plays a crucial role in our modern industrial strategy, in the promotion of growing industries in Wales and in the additional powers handed to Welsh local authorities and businesses to promote local growth. Welsh businesses will be central to our new trade and export policies, and our investment in improved infrastructure will help Welsh companies bene t even more from the UK single market than they do now. We will modernise the railway infrastructure across Wales, including new and improved stations, and explore ways to harness Welsh natural resources for the generation of power. 

Not sure whether this applies to narrow gauge lines as well as standard gauge, but clearly it is all jolly promising...

I found it by searching the Tory party manifesto for 'single market' and in the Wales bit there is an intriguing reference to the benefit of the UK single market. I had no idea that was under threat too.

A new Welsh border would make accounting on the English leg of the Holyhead-Cardiff Red Dragon Express extremely tricky.

Hammond Eggs: The memories of glories past...

So Philip Hammond has been on the election trail in Derby...

The Chancellor Philip Hammond has been visiting Bombardier in Derby. pic.twitter.com/LTCox6Wfg9

— Chris Doidge (@BBCChrisD) May 22, 2017

Let's hope nobody mentioned his role in the Thameslink fleet award!

Railfreight - the movie!

This from our North American cousins is nice.

As all three major parties made specific reference to Railfreight in their manifestos this week (Round of applause! Ed), perhaps there should be a similar version for British Railfreight?

Over to you FOCs, RFG, RDG and the MD of NR's FNPO?

Shaken and stirred: Caledonian Sleeper

Eye understands that there is a new MD at Caledonian Sleeper!

Although it is Keith Wallace who has been appointed, rather than his namesake William.

Current incumbent Peter Strachan has been promoted to Chairman of Serco Rail UK!

Manifesto responses - Germolene or Iodine?

This from Howard Wade...

Interesting to compare and contrast trade associations responses to the recent spate of manifestos.

Here is Rail Delivery Group  Chief Executive, Paul Plummer, who may be in danger of sleepwalking over a cliff...

"Working together, by the end of the next parliament, we will be running 6,400 extra services a week and 5,500 new carriages. On top of this, train companies are making a range of changes to improve the experience of passengers from simpler ticket buying to better information. This is all part of a £50bn-plus upgrade plan to improve journeys and to make local economies stronger and fairer, now and for the future.”

Plummer was, of course, speaking on behalf of RDG's 'train company members' (ie the TOCs and FOCs, pointedly excluding Network Rail which is gagged during Purdah).

Compare this with recently appointed Railway Industry Association Chief Exec, Darren Caplan. He pulls no punches, as many of his members are fighting for survival as Plummer's "£50 bn plus" is consumed by both Treasury and boiling frogs:

"We hope that [insert party of choice] recognise and share our concerns about the need for continuity of year-on-year funding for the rail supply sector, which faces the ongoing challenge of planned projects being postponed due to funding limits and which could ultimately lead to passenger and freight services suffering as a result. 

"The current 'Control Period 5' (CP5) will see significant reductions in spending in 2018/19, which could lead to asset degradation, reductions in sectoral employment, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises in the supply chain going bankrupt, and a negative impact on productivity. This in turn could lead to capability gaps and increased costs when the delayed work is commenced, perhaps several years into the next Control Period, CP6."

No doubt about who is speaking for the real railway industry.

UPDATE: This from a Mr Steve Strong...

Reading the words of Mr Plummer I can't help but feel that it lacks key references to 'strong and stable' and 'for the many, not the few'?

Perhaps RDG could amend their statement to read:

"This is all part of a £50bn-plus upgrade plan to improve journeys and to make local economies stable and strong; for the many, not the few.”

You are welcome!

The Case of the Missing Project

The scene: A room at 221b Baker Street...

I say Holmes, what do you make of the Tory Manifesto, it looks pretty thin gruel to me?

But Watson, did you not notice the significance of the reference to Crossrail 2 and perhaps more interestingly Network Rail?

Can't say I did Holmes, in fact I'm not even sure I saw them mentioned at all.

That, Watson, is the significance.

Tory Manifesto - Farewell BTP?

This from Politics Home...

JUSTICE
Other pledges include the creation of a national infrastructure police force, bringing together the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the Ministry of Defence Police and the British Transport Police to improve the protection of critical infrastructure such as nuclear sites, railways and the strategic road network.

Not sure that this will be universally welcomed!

Tory Party manifesto - Rail

Here are the sections on rail from the Tory manifesto launched today...

Thin!

Pointless signs - Halifax

With the media pack descending on Halifax for the launch of the Tory manifesto Eye has received this:

Coming next: "Remember to breathe".

