This telling tale from the Newcastle Journal...
But speaking to The Journal, the Transport Secretary said the North was getting a fairer deal on cash for transport schemes - so much so that South East MPs had complained.
"I think it probably shows we are really starting to get that balance of investment. What's most important to me is to understand local priorities," she said.
Meanwhile Met-Cam and his NSE MPs still can't understand why they fail to capture seats in Northern metropoleis.
Does anyone in the Department actually believe the guff they supply as responses to PQs?
This written answer given in the Upper House yesterday...
Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat)
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for reducing the average age in rolling stock on the Northern Rail franchise, given that the average age of trains is now 25.7 years.
Earl Attlee (Whip, House of Lords; Conservative)
The Government confirmed the electrification of the routes Liverpool to Manchester via Newton-le-Willows, Huyton-Wigan, Preston to Blackpool and Manchester to Preston in November 2010. This will enable younger electric trains to operate on these routes. Future use of rolling stock on the Northern Rail franchise will be for the bidders to propose.
So what are these exciting 'younger trains'?
Presumably the Noble Lord is referring to DfT's plans to cascade some of the current Thameslink fleet Up North?
And would these units be the same as the Class 319s that are currently 24 years old?
And that will be a minimum of 28 years old by the time they dodder off to the North West!
UPDATE: This from He Who Protests Too Much...
If the 319s do go to Northern in 4 years time then OK they’ll be 28 years old by your calculation but the average age of the Northern fleet will also have increased to 29.7 by then so the 319s would indeed be younger as per the answer.
More importantly, 25.7 is the average age of the Northern fleet, some trains will be younger and some older, so assuming that the 319s will replace some of Northern’s older vehicles the average age will come down even further.
UPDATE: The Fact Compiler fumes...
Does nobody read exam questions any more?!?
Lord Bradshaw asked about reducing the average age of the Northern fleet from today's average age of 25.7 years.
Sending 28 year old electric trains North will not do this! (oh and the Adelantes will be leaving soon, increasing the average age of Northern's current fleet).
UPDATE: This from Chianothus Virginicus...
I think reference to "exam questions" in the light of Friday's revelations that exam papers have been set with questions which are impossible to answer or don't have the correct solution in the list of alternatives is quite apposite.
The DfT are experts at DafT answers !
Dear Flabby Southerners
Apparently:
'Tony Beckwith at Ribblehead dines on cow pie and spinach and can do baton twirls with railway lines.
'Rumour has it he uses detonators to clear his sinuses' (but don't tell RSSB. Ed)
View this and weep!
And this
Slack renewals teams South of Watford (and in Lancashire) claim that these are mere fibreglass components of a display at the Ribblehead Visitor Centre - presently undergoing refurbishment.
We shall see, when it re-opens at Easter.
This from The Banker...
Cruella was in Leeds this lunchtime on what I think is called a 'whistlestop'.
Sadly no whistle in evidence nor indeed any announcement.
Nothing!
Nothing at all!
Not even a re-announcement!
There might be 100 additional coaches (sorry, carriages!) for Yorkshire, then again there might not.
Who knows?
The Hammond Organs of course refused to say in advance what the visit was all about.
So, predictably, local media ignored it, with just a crowd of three forlornly gathered...
How unlike those euphoric days when cheering crowds thronged the streets to salute the Saviour of the Jammy Dodger!
UPDATE: This from a Mr Mitchell....
Perhaps the reason for the low turnout in Leeds was due to confusion amongst the Tykes about who is actually responsible for today's railways.
This from local rag the Wakefield Express...
Theresa who?
The BBC Radio 4 is reporting that Petrol-head Hammond has ordered a review of "the need for new carriages".
This follows the publication today of an NAO report which suggests that with "projected demand falling and costs of carriages rising, there are risks to value for money from plans to increase capacity on the rail network"
Expect fury in the North of England, in particular from the Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authorities, where overcrowding is already seen as a major problem.
Of course not the sort of problem that is ever likely to be experienced by members of the exciting new Coalition transport team, as can be seen from a quick look at their constituencies:
Petrol-head Hammond - Runnymede and Weybridge
Theresa Villiers - Chipping Barnet
Norman Baker - Lewes
Mike Penning - Hemel Hempstead
No matter.
With Petrol-head already looking at allowing TOCs to introduce swingeing fares increases demand for rail travel North of Watford should be suppressed nicely.
UPDATE: This from Leon...
I was little surprised by your view of Ms Villiers' constituency. It does contain three Northern Line and three FCC (GN) stations.
Thus spake a true Metropolitan! Ed
UPDATE: This from the Grim Reaper...
Not quite – it looks like Petrol Head’s own constituents will be affected by what now seems the inevitable cancellation of the Windsor lines 10-car project (not to mention Cleggy and co. who on the morning peak cannot physically board their sardine-condition trains at Putney).
But then of course PH drives his Jag to work!
UPDATE: This from Driver Potter...
My dear old thing,
Further to your worrying post:
Rule One: Before we start tearing our hair out about "no new trains" lets calm down and think for a minute - what's sat idle, how much would it cost to reactivate and would it be cheaper than new builds?
Rule Two: If we can't have new shiny trains, then rebuilding existing stock to get better results and extend the lifespan shouldn't be seen as a sin; it's good thinking and it's cheaper. You ask Captain Deltic about the lovely things Hitachi are doing to the technical unmentionables on the South Eastern 465s...
Rule Three: Two out of four of our lovely coalition transport team are based on the former Southern Region, which means they understand the might and majesty of the third rail. this can only result in Gods Own Traction Supply being extended to all parts of our beloved isle meaning:
(a) I won't get gapped at Wokingham if I accidentally go straight on, and
(b) We all get a week off every year when it snows and the country comes to a grinding halt.
Rule Four: Putting fares up to cap demand is a very old BR trick and beneath any right-thinking government; you want the economy to recover, boy? Get your noses out of our business and get on with allowing us to run a bloody railway in peace.
And if you really can't find the money for the new toys anywhere else, have a word with Network Rail; they can find credit where no credit can be found. It's just the "paying it back" bit they aren't very good at.
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