Sleepy Derbyshire wakes up!

Telegrammed by Ithuriel
Good grief, Margaret Becket has finally realised that there is a train factory in her constituency under threat from the Axis.

This written answer given by Cruella on the 16 May 2011...

Margaret Beckett (Derby South, Labour):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the successful bidder for the Thameslink rolling stock order.

Theresa Villiers (Minister of State (Rail and Aviation), Transport; Chipping Barnet, Conservative)
My officials are continuing to evaluate the bids from the two remaining bidders in the competition to build the new trains for Thameslink. We are planning to announce the preferred bidder shortly.

Perhaps all will all become clear on Friday?

DfT rolling stock procurement exposed

Compare and contrast.

This from Stagecoach...

The Perth-based transport group is investing £52million in 360 new buses and coaches for the coming financial year.

DfT could spend that amount on consultancy fees without a single new rail vehicle to show for it.

Baker solves rolling stock shortage - Shocker!

This from Eastbourne Today...

The December 2010 timetable changes confirm the 6.47pm service from London Victoria to Ore will increase the number of carriages continuing on to Eastbourne from four to eight once it splits at Haywards Heath after Norman Baker MP drew Southern Railway's attention to the problem.

Just fancy that!

Clearly we are all in this together - unless your MP is a junior transport minister.

New Thameslink fleet doomed - Official

It looks like the Eye is not alone in distrusting our political class.

This from Captain Deltic's latest ePreview...

Meanwhile the new Thameslink train procurement could be linked to politics. It may be coincidence, but DfT Rail has set a deadline of 25 March to choose the supplier. If the General Election is held on 6 May, 25 March marks the start of the six weeks of ‘purdah’, during which the Government can’t make major announcements.

No shit Sherlock.