ACoRP launches website promoting Scenic Rail

Here's ACoRP's CEO, Julie Townsend, launching the new Scenic Rail website at King's Cross today.

Eye will of course draw a veil over the use of a t-shirt promoting GWR destinations at a station served by VTEC/GTR/GC and HT, whose services connect into EMT, TPE and Northern CRPs (Pedant! Ed).

No matter!

A nice website and an excellent use of Association of Community Rail Partnerships' resources, in support of their members and the national railway.

You can view the new guide to Britain's scenic railways, here.

Evidently the arrival of 'Jools' (as she prefers to be known) has led to more dynamic campaigning at ACoRP. Good.

LibDem Manifesto - Rail

Here are the key rail elements of the LibDem manifesto...

Taken from section 6.7 'Investing in the transport we need' (page 62ff)..

To build a transport system fit for the 21st century, we will:

●  Ensure that new rail franchises include a stronger focus on customers, including a programme of investment in new stations, lines and modern trains. We will allow public sector bodies and mutual groups involving staff and passengers to bid for franchises. We will continue the Access for All programme, improving disabled access to public transport as a key priority.

●  As a result of severe failings that rise to the level of breach of contract, establish government-run companies to take over the running of Southern Rail and Govia Thameslink, with a long-term plan to  find more effective and sustainable ways of managing these franchises involving greater powers for local government.

●  Pursue the electrification of the rail network, improve stations, reopen smaller stations, restore twin-track lines to major routes and proceed with HS2, HS3 and Crossrail 2, including development of a high-speed network stretching to Scotland.

●  Invest capital in major transport improvements and infrastructure. We will:
- Shift more freight from road to rail.
- Deliver the Transport for the North strategy to promote growth, innovation and prosperity across northern England.
- Develop more modern, resilient links to and within the south-west peninsula to help develop and diversify the regional economy.
- Complete East West Rail, connecting Oxford and Cambridge and catalysing major new housing development.
- Ensure London’s transport infrastructure is improved to withstand the pressure of population and economic growth.
- Support the takeover of metro services in London by London Overground.
- Encourage the swift take-up of electric and driverless vehicles.

To protect and extend local public transport, we will:

●  Introduce a rail ombudsman to enforce passenger rights and improve the provision of compensation, with the power to sanction rail companies as appropriate.

●  Provide local authorities and communities with the powers to improve transport and ticketing with the ability to introduce network-wide and smart ticketing systems.

You can read the entire thing, here.

Worthy, but probably pointless...

Labour party official manifesto - Rail

Here are the key rail elements of the Labour Manifesto launched today...

Taken from the section on Transport (page 90ff):

On our railways, we pay some of the highest fares in Europe for increasingly unreliable and overcrowded services.

The beneficiaries of public funding siphoned off through transport privatisations have been the earnings of directors, dividends for shareholders and the coffers of overseas governments.

Labour will prioritise public service over private profit.  And we will start by bringing our railways back into public ownership, as franchises expire or, in other cases, with franchise reviews or break clauses. We will introduce a Public Ownership of the Railways Bill to repeal the Railways Act 1993 under which the Conservatives privatised our railways.

In public ownership, we will deliver real improvements for passengers by capping fares, introducing free wi-fi  across the network, ensuring safe staffing levels, ending the expansion of driver only operations, and introducing legal duties to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

Labour will introduce regulations to designate and protect routes of critical community value, including those that serve local schools, hospitals and isolated settlements in rural areas.

A publicly owned railway system can be the backbone of our plans for integrated transport. It will be built on the platform of Network Rail, which we will retain whole, working with the devolved administrations. We will ensure new rolling stock is publicly owned and will encourage expansion of public freight services in a publicly owned railway that will leave our roads freer of traffic and our air cleaner. We will facilitate British procurements, including steel, whenever possible.

A Labour government will complete the HS2 high-speed rail line from London through Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester and then into Scotland, consulting with communities affected about the optimal route. We will link HS2 with other rail investments, such as Crossrail of the North (tying together our great Northern cities) and on to the Durham Freight Centre. We will build a new Brighton Main Line for the South East.

In London, to ensure our capital continues to prosper, we will build Crossrail 2.

To harness the economic potential of new technologies and science, we will complete the Science Vale transport arc that runs from Oxford to Cambridge through Milton Keynes. and we will deliver rail electrification and expansion across the whole country, including in Wales and the South West. We will also consult with local communities to re-open branch lines.

Read the whole thing for yourselves here.

