Derby Telegraph wins award for Derbygate campaign

Good news from today's Regional Press Awards...

The Derby Telegraph has won two awards.

The paper won Campaigning Newspaper of the Year for its Bombardier campaign following the award of the Thameslink fleet order to Siemens, and Steve Hall was named as Editor of the Year.

Good effort and well deserved.

Eye readers will be aware of the fury in the East Midlands over the Thameslink contract award, a fury given full voice by the Derby Telegraph.

So shaken were the normally supine ministers and mandarins at the Department for Transfer that they actually worked over Christmas to end a 999 day rolling stock order hiatus, awarding a contract in record time to Bombardier's Derby plant on the 28th December last year to provide Southern with much needed new trains.

Since then, despite much ministerial huffing and puffing over the new IEP and Thameslink fleets, nothing of course.

If any doubts remain over the particular power of the Derby Telegraph the picture below should put paid to them...

Once bitten, twice shy eh, Dave?

Derbygate - the chickens come home to roost!

This from a Mr Saltaire...

I wonder if Eye readers have spotted this gem from Cruella given in the House on the 17th May?

Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for the time taken to finalise the Thameslink rolling stock contract; and when she expects the contract to be finalised.

Theresa Villiers (Minister of State (Rail and Aviation), Transport; Chipping Barnet, Conservative)
The Department expects to conclude the core project agreements with Siemens and Cross London Trains shortly, following which Cross London Trains and their lending banks then need to conclude the financing documentation required to secure the necessary equity and debt funding for the project.

So, let me get this straight.

There are now two processes taking place:

The projct agreement, which will be agreed 'shortly' (whatever that may equate to in Daftime) and the project funding, which apparently is not even in place yet!

How, therefore, could the DfT have accepted Cross London Train's offer, given that a prerequisite of the project was that it be fully financed?

More importantly how does the Government know whether the Order of Magnitude financing costs assumed at the time of the bid, still stand today, tomorrow or in six months time when the Euro may well have disappeared from the commercial landscape?

If I were Wabtec, Bombardier or Railcare, I’d be getting my tendering pencils warmed up for a Class 319 refurb offer! 

And if I were ATOC, and had just delivered a Rolling Stock Strategy, then I’d be thinking about going back to the drawing board, as far as EMU cascades are concerned.

UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...

And if I were in Marsham Street I would be stuffing a telephone directory down my trousers in advance of a spanking from the National Audit Office!

Bombardier turns back on UK supply chain?

This from a Mr Tony Miles...

I see that the Captain of Netball has issued a written ministerial statement today on Crossrail procurement.

In it Ms Greening says:

My department has been working with colleagues across Whitehall, and suppliers and delivery bodies to implement these recommendations. Across the transport sector we want to improve dialogue with suppliers and increase the long-term visibility of forthcoming contracts in order to strengthen the capability of the UK supply chain....

The Invitation to Negotiate includes requirements for ‘responsible procurement’. This means that bidders are required to set out how they will engage with the wider supply chain and provide opportunities for training, apprenticeships, and small and medium size businesses within their procurement strategy. Bidders are also required to establish an appropriate local presence to manage the delivery of the contract.

And quite right too!

But what's this?

Rail Business Intelligence revealed last week that Bombardier is looking to source the electrical components for its Project Thor/eVoyager proposal from Sweden rather than Alstom in Preston!

The pleas for support for "The UK's last train builder" and all the stuff about supporting the local economy no doubt now seem rather hollow to the people of Preston and the Alstom workforce there.

I trust that MPs and union members who joined business leaders to campaign for the allocation of work to the Derby facility will bear this in mind should Crossrail not go Bombardier's way?

UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic...

Since the value added, high tech expensive stuff in a train is under the floor, the choice of traction package could have a big influence under the new Greening Doctirne of Responsible Procurement.

Might be worth running down the list of pre-qualified bidders for Crossrail to see if any of the train manufacturers hasn't got an in-house traction package supplier.

Olé!

Siemens fights back on Thameslink

This from the Independent...

Juergen Maier, head of Siemens' UK arm, told The Independent that media coverage had been "biased", that 2,000 British jobs would be created, and that rival Bombardier should accept that this is "a competitive world".

Ah!

The old '2,000 British jobs' ploy.

Would it be churlish to point out that these 2,000 maintenance and depot jobs would have been created by whomsoever had won the Thameslink contract?

