Showing posts with label Sadiq says.... Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sadiq says.... Show all posts

Thursday, 30 September 2010

Sadiq says... at #Lab10

Eye salutes Shadow Transport Secretary Sadiq Khan!

His barnstorming speech today at the Labour Party conference had the Fact Compiler splitting his sides!

Take this for instance:

But talking shop with my family made sure that I never forgot the shambles of a transport system we inherited from the Tories in 1997.

That would be the shambles of a transport system that Labour promised to undo in its 1997 manifesto and then didn't?

The shambles that saw a unified railway industry disaggregated with a resulting explosion in cost most of which occurred during Labour's watch?

Or this for instance:

And in London, we saw what Labour leadership can mean – upgrades to the tube, electronic ticketing, bus services transformed, the congestion charge, and a deal for Crossrail, a scheme which will contribute billions to Britain's economy.

Who can forget the triumph of Gordon and Shriti's PPP? The splendid benefits of which Londoners continue to enjoy to this very day.

No doubt the meaning of Labour's leadership will be evident on London Underground for years to come.

Or what about this:

The value of investment in new trains.

So where, Sadi' baby, are those long promised 1,300 vehicles. We are still waiting... mostly in overcrowded carriages or on platforms due to short formed trains!

Or perhaps even this:

Passengers will not pay more for less.

So pray tell who was it that set the policy that said passengers should pay above inflationary increases to travel by train after years of RPI-1% under the evil Conservatives? That's right, your predecessor at the Department for Transport, Alastair Darling. And in return Passengers got less carriage space, less catering and train travel became a whole lot less pleasant.

No matter.

Sadiq signed off his oration with the following:

We'll win the next General Election if we show people a vision of a better fairer Britain that they can believe in.

Possibly, but don't expect that we'll believe any of those promises for one second! Once bitten, twice shy.

Monday, 26 April 2010

Sadiq says...

This from Sadiq Khan, via Twitter...

I uploaded a YouTube video -- £8 million for Earlsfield Station refurbishment



Eye is happy to say, judging by the video's quality, that this was obviously not filmed by DfT press officers.

A shame the original DfT training video has been removed from YouTube - Sadiq's team might have found it useful.

UPDATE: This from @SadiqKhan, via Twitter...

@TheFactCompiler thank you!

Has the Fact Compiler been had?

Monday, 22 March 2010

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

Just announced £235m investment for UK's 1st modern trolley bus scheme. Fantastic news for Leeds, especially on top of HS2

Pork barrels and trebles all round!

Monday, 15 March 2010

Sadiq says...

Nothing yet...

...to this story on Guido's blog:

Transport Minister Sadiq Khan is in hot water this afternoon after it has been revealed that he lied to the press and to the Parliamentary authorities.

Ooops!

UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...

Will just one of these bent MPs do the honourable thing and resign?

Thursday, 11 March 2010

Sadiq says...

This from Transport Minister Sadiq Khan, via Twitter...

Big big announcment today on High Speed Rail. Lord Adonis to make in Lords at 1130 with me making statement in Commons at 1215. Big Day!

Who says Twitter isn't useful.

UPDATE:This from Lobby Fodder...

Thought you might like to know that there will also be an un-press conference with Lord Adonis between 14:00 and 15:00 this afternoon.

But as it will be "off the record" and "off camera" it won't officially be happening.

And now that you know I'm afraid I'll have to kill you.

UPDATE: This just in from the DfT Press Office...

To confirm our press conference today is on-the-record but off-camera.

UPDATE: This from our man at 222 Marylebone Road...

According to the Thin Control-freak writing in The Thunderer today:

"Three of the pioneers of high- speed rail are Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea."

Ah yes, who can forget the race between the Dutch and the Japanese to be first with a high speed line.


Those were the days when the railway world followed with fascination the ever increasing speeds achieved in test runs of the Bullet Train and 'Flying Clog'.

UPDATE: This from 10 Downing Street, via Twitter...

No10: Gordon Brown travelling to East Midlands this morning ahead of the government's HS2 announcement.

The 'tweet' was accompanied by this picture:


His staff may wish to ensure that there are no mobiles in the vicinity when they tell him he is on the wrong train...

UPDATE: This from the Commuter at about 12:12...

See there's a pic of Gordon Brown taking the train to the HS2 announcement on his Twitter feed.

Funny, because I live opposite the site and saw his cavalcade of about 6 highly polluting cars, accompanied by several police motorcycles, pull up a few hours ago.

So he certainly didn't arrive by train!

Thursday, 25 February 2010

Sadiq says...

This via Twitter...

Just back in London from Beds and Herts where I experienced rural buses. Used buses in Luton, Hitchin, Shefford and Flitwick. And then FCC..

What could that ellipsis mean?

Monday, 15 February 2010

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

On FCC problems - can people please email details of complaints/experiences to rail@dft.gsi.gov.uk - thanks.

Extra-ordinary - is there no limit to the Department's nano-management?!

Presumably DafT has set up an entire shadow organisation to deal with customer complaints about delays on FuCC?

