This from Sir Nel Ting...
There
are still, supposedly, well over 100 Olympic and Para' signs still plastered all
over Stratford station...
This from Hugh Sumner, Director Transport, ODA...
Dear staff,
The nation’s toughest task, your moment in the global spotlight, millions of smiling spectators.
You grasped the task with both hands and I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of you.
Some seven years ago Britain won the honour of hosting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The nation held its breath in excitement; for many, from the journalists to members of the International Olympic Committee, grave concern existed in our ability to hold such an important and significant world event. They said it couldn’t be done. You did it.
Together you’ve been at the heart of the most successful Games of the modern era. From Weymouth to Glasgow and from Cardiff to Hadleigh, you’ve served people from all over the world irrespective of who they are or where they come from.
You’ve done things better than they’ve ever been done before. Your customer service has been terrific and the spectators noticed and loved you for it; your attention to the operational detail has been excellent and it’s made a real difference. Your desire to work together and find the solutions that work for everyone has made the greatest challenges surmountable.
In all of it you lived the values of safety, service and fun. None of that happened through luck or by chance. You worked hard to get here and in your planning, building and preparations you set the foundations for success. Look back now on a glorious summer of operations and ask yourself: what have we done that’s made all this possible? Don’t wait to take hold of the things that have made you so successful, take hold of them now and put them into practice for your future life.
Walk tall, push your chest out a little further, you deserve to feel yourself fill with pride; carry this pride with you always. The greatest show on earth, our nation’s greatest peace time challenge: you have made it an unparalleled success. Take that pride with you and put it to work in everything you do: every one of you is the true legacy of London 2012.
All the best for the future, wherever it may be and whatever you may do.
Hugh
Hugh Sumner
Director of Transport, Olympic Delivery Authority
This from the RMT...
TRANSPORT UNION RMT today paid tribute to the thousands of public transport staff in London and beyond who have been central to the delivery of the successful Olympics and Paralympics which drew to a close last night.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“This has been a fantastic summer of sport for Britain and as well as the success in the medals tables we have also delivered on the biggest transport challenge that London has ever faced.
“The successful transportation of the millions of extra passenger journeys each day is a testament to the skill and dedication of the workforce and has been achieved through increasing staffing levels and through ensuring a proper recognition and reward for the extra pressure carried by the transport team over the past two months.
“The lesson that has been learnt is that where staff are given the opportunity and the resources, in a spirit of co-operation rather than confrontation, they can deliver gold-standard services that are the envy of the world."
So far so good and quite right too.
But what's this?
After praising the spirit of 'co-operation' Crow Bar reverts to type:
“It would now be a travesty if TfL and the train operators were allowed to slide back to their old position of hacking away at jobs and standards in the drive for cuts and with the Games now successfully delivered RMT is demanding that there is no return to the bad old ways that undermined transport services prior to the Olympics and Paralympics.”
Eye congratulates Bob for being the first to "return to the bad old ways" that undermine transport services!
This from the Brisbane Times...
The man in charge of southeast Queensland’s transport network for the past two years has quit to take on an Olympic challenge overseas.
Translink chief executive Peter Strachan will end his role in October after landing a key posting in the United Kingdom government.
As the UK Transport Department’s Director-General responsible for Major Projects, Mr Strachan is set to oversee transport for the 2012 London Olympics.
UPDATE: This from the Shunter...
Mostly harmless.
Is David Higgins attempting to ingratiate himself with the railway before he moves to Network Rail?
This from an Invitation to Tender released by his current employer the Olympic Delivery Authority:
The ODA is seeking expressions of interest for the supply, management and operation of a number of sets of locomotives and coaches for use during the 2012 Olympic Games. The trains will provide late night additional capacity (as required) from any or all of the following London terminals: Euston, Kings Cross, Paddington and St. Pancras.
Perhaps he'll even consider waiving track access charges for these Javelettes in his new role?
Good news for hard pressed Londoners!
To date most of the transport news about the Olympics has been entirely negative - what with the exciting introduction in 2012 of Zil Lanes across swathes of the capital for the exclusive use of bloated Olympic officials and their entourages, whilst oridinary Londoners face the threat of summery execution should they even think of straying into them.
Happily the tide has turned and those long promised transport improvements are finally starting to arrive!
This thrilling email announcement from the Olympic Delivery Authority:
Robert the Engine gets first makeover as part of London 2012 transport investment
A steam locomotive called Robert is receiving a London 2012 paint job after 78 years of pigeons, rain and wind left him feeling under the weather. Robert the Engine, built in 1933, is being given a makeover before resuming his place outside the main transport hub for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by the end of the year.
Errr... run that by us again?
The ODA has painted a knackered kettle and this is billed as "transport investment".
Yes London, the rest of the world really is laughing at you.
Oh dear.
It looks like the PM is off message.
This from the Number 10 website:
Gordon Brown called the Javelin train’s first weekday journey, “a momentous day in the long and glorious history of British railways” during the official launch of the UK’s first domestic high-speed rail service at St Pancras International station this morning.
Putting aside the interesting quote about the 'glorious history of British railways' hasn't the dear leader committed a faux pas by referring to South Eastern's high speed train as a 'Javelin'?
This name, we are constantly reminded, cannot be used before the London 2012 Olympics (copyright ODA).
Can it be long before threatening letters are sent to Downing Street?
UPDATE: This from Lobby Fodder...
I'm amazed at Brown's bare faced cheek!
Take this quote from the same release:
“I know some people who think this is not the time to be investing in infrastructure but I believe it is essential to do so and we will be investing £20 billion in our rail infrastructure in the next few years.”
Talk about making spending commitments with someone else's budget.
I suspect the "we" he is referring to will be in opposition within six months and therefore not in a position to invest in anything.
Apart from cleaners and painting summer houses obviously...
Good to see that the promise of an Olympics open to all doesn't extend to the good burghers of Nottingham.
This from the Nottingham Evening Post...
Rail chiefs claim they haven't yet decided when the station will close, but Coun Richard Jackson says Network Rail told him the work would be during the London Olympics.
So its 'Zil Lanes' for athletes and 'Zil Lines' for NR engineers.
It's difficult to know whether TfL or the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will run out of money first.
On current form it looks neck and neck.
TfL announced this week that it has descoped the proposed four tracking of the North London Line between Caledonian Road and Camden to a two track affair.
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