Meanwhile, only Bombardier offered to manufacture the new trains in Britain, whilst Siemens plan to build the Thameslink fleet in Germany.

Perhaps Herr Maier can tell us precisely how many British jobs that will create?

UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic, who raises a quizzical eyebrow....

2000 maintenance and depot jobs? for 1200 vehicles?

Perhaps 200?

Derbygate: By Royal Appointment...

This from The Mirror...

Prince of Wales to visit Bombardier in morale-booster for workers

He will make a much-needed visit to engineers at the historic Bombardier plant next Friday just two weeks after the Canadian owners spared it from closure

Good on HRH!

Can it be long, Eye wonders, before Gideon and the Department for Transfer arrange a visit to Newton Aycliffe by Naruhito, the Crown Prince of Japan?

UPDATE: This from Otto von Primark...

To save any Thameslink embarrassment will Prinz Karl avoid travelling to Derby in der königliche Zug (prop DB)?

And on the 1000th day DfT gave to me...

A Merry Christmas to all Eye readers!

On the day that we were due to celebrate the 1000th day without an order for new rolling stock, DfT has pulled its finger out!

This from Bombardier:

London, 28 December, 2011 – Bombardier Transportation today announced that it has secured an additional order for 130 BOMBARDIER ELECTROSTAR* cars for Southern. The new trains will augment Southern’s existing fleet of Bombardier’s award winning electric multiple units. The contract is valued at £188.8 million (Euro 222.8 million).

Hail Greening - a Transport Secretary who makes things happen!

An open letter to Justine Greening

This open letter to Justine Greening has been copied into Eye by a Mr Reginald Perrin of Sunshine Desserts...

Dear Mrs Greening

I understand that your Department has today confirmed yet another timetable slippage - this time involving the order for new Thameslink rolling stock which will now not be signed until the New Year.

If I might paraphrase the letter I previously sent to the Traffic Manager, British Rail (Southern Region):

It is rapidly becoming apparent to me that your officials are not only not competent enough to hold their jobs, but they could not even run a game of strip-poker in a Turkish brothel.

It should be obvious, even to a retarded Belgian hamster, that all of your train orders should be re-timed to take eleven months longer.

Yours Faithfully,
Reginald I. Perrin

Tories destined to repeat mistakes of the past?

Telegrammed by Mons Star
As Captain Deltic's counter of days, since the placing of the last new train order, ticks ominously away the question on everyone's lips is 'will it be over by Christmas?'.

Three current deals could, in theory, stop the clock before it reaches 1,000 days on the 28th December.

The London Midland/TPE order for Siemens' Desiros is still being haggled over by DafT. LM's press release announcing preferred status for the only credible bidder already hinted that commercial close might slip into the new year...

Meanwhile the southern thrust of Siemens' drive, Thameslink, is in big financial trouble, with a respected finance journal reporting that the current liquidity situation has funders calling for higher returns. To add to the woe there are also reports that the money men have finally woken up to the risk involved in total train service provision PFI deals. The darkening shadows of London Underground's PPP draw ever nearer...

Finally , the IEP is reported to be neck and neck with Thameslink. Make of that what you will, but East Coast and Great Western are already devoting time and effort to looking at 'credible' alternatives. Could there be a link between Rail Barbie's departure and her insistence that the 'something must be done' with the lacklustre IC225 fleet?

So, all over by Christmas? More likely DfT is planning its usual costly and misguided war of attrition.

If so, 1st March will be a dark day - marking the second occasion when a Tory Transport Secretary has presided over a 1064 day hiatus in ordering new trains.

Villiers vignettes - From Derbygate to Gardengate

Much gnashing of teeth in the East Midlands!

Local rail lobby group the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum is one speaker short of a full agenda for its annual conference this Thursday.

According to the Derby Evening Telegraph:

But the DfT has now said that Ms Villiers will not be attending the event because of a planning issue in her Chipping Barnet constituency.

A spokesman for Mrs Villiers' constituency office said: "The Hemington Avenue planning case is very controversial locally and Theresa has been contacted by a large number of constituents on this issue. Having campaigned against so called 'garden grabbing' for many years, Theresa feels it's vitally important that she is present at the appeal hearing to support her constituents."

