From a recently discovered Samuel Beckett notebook...
Herr Professor Erwin Schroedinger writes…
In co-operation with the Britisch Department sum Transport we began an exciting new experiment to validate a more advanced version of mein 'Uncertainty Prinziple'.
The award of the West Midlands replacement franchise to Abellio, JR East and Mitsui was announced on 10th August, but not signed and then surrounded mit ein wall of silence.
With no one knowing what has happened in the following weeks, we have the situation where the franchise award may be in the bureaucratic process, still under negotiation, or deferred.
Railway Eye's science correspondent Prof Fred Bunsen-Berner notes that this triple uncertainty paradox could mark a step forward in our understanding of nuclear physics.
Whether it could be applied to our understanding of franchise procurement is perhaps less certain.
Good to see that DfT is clamping down on poorly performing franchises.
Concealed amongst the self congratulatory press release from Stormin' Norman (who else!) boasting that the Government had secured £7m worth of ticketing geegaws for hard pressed London Midland commuters was the following:
"The deal that has been struck will also confirm the end date of the franchise as September 2015, ensuring that London Midland is given sufficient time to resolve these problems on a permanent basis."
Way, way back in the heady days of June 2007 when the franchise was first awarded the DfT statement to the Stock Market contained the following fearsome words...
"The new franchise will begin on 11th November 2007 and will run until 19th September 2015. The DfT has the right to terminate the franchise after six years if the operator is failing to meet agreed performance targets."
In fact sources suggest that the franchise contained a break point at six years, with an option for the DfT to extend it for a further 22 months.
Whilst the two other franchises let at the same time (EMT and CrossCountry) had both received notification from DfT some time ago that their franchises would be extended beyond the initial six years, on London Midland not a word!
That is until today.
So note to failing franchises - carry on the good work, the Department loves you.
UPDATE: This from Billy No Mates...
Could I point out that the £7m bung to LM commuters equates to just under two Laidlaw Inquiries.
Value for money indeed.
Amidst all the negative noise some good news!
Yesterday four railway companies named rolling stock at Euston in honour of the Rev Chad Varah, founder of the Samaritans.
Virgin...
Oh dear!
A leaked series of internal DfT emails about proposed ticket office closures have been published by the Evening Standard:
Larson prepared a draft statement which he emailed to Ruth Harper, senior civil servant at the Rail Fares and Ticketing Review Group at the DfT, on Thursday, 5 April 14.50.
It read: “The government has no plans to close ticket offices, but as ticket buying habits change, we expect train operators to consider how best to deploy their station staff to provide the most benefit to passengers. This will reduce the cost of running the railways for both fare payers and tax payers and help to end the era of inflation busting fare rises.
“We recognise that passengers can feel very strongly about ticket office opening hours, and before we could agree to any changes put forward by operators we would need to be confident that passengers would continue to enjoy ready access to ticket-buying opportunities.”
Ms Harper replies half an hour later at 15.19 stating; “Simon, We can’t say the Government has no plans to close ticket offices because we have an application from London Midland where the minister has already decided to approve some ticket office closures (it’s just not been announced yet while we’re concluding £ negotiations with LM) and there will be more of those in the future.
“If you take that out the rest is ok and your way of slipping in there that the initiative comes from TOCs not us is very neat.”
This from Go-Ahead...
After an open competition, Patrick Verwer, currently Go-Ahead's Managing Director – Rail Development, has been appointed as Managing Director of London Midland.
David Brown, Go-Ahead's Group Chief Executive said:
"Patrick Verwer has huge experience, first class management skills, and a strong track record of delivery. He is the right person to drive through further transformation in the London Midland franchise.
"We have already seen a range of service and performance improvements in this franchise. I know that Patrick, and the excellent team in place at London Midland, will work hard to build on these achievements in order to offer the best possible service to passengers."
Patrick Verwer, who will take up the post at the beginning of the new year, said:
"I am delighted to be appointed. The London Midland franchise is vital to the passengers it serves and I look forward to helping it grow and to build on the success that has already been achieved."
- Ends -
UPDATE: This from Alphabetti Spaghetti...
What's going on?
First Verster at NR's LNE and now Verwer at LM?
Is this a planned industry assault on the 'TUV' pages of my address book?
Many congratulations to @LondonMidland who scooped possibly the most important gong at last night's National Rail Awards.
Sponsored by Passenger Focus the award was for 'Putting Passengers First' and was given in recognition of how the go-ahead TOC (geddit!!!) had transformed customer service through the use of social media.
In the words of @PassengerFocus:
Passenger Focus sponsored National Rail Award won by @LondonMidland great use of social media during disruption, no jargon, quick and useful.
Hopefully other TOCs will take note and consider offering a similar interactive service to their customers?
Meanwhile Eye is pleased to see that even the Infrastructure Controller has embraced social media, with @NetworkRail dealing with the concerns of the railway's neighbours in real time.