Compared with last week's leaked version Birmingham appears to have lost its port(!),  Brighton will gain a new mainline to London and commitments to get rid of DOO have been watered down.

Pointless signs - Duffield

This from a Mr Highbrow...

The ticket machine was relocated to the front of the station several years ago.

Waterloo - it was the WON what won it.

Amazingly, since Eye's return to the fray, we have not been inveigled into giving a blatant plug for the industry's stealth newsletter Rail Business Intelligence.  

So here is an item from last week's issue:

Commissioning of the resignalling between Platforms 20-24 at Waterloo Station and International Junction, scheduled to be brought into use on May 15, has been postponed. This is part of the programme to bring the former Waterloo International platforms into domestic use as part of the CP5 Waterloo Capacity enhancement programme.  Availability of these platforms will allow the partial blockade at Waterloo from August 5-28 for the lengthening of Platforms 1-4 

It would appear that someone at the Sunday Times is an avid readers of RBI?

Eye's man with the safety critical software notes that, unusually, the Weekly Operating Notice containing this information (on Page 95 of 102) did not give a revised commissioning date.

Ooh er!

All The Stations - worth a watch

A Pilgrimage of Grice undertaken by Geoff and Vicki, supported by RDG...

From the All The Stations website:

All The Stations is a project to travel to ALL the national railway stations in Britain in just three months, and to create an online documentary film about the journey.

Here is a vlog the team filmed yesterday:

Good effort!

Worth a watch. Worth a follow.

Meanwhile, Eye hopes that RDG will contact RFG and RSG so that freight and the supply chain can also offer to showcase their contribution to Britain's railway?

Three percent (3%) will take some nudging, so every channel counts.

If we are serious about 'One Railway', Eye would expect nothing less.

Shot in arm for Corbyn nationalisation plans!

No, sorry. Eye lied. 

It's actually a huge shot in the foot, or other more sensitive parts of the anatomy!

Readers of today's Sunday Times will no doubt have seen the following story about state owned Network Rail:

Key take away:

Engineers for Network Rail have warned train company bosses and government officials that a plan to upgrade Waterloo station in August is in trouble and disruption could be worse than forecast.

Well-placed sources believe the impact on passengers will be so severe the entire project could be delayed for a year or scaled back.

Full article can be found here.

Eye salutes Network Rail's Infrastructure Projects (IP), for consistency in delivery. 

IP - tasked with enhancing the railway. Sadly, not in the eyes of our industry, its stakeholders and customers (FFS!)

EXCLUSIVE: Latest on LSWR plans for SWT!

Exclusive Eye footage of First/MTR's bid director outlining the management plan and new train strategy!

You can run, but you can't hide!

TfL shows how we deliver the service

This from TfL, is brilliant!

Finally somebody acknowledges those who make our industry happen.

Day in. Day out. And safely. We get you home!

The Worrying Case of the Global Market

Overheard at Railtex...

I must says, Holmes, it certainly makes you proud to see that so many rolling stock manufacturers see such potential in the British market that they have taken such large stands at Railtex this year. One can only hope that many are thinking of building their new trains here in the UK?

Indeed so, Watson, and I noticed the enthusiastic manner in which you attacked the buffet on the Stadler stand.

Speaking of which, Holmes, I could not but observe the cordiality with which the Swiss welcomed you.  Do you have some connection with their agent?

No, Watson, while I am not averse to a bottle of Mr Wilson’s Crémant, the connection goes back much further.  You will not need to be reminded that the Reichenbach Falls are also in Switzerland.

Ah, yes indeed, Holmes.

Now to business Watson! You will have noted the significance of Derby based Bombardier’s contribution to Railtex,  especially as they are rumoured to have won the order to build new trains for the London and South Western franchise?

But Holmes, I don’t think I have seen a Bombardier stand here today or heard any mention of train manufacturing in Derby.

That, Watson, is the significance.  

RFG publishes rail freight 'manifesto'

As ever the Rail Freight Group is quick off the mark!

RFG managed to publish their manifesto the day before Labour's was leaked!

Headlines here:

Rail Freight Group (RFG) has set out its priorities for the new Government and called on party leaders to include rail freight as part of their transport commitments.

Rail freight is a key part of UK’s freight and logistics, moving a quarter of all containerised imports from the nation’s port to consumers, delivering 40% of the construction aggregates used in London and the South East’s building boom, and underpinning key industrial sectors such as steel. Government action is key to providing a framework which allows rail freight to prosper, and allow the private sector operators and customers to invest for the future.