Eye is sure that this statement was issued in error and having spoken with Sid Spiv, DfT's Director of Leaks, has secured the following updated version:

"The Newton Aycliffe planning case is very controversial locally and Cruella has been contacted by a large number of constituents about this issue. Having campaigned against so called 'train grabbing' for many years, Cruella feels it is vitally important that she is present at the appeal hearing to support the Japanese Ambassador."

Yet another case of the Minister walking away from her brief?

Derbygate - DafT waves the white flag?

Exciting news for fans of Open Government!

Here the details from the August edition of the Department for Transport's Structural Reform Plan Monthly Implementation Update.


But what's this?

Despite the Department for Transfer giving a date for completing commercial arrangements on the IEP fleet, not a word on achieving the same for Thameslink!

As items 2.3 (II) and 2.3 (IV) appear to have been redacted perhaps the date for commercially closing the export of thousands of British jobs is now officially an Euro-state secret?

Either that or Paper-knife has finally acknowledged that there is no point giving a date for something that guarantees electoral suicide.

Derbygate - the movie

At last some good news from Derby!

The local Labour party won an award at conference this week for being the best campaigning party in the country.

This was in recognition of its continuing campaign to save the UK's last rolling stock manufacturer and in recognition of the parliamentary petition, organised by Derby North MP Chris Williamson, which secured well over 50,000 signatures.




No doubt Petrol-head will be on-hand next week to open an envelope revealing a similar accolade from the Tories?

UPDATE: This from Rose Hill...

Remember earlier this year when DfT were concerned that the UK's studious compliance with EU rules was putting British companies at a disadvantage?

Well it seems like the fears were unfounded.

The UK is, after all, just as non compliant as the rest.

Witness yesterday's statement below, bringing us into line with 24 other member states:

"The European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against France and the United Kingdom over their failure to implement legislation to open the market for rail services in the Channel Fixed Link. Compliance with EU legislation will contribute to more competition, which will lead to better services and prices for passengers and freight traffic."

What a relief.

Derbygate - Cold Comfort from LibDems

This from Ithuriel...

According to Nick Clegg:

"Do remember there are going to be lots of other rail contracts and I very much hope Bombardier will bid for them"

Care to list them, Mr Clegg?

Perhaps Bombardier should ask if they can borrow NR's Rapid Rebuttal Unit to kick this sort of misleading spin out of court?

DfT feels Derby pain and awards new train order!

Finally some good news for Derby!

Clearly stung into action by the national campaign to save the UK's last train manufacturing plant the Department for Transfer has decided that a contract for up to 120 new vehicles will be awarded to the hard pressed Dusseldorf factory of Siemens (Is this right!?! Ed).

This from London Midland's website:

London Midland is pleased to announce today that it has selected preferred bidders for the manufacture, maintenance and financing of new rolling stock. This is intended for both London Midland and the Manchester to Scotland services operated by First TransPennine Express, which would result in significant additional capacity, making travel easier, more reliable and less crowded on some of the busiest sections of the rail network.

The preferred bidders are Siemens Plc for manufacture and maintenance of the new rolling stock, which are expected to be Desiro EMUs, and Angel Trains Limited for the necessary financing. We are now entering a period of exclusive negotiations with those companies. If those negotiations are brought to a successful conclusion, and parallel discussions with the Department for Transport confirm the business case and the necessary amendments to the London Midland franchise agreement, then a firm order is likely to be placed by early 2012.

Nice of London Midland take the heat off DfT by ordering the TPE vehicles as well. After all, what are franchises for? (Wolmar ibid)

No doubt Derby was unable to offer a suitable Electrostar product or had too much work on - what with losing the Thameslink order and all?

UPDATE: This from M'Duck...

This announcement is a little rich on the back of iDave's word's at PMQ's today:



A 'bright future' for Derby indeed!

UPDATE: This from Sir William A Stanier FRS...

Whilst applauding Railway Eye's continued support for our other Works in Derby, perhaps The Fact Compiler could advise whether Messrs Bombardier of Canada actually bid for this contract?

According to my successors, who are experts on the new twitterphone device, "You have to be in it - to win it!".

UPDATE: This from The Archer...

Sir Bill is right: You do have to be in it, to win it!

And maybe the Canuks didn't bid for the LM contract, LM after all already operate Siemens EMUs so Derby would have had little chance of success.

The real question though is whether Bombardier would have bid if they had known that LM would front a (larger) order for TPE on the back of LM's bid?

TPE don't currently operate any EMUs so Bombardier vs Siemens would have been a level playing field - perhaps that's what DfT were worried about.

