Party Conference news - LibDems

This from the Ninja

Thought Eye readers might be interested to see that the anti-HS2 mob were busy lobbying at the LibDems' Conference in Brighton.

Expect similar appearances at Manchester and Birmingham.

The arguments in their slide presentation were simplistic, contradictory and easy to demolish.

In particular I loved the comparison between the beautiful woods of the Chilterns and the maintenance depot on HS1!

I wonder who is actually paying for the stand, glossy leaflets and chocolate white elephants?

Trying to persuade them of the error of their ways was the most fun I had in Brighton this week.

Apart from hearing Cleggy's 'songified' apology, obviously.

Wolmar woe at #CPC10

Oh dear!

Wolmar hasn't been having a good Tory party conference.

The star of stage, screen and amazon book-store was invited to sit as honoured guest on the panel at ATOC's fringe event last night.

The TOC lobby group had even been kind enough to provide a train ticket to get the great man to Brum.

Imagine Wolmar's chagrin when the gripper on his Virgin train pointed out it was valid London Midland only!

Eye is unsure whether this was an example of ATOC penny pinching or second thoughts in the Bernard Street bunker - perhaps they hoped the great man would miss the event by travelling on an oh-so-slow train

Meanwhile Wolmar's continues to woo the new members of the ConDem ministerial transport team.

Although judging by this tweet, sent from Bombardier's fringe event, not that succesfully!

Saw Ms Villiers at Con conf. She is v cross at me for being so hard on Norman re Cycling England's demise. I said it was 6 years work wasted.

What a picture that would have made - Wolmar being savaged by the Saviour of the Jammy Dodger!

Cheesy grins - #Lab10 edition

Time for an exciting new Eye feature!

During party conference season the great and the good rush to have their photos taken with the leaders of the politico world.

Over excited industry press officers have been rushing these images out to show just how well connected their masters are.

So Eye is delighted to give space to a selection of these Cheesy Grins.

First this of Centro chief executive, Geoff Inskip, with newly-elected Labour leader Ed Miliband.


And here Grand Central MD, Tom Clift, with the same...


Sadly the soi disant 'veteran observer' has rather missed the point!

Wrong Miliband Mr BB!


Doh!

More Cheesy Grins welcome.

NX charms Conference

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An impressive performance from NX railwaymen at this year's party conferences.

Despite challenging circumstances they put up a good show.

Each TOC sent their PR, the MD's took turns to be seen and Franksy was visible throughout.

But the pièce de résistance was reserved for the Tories. Bring forth Lord Bunting of Schmooze!

Impressive lobbying! But is it too late?

No matter - Good effort.

Conference news - Battle of the Fringe

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A busy evening in Brighton last night.

With at least three industry soirees taking place there was fierce competition to see who could attract the best speakers.

Whilst Bombardier and Network Rail had to make do with Lord Adonis one cheeky Open Access operator secured the PM for its Northern Night do!


Let's hope arch-blogger Guido Fawkes isn't correct in describing him as Jonah Brown...

UPDATE: This from NR's Internet Rapid Rebuttal Unit...

Not just Adonis.

Network Rail also had Amir Khan who is, of course, the face of our No Messin' campaign.

Meanwhile might the term 'Jonah Brown' be better applied to soi disant 'veteran observer' and Grand Central PR monkey Brennan-Brown?

LibDem conference news

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Regular Eye readers will be aware already of the LibDem's decision to endorse 30 year franchises.

A slick piece of lobbying by new ATOC PR supremo Ed Welsh.

Ed's background is in local government, so presumably he had Baker and the rest of the 'gas and water' muesli munchers eating out of his hand.

Whilst ATOC congratulated itself on a spirited performance in Bournemouth the award for the biggest PR coup goes to Alstom!

The French train manufacturer sponsored the All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group fringe event on Sunday night.

So delighted was Chairman Paul Rowen MP, that he made a passionate speech thanking Alstom, "the UK's last train manufacturer, based in Derby".

Brighton next week - see you there.

Room uptop

It's party conference time and The Fact Compiler has been invited to attend a series of Network Rail and ATOC shindigs where 'Team Railway' hope to meet the political great and the good.

Not to be left behind Passenger Focus are also intending to press the flesh as they celebrate winning the concession to act as consumer champion for bus as well as rail passengers.

The Fact Compiler knows that as a government agency cash is short but surely they could do better than this?

Anthony Smith, chief executive, Passenger Focus said, “The bus gives us a perfect platform to listen to our most important stakeholders, the passengers - through consultation and research we are making sure we represent passenger priorities at the highest level”.

Looks like it's going to be pretty crowded on the top deck then!