Of course not all railway companies are so foresighted and this can lead to problems. Social Media (whether facebook, blogs or twitter) is very much like nature - in that it abhors a vacuum.
So where there is no effective official presence lots of others will rush-in to fill the gap.
Some who occupy the space are just plain malicious, but others are loyal and enthusiatic members of staff who give of themselves and their time at no cost. Sadly this is not always appreciated when public and private personas overlap..
The Fact Compiler was sad to see that the Apostle of the 3rd Rail has decided to hang up his keyboard.
He/she (?) along with myriad other railway employees can be found on twitter performing an invaluable service answering passengers' questions, defending their company from the usual on-line calumny and representing the railway in the public forum.
Oh if only enlightened employers would harness, focus and reward the undoubted enthusiasm of these brave souls who unlike so many in the industry are actually prepared to put their head above the parapet!
No matter!
Meanwhile to those industry colleagues who selflessly plough the lonely on-line furrow on behalf of our industry - Eye salutes you, and respectfully offers the following gentle observation....
The identity of The Fact Compiler is of course a closely guarded secret known to only two people in the entire universe. However your humble author remains acutely aware that, despite this all pervading cloak of anonymity, he too wears a 'company uniform' (Shurely several? Ed).
So whilst his tweets are 'whispered in the dark' they will almost inevitably be 'shouted from the rooftops' - and seldom in context.
Perhaps something all those on-line may wish to reflect on?
'Nuff said?
An interesting challenge for Keith Ludeman, currently Chief Executive of Go-Ahead.
Regular Eye readers will recollect that Network Rail announced in February that the Permataned one would be joining Network Rail's board, as a non-Exec, upon his retirement from Go-Ahead in July of this year.
Welcoming the appointment NR Chairman Rick Haythornthwaite said:
"Keith Ludeman brings to Network Rail decades of experience of leadership in Britain’s transport industry. The addition of him to the board will provide first-hand, passenger-focused expertise which will help Network Rail on its journey to becoming ever more responsive to its customers and passengers."
Meanwhile, on today's railway, Go-Ahead franchise London Midland has announced its intention to slash ticket office opening-hours at 87 stations, generating predictable fury from the aforementioned 'customers and passengers'.
Indeed Anthony Smith of Passenger Focus issued the following words on the proposed closures today:
“Times are difficult and it’s important that train companies make best use of their resources. London Midland has done a good job in talking to its passengers about its plans but the message back is clear. Passengers were almost unanimous in their request for staff at the station, raising concerns about ticket machines and the need for staff for advice and assistance on ticket sales.
“We fear these plans will lead to passengers paying more for their tickets than they should. Ticket vending machines are important, but while they don’t offer all ticket types or provide advice to ensure passengers get the cheapest fares, there will be a need for station staff.
“Finally, passengers want staff on hand for help on the station and for security reasons. For all these reasons we’re calling on London Midland to address the concerns passengers raised.”
Eye looks forward to seeing just how 'passenger focused and responsive to customers' NR's new board member can be!
Good news from the High Court!
London Midland is delighted that a strike by members of the ASLEF Union has been halted in the High Court.
The decision was made in the High Court today (Tuesday) after London Midland challenged the way in which ASLEF held its ballot. ASLEF had wanted to strike on Thursday (December 23) after balloting members who voted in favour of industrial action.
Of course, given the current appalling weather in the Birmingham area don't be too surprised if the brothers can't ahem... make it in to work tomorrow!
This from the New Puritan...
London Midland have recently kindly provided departure screens (which by the way do not work) and a shiny new sign at the foot of the entrance stairs displaying the destinations served from both platforms.
Unfortunately platform 2 is the up Derby fast line and the Nuneaton/Leicester line cannot be accessed from this platform without making an unsignalled reversing move!
All trains to Nuneaton/Leicester depart from the bi directional platform 1 as do the [correct on sign] Birmingham bound trains.
Welcome to Bletchley - the winner of this week's "Can't be Arzed Award".
A veritable celebration of wilful neglect.
Now if TOCs like London Midland can't be trusted in the small things, like keeping platforms weed free, then what on earth makes ATOC think that they can be trusted to deliver on the really exacting demands of longer franchises?
Either way it's time for Captain Permatan, or his London Midland minions, to splash out on some Round-Up, and pretty damn quick!
Desperate times require desperate measures.
So Eye salutes London Midland!
This money making sign greeted queues of punters desperate to renew their season tickets on Saturday morning (with a bowler tip to A Frog)...
Thank goodness management attention is being devoted to the important things in life.
Why this must have raised almost all of £100 in additional revenue (before management time, production costs and poster erection and removal are taken into account).
Happily someone was keen to put their name to this witty revenue generating opportunity.
Eye wonders if the Customer Services Manager is related to Eddie?
This from the Commuter...
They're making staff redundant...
They're cutting back at 102 New Street...
They can't afford to put station staff and train crew under equal conditions...
...but they can afford a flashy new sign to replace one that Centro put up less then less than two years ago.