• Thameslink = Siemens because of credit ratings.

• LM = Siemens because of the existing LM fleet.

• TPE = Siemens because ?

Anyone know?

UPDATE: This from a Mr Tony Miles...

TPE - because:

1) the sets will be based/maintained at the Siemens depot in Ardwick, Manchester.
2) and at the Scottish end the sets will looked after overnight by people who service other Siemens (class 380) sets and, more importantly,
3) it is thought probable that the TPE sets will eventually return to the LM franchise when more of the network in the NW is electrified and the TP franchise orders a much bigger fleet - so the 10 sets have to be compatible with the LM sets.

Does that answer the question?

UPDATE: This from Howard Wade...

What are the DfT (under the non de guerre of London Midland) going on about?

Bombardier did not bid, or, rather pulled out after pre-qualification, because of the small quantity and because a repeat order for Class 350/1 was the blindingly obvious solution - even to competitive procurment crazed civil servants.

Siemens has been the formally confirmed sole/preferred bidder for over a year.

All the stuff about European wide procurement is pure spin.

Confused old man causes rail chaos

A confused old man from Twickenham caused chaos in Derby today when he discovered that his zimmer frame would not go into reverse.

The confused old man, who is often to be seen waving at the traffic in London's Victoria Street, said:

"My reputation for dithering will be seriously damaged if I perform a U-turn."

Vince Cable is 204.

Cameron shows commitment to British industry

Exciting news from iDave!

Our brave and gallant Prime Minister is now wombling his way back to Cornwall after single-handedly presiding over the capture of Gaddafi (is this right? Ed).

However, before he left with his bucket and spade the former member of the Bullingdon Club and newly appointed chairman of the Quisling Society has determined that there will be no reconsideration of the decision to award the Thameslink contract to Siemens.

Of course the Rt Hon David Cameron is renowned for his great wisdom and sound judgement.


'Nuff said!

Fact Compiler spotted at Derby rally - Shocker

This from M'Duck...

Dear Fact Compiler

I attended the rally in Derby on Saturday where over 6,000 people supported our local train manufacturer.

Speeches were made by Colin Walton, Chairman of Bombardier, local MPs and Councillors from all political hues, and even RMT General Secretary Bob Crow gave us his backing.

However, despite your blog making much of the decision to export UK jobs aboard, you seemed to be keeping a very low profile at this major event.

However, I spotted you!


Can I claim my £5? (No! Ed)

Siemens boss backs Bombardier - Shocker

This from the BBC...


But what's this?

Suddenly Mr Walton has become Mr Wilson!


Could the Beeb perhaps be thinking of David Wilson, the boss of Siemens?

Still nice of him to attend tomorrow's march. Eye is sure he will receive a very warm Derbyshire welcome...

Lookalike - You won't like me when I'm angry

Bombardier Chairman Colin Walton appears to have tired of playing Mr Nice Guy!

This from today's Daily Mail...

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said at the time that he had no power to overturn the decision.

But Walton said questions in Parliament had shown Hammond did have the power to reconsider the bid and bypass Siemens. He said: ‘It now looks like the Secretary of State has a lot of questions to answer.’

He added: ‘I do find it completely incredible that nothing to do with socio-economics has been taken into account. They have had every option to do that in the invitation to tender.’

Walton was speaking as he was supposed to be on a South African trade trip with the Prime Minister, but was snubbed just 48-hours before the flight took off.

His absence meant he missed the chance to secure key contract there. He said: ‘It would have been a golden opportunity for the Government to demonstrate commitment to British exports. Is it the case that they no longer back British exports? I really hope that’s not the case, but I don’t know.’


Unsurprisingly, Eye prefers it when he's angry!

Brown backs Bombardier

This from M'Duck...

Thought Eye readers might be interested to see this which has been circulated around Litchurch Lane:


Good to see London backing Derby.

UPDATE: This from Howard Wade...

Will Mike Brown's overt support for Derby extend to putting in a good word with his TfL chums working on the Crossrail fleet procurement?

Derbygate - The rally.

This from M'Duck...

Please could you alert Eye readers to a rally in support of UK manufacturing jobs that is taking place on Saturday?


Be there or be square!

UPDATE: This from the BBC...

More than 50,000 people have signed a petition urging the government to reverse a decision to give a £1.4bn contract to a German train maker.

Good effort.