Back to the Wolmar Question: 'What are TOCs for?'

UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...

DfT want to know about people's 'experiences' of FCC?

Not exactly empirical is it?

UPDATE: This, via Twitter, from cbuchanancubed...

Why doesnt DfT just look at all the blogs/comments etc on the internet - but no you have to send them all in again.

UPDATE: This from Jumbo...

With First Group winning the Business of the Year award at the recent Eversholt Rail Business Awards and FCC being presented with an award for their communications skills, it seems hard to credit that the number of complaints against FCC warrants the DfT's attention.

Do the DfT know something that we don't?


Surely the people who made such prestigious awards to First were not taking the pxss?

Friday, 20 November 2009

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

On 815, St Pancras- Nottingham. Cabinet is meeting there, 2pm. Using time before to continue my Bus tour (once off the train, smart alecs!)

At least Sadiq has a sense of humour.

Thursday, 19 November 2009

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

At Kings Cross about to catch train to Darlington as part of my Bus tour. Please do visit DfT website if you have ideas where I should go..

Eye hopes Sadiq makes it to Darlington safely for the next stage of his Pilgrimage of Grimace.

It might make up for the no show at the recent UK Bus Awards...

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

At Euston waiting for the train to Woking...

You'll have a long wait then.

UPDATE: This just in from @SadiqKhan

@TheFactCompiler make that Waterloo...

Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Sadiq says...

Via twitter...

In office trying to complete Red Box while listening to Rosie W doing great job at Report Stage of Bill I would be doing but for reshuffle..

Eye hopes the Noble Lord will soon give his Transport Minister something to get his teeth into.

Monday, 14 September 2009

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

Parents relieved schools back as children now out of hair...

Presumably bald children will be mandatory under the Governments new Parent Licensing regulations.

Friday, 21 August 2009

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

Exciting announcement on smart cards (like Oyster) for all public transport in the UK...

Quite so minister.

Although not entirely 'like Oyster'.

Oyster works.

Whilst ITSO, on the other hand...

Wednesday, 5 August 2009

Sadiq says....

Via Twitter...

Great piece in The Guardian about our plans for High Speed Rail. Recommended reading. Read it here http://tiny.cc/sU3JP

After following the link Eye fears that Sadiq may be preoccupied with the credit crunch.


Friday, 31 July 2009

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

On the 7.30 from st pancras to nottingham where I'll be announcing approval for the nottingham tram extension.

Eye asks how can you announce something in Nottingham when you've just given it away on Twitter?

Thursday, 30 July 2009

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter

Princess Badiya of Jordan will be there too. I need to make sure I remember Royal etiquette!

Poor old Willie Hamilton will be spinning in his grave.

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

I have written to George Osbourne today asking him to confirm the Tories are committed to £1 bil spending/annum for concessionary fares

How much?!?

What are the passes made of - solid gold?


UPDATE: This from the Commuter...

I hope the Tories don't commit to spending £1bn on Concessionary fares.

Why should an OAP with no mortgage and thousands in savings be permitted to travel for free on buses and trains in certain areas whilst others are paying through the nose?

The actual cost of it is much higher, elsewhere across the country, underfunded councils are having to cut money from services such as parks and transport in order to fund this extravagance.

What a waste of money.


This was, presumably, a Party Political Broadcast from the non-Dave-aligned Conservative Party!

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

Just driven a coach around a training circuit, in and out of cones. Nat Exp examiner reckons I'm a brilliant driver. No bridges this time!

Looks like NatEx's bus operations are safe then... Cosmen allowing!

Monday, 27 July 2009

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

Just had my 1st meeting with Passenger Focus - their job to stand up for commuters on rail (buses too soon)

Good discussion with action agreed to ensure I am on side of commuters

Is there no one prepared to stand up for the poor beleaguered TOCs?

Thursday, 23 July 2009

Sadiq says...

Via Twitter...

I am spending plenty of times on our trains today. At Cabinet discussed historic announcement on electrification of various lines.

Does the reference to 'our trains' suggest that others may soon go the way of NXEC?


UPDATE: This just in from the Waterbaby...

I note with interest your feed of Mr Khan's Twitter updates, and in particular the one listing Yasmin Qureshi, Parliamentary Candidate for Bolton, as one of his 'good mates'.

Let's hope nobody lets on to Ms Qureshi that Mr Khan's proud announcement of Manchester - Liverpool electrification yesterday in fact wipes Bolton off the inter-city map by diverting through services away from the town and onto the WCML at Golborne instead.

Whilst admittedly this covers only 3-4 trains a day and the current situation of running DMUs over Shap under the wires is (to use a Dizzee Rascal-ism, if I may) 'bonkers'.

Bolton is still one of the largest boroughs in the country and a sizeable railhead for the whole north Manchester area for journeys to the Lakes, Cumbria and Scotland....


UPDATE: The Fact Compiler would like to point out...

Electrification of Manchester to Preston (via Notlob) was a strong contender to appear in the announcement.

Of course there are more constituencies in Liverpool.

It also remains an option, as can be seen on page 28 of the Electrification Strategy.