Our five priorities are:

1. Put Rail Freight at the heart of post Brexit trade links

2. Invest in rail freight infrastructure and technology

3. Provide a stable environment for freight to enable private sector investment

4. Restore and promote rail freight grants to support new services

5. Enable the development of modern fit for purpose terminals

Slick!

The full Rail Freight Group manifesto can be found here.

Leaked Labour Manifesto - Transport

Here is the Transport section of Labour's leaked manifesto:

Labour will invest in a modern, integrated, accessible transport system that is reliable and affordable.

Our transport systems illustrate the abject failure of Tory policies: relentless deregulation, privatisation and fragmentation.

They say we get choice and efficiency but the reality of their transport privatisations has been that services are less reliable, safety is compromised, fares have risen, ticketing has become complicated and public health has worsened.

On rail we pay the highest fares in Europe for an increasingly unreliable and overcrowded service.

The beneficiaries of public funding siphoned off through transport privatisations have been the rocketing earnings of directors, dividends for shareholders, and the coffers of overseas governments. 

A different system is possible. A Labour government will prioritise public service over private profit. and we will start by bringing our railways back into public ownership, as franchises expire. 

A Labour government will introduce a Public Ownership of the Railways Bill to repeal the Railways Act 1993 under which the Conservatives privatised our railways.

In public ownership, we will deliver real improvements for passengers by freezing fares, introducing free wi-fi across the network, ensuring safe staffing levels and ending driver only operation, and by improving accessibility for disabled people. 

A publicly owned railway system can be the backbone of our plans for integrated transport. It will be built on the platform of Network Rail, already in public ownership, and consider establishing a new public rolling stock company. 

A Labour government will complete the HS2 high speed rail line from London through Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester, and then into Scotland, consulting with communities affected about the optimal route. 

A Labour government will invest to regenerate the local and regional economies across the whole country, so that every area gets its fair share of transport investment. 

A Labour government will link HS2 with other new investments, such as Crossrail of the North.

To harness the economic potential of new technologies and science we will complete the Science Vale transport arc, from Oxford to Cambridge through Milton Keynes. To prepare for global new trade arrangements, we will study the feasibility of port development in Southampton and Avonmouth as well as Liverpool, Hull and Birmingham. 

In London, to ensure our capital continues to prosper, we will build Crossrail 2 and devolve responsibilities for running the commuter train lines to the Transport for London authority.

We will invest in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, too, working with devolved administrations through the National Infrastructure Commission.

Our plans for will encourage and enable people to get out of their cars, for better health and a cleaner environment.

Across the country we will enable the creation of municipal bus companies, publicly run for passengers not profit.

We will introduce regulations to designate and protect routes of critical community value, including those that serve local schools hospitals and isolated settlements in rural areas.

We will better regulate the licensed taxi and private carriage hire sectors in the knowledge that new technologies, consumer service and public safety all require competitive playing field between these sectors to be levelled.

We will invite the National Infrastructure Commission to recommend the next stages for developing and upgrading the National Cycle Network.

We will continue to upgrade our highways and improve road works at known bottlenecks. !he A1 North, the Severn Bridge and the A30 provide essential connections and require our urgent consideration.

We will refocus the roads building and maintenance programmes on road safety, connecting our communities, feeding public transport hubs and realising untapped economic potential.

Our rail freight programme on a publicly owned railway will leave our roads freer and our air cleaner.

Labour supports the expansion of aviation capacity and we will continue to support the work of the Airports Commission. 

We will continue working with our neighbours through the European Union’s Highways of the Seas and by negotiating to retain membership of the Common Aviation Area and Open Skies arrangements.

Unclear at this stage whether Labour is looking to nationalise rail freight.

UPDATE: An Eye notes that the Airports Commission hasn't existed for two years!

Eye signs legendary 'Chris Crossrail'

This from Chris Crossrail, Fleet Street's legendary 'burrower for news'...

Although now fully retired and resting I can't help but notice things are not quite so ahead of the game on Crossrail.

Little things.

The quarterly newsletter that used to boast of Stakhanovite targets being met, and even exceeded, is now a month overdue and the January edition was pretty lame.

Through the grimy windows of an HST yesterday I noted that track laying trains are still working the tunnels from Ladbroke Grove. As I understand the track has got to be in before other ancillary services can be fitted out this is beginning to look a bit tight.

My guess is that the project is not in real trouble but a lot of irreplaceable float time is being used up and the unions are on to this. Big 'productivity' deals are being negotiated at Liverpool Street etc... following the excellent lead of The Brothers at Paddington.

Perhaps Eye readers can burrow further? All submissions at the usual address (see right hand menu bar).