UPDATE: This from The Archer...
Could the Commuter just check-in with Eye so we all know he / she's OK after taking such a dangerous photo.
I can only hope that the Commuter took refuge in that railway friendly shopping plaza just opposite Snow Hill station; the Great Western Arcade.
I'll get my coat.
UPDATE: This from Chionanthus Virginicus...
Shurely that's not the good Captain D at the entrance, about to "Shooter" back south ?
UPDATE: This, apparently, just in from Josef Pilates (but The Fact Compiler has his doubts)...
With that posture? Certainly not.
Any further slurs on the efficacy of my system could result in legal proceedings.
What on earth is going on over at London Midland?
Industry jungle drums suggest that Captain Permatan's second worst performing TOC (No1 South Eastern) is busy shedding staff.
Meanwhile, beleagured passengers actually trying to find out how the doomed franchise is operating its piss-poor train services have to negotiate a list of impertinent questions; including a request that they divulge their age and 'gender'.
Quite what that has to do with how trains are running is anyones guess.
Alas - the overactive web-monkey who designed the form has dropped a clanger.
In the Age of Change the options male and female are only appropriate to a question demanding details of a person's 'sex' - as any fule kno.
But a question on Gender must include at least the following options: Straight, Gay, Bi, Harperson or Permatan (below the rank of Captain).
Hopefully at least one p45 will be winging its way to the originator of this distasteful example of politically incorrect passenger profiling.
Telegrammed by Golden Connection
Exciting news from the latest splendid edition of New Transit magazine.
In an insightful piece Permatan Rail supremo, Keith Ludeman, reflects on London Midland's Sunday and Rest Day working problems:
"What I find disappointing is it was not sorted out by the time we took the business over. In Southern and Southeastern we dealt with the issue of Sunday working and rest day working years ago, and I don’t know why [previous franchise holder] National Express did not.
"It beggars belief but there you go."
Indeed it does Keith, indeed it does.
But what's this?
Wasn't it London Midland that did a deal which meant all new guards no longer had to work Sundays?
And didn't London Midland also rescinded the long standing arrangements whereby drivers could also work as guards?
And wasn't it London Midland that offered crews double time to work Sundays, then removed the bung and had to promptly reinstate it as Sunday working evaporated?
Nor was Central Trains or Silverlink ever issued with a Remedial Improvement Notice as happened to London Midland only today.
Keith finishes off his puff piece with the self evident truth that "Chief Executives make or break... groups".
Indeed they do Keith. As Richard "call me a villain forevermore" Bowker learnt to his cost.
Disastrous GoAhead franchise London Midland has been severely chastised by Moley and crew:
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Mole):
My right honourable and Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Department for Transport (Lord Adonis) has made the following Ministerial Statement:
The performance of London Midland on 6 September 2009 fell short of its customers’ expectations and was unacceptable to both passengers and Government.
I can now outline the measures I have taken, and the actions I have agreed with London Midland in respect of London Midland’s breach of its franchise agreement.
First, I have issued London Midland with a Remedial Plan Notice for exceeding the Franchise Agreement threshold on cancellations. This requires London Midland to submit to me a Remedial Plan for addressing the level of cancellations. Discussions are at an advanced stage on a range of measures to be implemented within the Remedial Plan.
The Remedial Plan will be contractualised as a Remedial Agreement.
Second, a package of additional benefits for passengers has been agreed, including:
An additional franchise agreement obligation to invest in new, and additional, high-quality information equipment, spending no less than £4.4 million over the life of the franchise in addition to the investment that has already committed in the franchise agreement; and
A promotion for 50,000 day rover tickets for travel over the Christmas period and London Midland will also make available an additional 400,000 Advance Purchase tickets over the next two years on some of the most popular routes.
That should have Permatan Rail quaking in its boots!
This exciting news from Southern...
The Marketing team have been working with a top advertising agency (sic), who are responsible for the ‘118’ and ‘Compare the Meerkat – Compare the Market’ television adverts.
Our campaign will feature a brand new Southern character ‘Captain Permatan’, a Mexican wrestler who is passionate about trains…(is this right? Ed)
Perhaps Captain Permatan's first task should be to try and rescue doomed sister franchise London Midland?
This just in from the Wicked Weaver...
Informed yesterday that LM have lightened their HQ by about 100 people during the last week, and that there will be more downsizing before Guy Fawkes Day.
Also: that 'economics' is the reason why two of XC's five HST sets will be stood down at the December TT change.
This just in from 3362 Albert Brassey...
As the floors of 102 New Street start to resemble the US embassy in Saigon (circa '75) the next thing to be hurled out the window is train cleaning.
Furthermore the normally supine TSSA has threatened to withdraw the paperclips and has started balloting white collar staff over pay.
Given that they don't usually drive or guard trains and so haven't been bunged money to keep the job on the road, expect a resounding result.
More Govia bods are rumoured to be heading north to sort the sorry mess out.
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