Network Rail shelves plans to acquire DBS sites

This from Network Rail...

We received a number of responses to our consultation on the proposal for Network Rail Infrastructure Limited (“Network Rail”) to acquire a number of freight sites from DB Schenker Rail (UK) Limited (“DBSR”).

Having carefully considered and taken account of the responses we have decided not to proceed with the proposal as consulted on. Nevertheless, we remain keen to continue to explore ways in which it may be possible to achieve the overarching objectives identified in our consultation document. We recognise the desirability of wider industry support should there be major structural changes required to achieve this.

A real shame! 

UPDATE: This from A Man in Chains...
 
A couple of points:

1) Weren't the yards "gifted" to EWS in the first place?

2) At least one "yard" NR thought it was buying is already a housing estate (Barrow)

3) The deal proposed giving DBS protection for the best/longest sidings for its own exclusive use, "ransom" strips of land or track that other freight users would still have had to pay to use/cross and other restrictive clauses weighted in favour of DBS.
 
A purchase of something already given away should at least have come without any covenants in favour of the previous owner…

DBS celebrates HMQ's Diamond Jubilee

A nice touch from DB Schenker at Manchester Victoria this morning.

The railfreight and logistics company invited Her Majesty the Queen to name a locomotive Diamond Jubilee.

The loco will be used to haul the Royal Train to Jubilee events throughout the year.

Sadly no pic of Her Maj doing the deed, so instead here is the loco in all its glory with the Royal Train Team.


Good effort.

DBS goes back to the future at Bescot

This from Matt...

I thought this picture might be of interest to Eye readers, taken today at Bescot 'Traction Maintenance Depot'.

The old EWS signs have been taken down to reveal the following time warp brand, dating from 1994.


Presumably new DBS signs are on order or perhaps DBS will save the effort and just split their their business back into 3 trainload companies?

The Fact Compiler observes: And hopefully no longer run from Paris by Army Group West, obviously.

DBS resurgent?

***Rumour that Stobart's contract may have a new haulier***

2009 Railway Garden Competition #XVI - Teutonic Efficiency

The Eye has been pretty hard on Network Rail in recent months over its Railway Gardens.

And just to show that NR is not alone in facing a problem with vegetation control (shurely neglecting to kill weeds, Ed) here is a picture of DB Schenker managed infrastructure at Northampton.


The Eye wonders if this sort of neglect would be tolerated on DB's home patch?

Perhaps readers visiting the Reich this summer could advise?

UPDATE: This from 'Alias Interail'...

Further to your comment about railway gardens in the Fatherland, here’s a shot (taken from a level crossing) of a typical freight loading facility at Walldorf, near Meiningen in the former DDR, last autumn.


As you can see, DB’s drive for ‘efficiency’ in the run-up to privatisation means that weed clearance is taken just as seriously there as it is here...

The Fact Compiler stands corrected.

If DB can't manage vegetation at home what hope in this Sceptered Isle?

For you ze football is over

As Gordon Brown prepares to meet the remaining members of England's 1966 World Cup winning squad at Downing Street today more good news from our passenger focused railway.

This from those nice people at DB owned Chiltern...

Please be aware that we will not be stopping any services at Wembley Stadium Station on 10 June, from 1200 until the end of service. We will unfortunately not be providing a service for those going to see the England game at Wembley Stadium.

The safety of both our regular passengers, and the additional travellers using our services because of the strike, is paramount, and we therefore have taken the difficult decision to withdraw services to Wembley on 10 June. Unfortunately this will also affect the evening journey of those who commute to/from Wembley Stadium station.

Typical of the Germans, bloody sore losers.

Germany calling # 4

Telegrammed by Leo Pink
I spit on Lord Tee Hee's 75 min late.

When DB fahrt gegen Engeland (in the form of DB Schenker) has just one train failure it shuts down the entire railway for hours and hours and hours.

Yesterday's 02.30 from Birch Coppice to Ipswich failed closing most of the West Coast main line for half the day until it was finally hauled into Bletchley Yard at 13.53.

But restoring national pride, Network Rail then demonstrated its new HIPS (Highly Interruptible Power Supply) at the Bletchley control centre.

This shut down the WCML for the rest of the afternoon.

Virgin's PPM for the day was 21.8%.

Still ORR should have received the NR recovery plan for WCML performance by close of play today, so that's all right then.

DB Schenker 'anschluss' garages

This slightly incredible story from getreading...


A group of pensioners living in Theale who refused to pay a massive hike in an access charge have had their garages barricaded.

There is obviously no messing with our Teutonic friends.

Passengers of Chiltern and WSMR may wish to take note.

And then there were three...

Shock news from Wrexham & Shropshire!

This from the BBC...

A train company running a direct link between Wrexham and London is cutting the number of week day services from five to three.

Less than a year after its service was launched, Wrexham and Shropshire blamed the recession and said the decision reflected customer travel patterns.

DB Schenker must be feeling the chill wind of recession...

UPDATE: An 'Anonymous' reader advises....

Reinvent immediately as 'Ryanair of the Rails'.

Slash fares, axe fripperies!

Charge for use of the lavatory? Ed

Yes, charge for toilets, suitcases and pets! Anon

DB go slow

So much for the German commitment to running a right time railway.

This from the Times...

Keith Heller, the chief executive of EWS (DB Shenker), Britain’s biggest rail freight company, said that the Department for Transport’s punctuality target for passenger trains was too ambitious and was delaying his freight trains.

As DB also runs Chiltern Trains, Wrexham & Shropshire and is a partner in LooRoll, can it be long before Berlin gives Heller 'das boot' for this off-message nonsense?

UPDATE: This from Das Internationaler Korrespondent...

Liebe Herr Tatsache Kompilier

Why would Keith want a submarine from his masters in the Deutsche Haupstadt?

Heil Burkhardt! Heil Bahn!

Greater reich

So farewell English, Welsh & Scottish.

From today you are known as DB Schenker.

Catchy - not.