A new era unfurls #5

Telegrammed by our Independent Expert
Another f-up on the West Coast Main Line today because of signal problems on southbound lines.

Glasgow-London trains packed this afternoon as they are being forced to make extra stops to deal with all the delayed passengers along the route.

How timely that the 'gentleman' of Network Rail will soon be stepping up to take their bonuses! And how well deserved.

UPDATE: This from Leo Pink...

Virgin Train's affable COO, Chris Gibb, is understood to have signed up with the Brian Souter School of Railway Invective (Motto No BS with BS) in preparation for his next meeting with Iain Coucher, because the problem signals are between Harrow and Wembley which also went tits up on Sunday!

A new era unfurls #4

Telegrammed by the Master
You men of old... look and weep.


Taken on Friday at Carlisle on the New West Coast Main Line (costing circa £9.0524bn and counting).

Who could begrudge Network Rail directors their bonuses when they've presided over such a monumental success?

(Is this right? Ed)

A new era unfurls #3

Good news for the West Coast Main Line.

According to Transport Briefing yesterday:

Network Rail is to pump a further £50m into the West Coast Route Modernisation amid mounting embarrassment that the line is the most unreliable in Britain despite a £9bn upgrade.

Interestingly a reader suggests that as at 15:30 yesterday Virgin's press office were completely unsighted on the plans.

No matter.

Meanwhile delays look set to get worse before they get better.

Apparently Network Rail are to replace 290 sets of points that were not replaced during the original upgrade!

The announcement of the extra spend is perhaps unfortunate, especially as NR has already committed £2.4m on a splendid advertising campaign to tell us how the project had been succesfully completed.

All of which inevitably draws attention back to the thorny issue of Network Rail bonuses.

The Eye gave credit to Coucher for surrendering his annual bonus, but now fears that this may not be enough.

As the WCML Upgrade is turning into a costly farce for TOCs and taxpayer alike can Network Rail really reward its already well renumerated directors with bonuses running into six figures?

Bonuses which will be seen, even if unfairly, as a reward for failure.

UPDATE: This just in from J Alfred Prufrock...

If Network Rail spends £50 million on the Worst Corporately Managed Line because people caused a fuss then perhaps ORR's fines need to be recalibrated to get serious action.

How about adding a nought to the number 1200 grade* first thought of.

*1200 grade is the smoothest and least abrasive Emery paper.

A new era unfurls #2

Virgin West Coast PPM on Wednesday 10th June 2009

55.9%.

"A new era will unfold on the West Coast Main Line" Iain Coucher, December 2008

A new era unfurls #1

Good news for the freight community.

Today saw the official opening of Telford International Railfreight Terminal.

Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers, travelled from London to do the honours.

Alas.

Her train was delayed by signalling problems on the West Coast Main Line.

Perhaps surprising considering that Network Rail's rather splendid £2.4m advertising campaign was commissioned to celebrate the succesful conclusion of a £9bn upgrade.

No matter.

Iain Coucher boasted in December that "a new era will unfold on the West Coast Main Line".

Many are asking for the old one back.