Shaken and stirred: Graham Coombs

Eye hears that Graham Coombs is departing RIA.

After two decades as Communications Director at the Railway Industry Association (the UK's supply chain trade association) Coombs has decided he's had enough of erecting stands at exhibitions!

Speaking exclusively to Eye, Coombs said:

“I can’t grumble at a job that has taken me everywhere from Blackpool to Beijing, but it is time for a change. 20 years of supporting suppliers is more than enough for anyone.

"Now isn't it your round old man?" 

Coombs, a former BR Board Press Officer, has accumulated an astonishing 36 years of rail PR experience since he joined the Southern Region Public Relations and Publicity Office in 1981.

Colleagues who wish to see Graham off in 'old railway' style can find him on or about the RIA stand at Railtex this week.

Eye's Summer Special Offer!

This from Barry Spotter Enterprises...

Having trouble with air conditioning controllers going walkabout?

Do you find yourself unable to keep your office or mess room at just the right temperature to allow restful sneaky snoozes on company time?

Have no fear! The Southern Region has the answer!

Just attach your air-con hoofer-doofer to a spare insulating pot using cable ties and flummox any remote control pilfering miscreants!!

Price: Just a fraction of the cost of all that knitting nonsense that is going so well elsewhere in the country.

Note: Offer only available on the Southern Region, London Underground and Merseyrail*.

*Customers on the Eastern, London Midland, North Eastern, Scottish & Western regions will need to install proper traction supply systems before purchasing.

Railway Sculptures - Hall Royd

The return of an occasional series celebrating the rich diversity of artistic forms that Network Rail have left in strategic locations to delight the passenger...

Behold, Hall Royd Scrapyard... sorry, Junction!

This sculpture was installed in 2015 to commemorate the opening (finally) of the Todmorden curve.

Exclusive - DfT proposes new DOO train design!

Despite purdah, Eye sources have leaked this revolutionary DfT design for a DOO compliant train...

#BreakingNews:
Department of Transport reveals new look DOO rolling stock design.@TheFactCompiler pic.twitter.com/8HWlqj4Ogw

— Driver H. Potter (@DriverPotter) May 4, 2017

Perhaps surprisingly, no mention of how it will draw juice from the Apostle of the Third Rail!

UPDATE: This from a Mr Barry Spotter, for it is he...

Further to your enquiry regarding shoe gear on the exciting new DfT approved DOO train.

Potter Rail has been assured by operators that all drivers will be fitted with shoes. Or boots.

Wet Toast - warming the market for rail

How the heart swells when you see traditional scenes like this on today's railway!

What's that you say?

It's not from a kettle!

Oh!

Shaken and stirred: Ross to Scotrail

This from The Herald...

David Ross, one of the most senior figures in [Labour leader, Kezia] Dugdale’s team, will leave after June 8th to join transport firm Scotrail on a temporary basis.

His social media biography describes him as “official spokesman” to Ms Dugdale and states: “I am a senior staff member in the Scottish Labour Party's communications team, reporting directly to the leader.”

A big gain for Scotrail, but the timing of the announcement is interesting, just before the local and general elections.

PM commits to HS2

This from The Grauniad...

Theresa May has committed to delivering the HS2 high-speed rail link.

The prime minister was reportedly coming under pressure from Tory MPs in the south to cancel HS2, which the government projects will cost £55.7bn.

Her announcement ends speculation that she was preparing to drop the new north-south railway from the Conservatives’ general election manifesto.

That sound? That is the sound of the Chilterns weeping into their skinny lattes.

The crumbling edge of quality: Manchester Piccadilly

This from Charlemagne...

It looks like NR's cutting back on renewals is good news for the makers of tie-bars. 

The road through platform 13 at Manchester Piccadilly is held together by dozens of them!

Pointless signs - Northallerton

This courtesy of 'BA'...

So much thought, so little point!

Phillips chairs BTPA as McVey contests Tatton

This from the British Transport Police Authority...

I am writing to inform you that Esther McVey has formally resigned her position as Chairman and her membership of the British Transport Police Authority following her selection as the Conservative Party candidate for the Tatton Constituency in the upcoming General Election. Esther, who was formally selected as a prospective parliamentary candidate on 26 April, has been Chairman since November 2015.

Mark Phillips, the current Deputy Chairman, will be fulfilling the duties of Chairman until a permanent replacement can be appointed. Mark, who has been a member of BTPA since September 2013, has a background in rail, having worked for British Rail, Railtrack and National Express. He is currently Chief Executive of the RSSB.

Tatton was the constituency of the former Chancellor, George 'Many Jobs' Osborne.