Grauniad rivals GTR for up to date information

Good news for fans of the bleedin' obvious!

This from the Grauniad:

Britain’s biggest rail franchise, which includes the strike-hit Southern service, is likely to be broken up when it expires in 2021, the government has said.

Passengers on Southern have experienced widespread disruption since it was incorporated into Britain’s biggest rail franchise, run by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), in 2015.

Why, yes. Yes indeed!

And what's more DfT have confirmed this is what will happen.

Except they confirmed it way back... in 2014, before the GTR contract even started.

Good to see the Graun so quick on the uptake,  a mere 38 months after the original announcement.

DOO - the long view

This from an Eye reader with a long memory…

As those who read RSSB reports may recall - there is a view that "on platform" cameras give a much better view of the Passenger Train Interface than "on train" cameras.

BUT there is a feeling in the industry that this was ahem... overlooked to ensure the cost and resposibility for maintaining DOO equipment didn't fall on Network Rail.

So - imagine my surprise at finding this letter from 24 years ago, which appeared in the September issue of Modern Railways.

I wonder if Modern Railways is actually responsible for the whole DOO debacle and THAT's why they keep calling it "Modernisation"?

DfT consults on Community Rail

The DfT has issued a consultation document on Community Rail.

This follows a passionate speech by Pete Wilkinson last month, in favour of community rail, at the ACoRP awards in Derby.

The consultation introduction sets the scene:

The Government believes community rail is well placed in ensuring the railway reflects the communities and customers it serves. Community rail policy was last reviewed in 2007 and in the decade since there has been considerable change, with community rail continuing to develop amid an evolving and growing rail network.

The purpose of this consultation is to provide those with an interest in community rail in England and Wales an opportunity to inform future policy

The consultation document can be found here.

Remember. Vote early, vote often.