Amidst all the negative noise some good news!
Yesterday four railway companies named rolling stock at Euston in honour of the Rev Chad Varah, founder of the Samaritans.
Virgin...
This from Virginia Water...
With DOR set to run both East Coast and West Coast InterCity franchises the state will have an effective monopoly over the London - Scotland rail market.
Happily this will put them in an excellent position to compete with short haul air services, including, and in particular, the new flights to be operated between Scotland and Heathrow from next summer by Virgin Atlantic.
Judicial review anyone?
This from the Birmingham Post...
Virgin, which runs West Coast Main Line services from London to Birmingham and Manchester, is refusing to use the trains or carriages....
A spokesman for the department said: “We would like any train company to come forward and use it.
“We would like Virgin to use it, but Virgin has said they wouldn’t want to do so unless they get a franchise extension.”
Blam! Splat! Kerpow!
UPDATE: This from the Mad Hatter...
The new train is in Virgin colours but without Virgin logos.
Will Beardie Rail cry ‘breach of intellectual copyright’ if anyone else tries to use it?
UPDATE: This from SN Barnes...
So the DfT would like "any train company to come forward and use it"?
Can it be long before Yoghurt Rail comes knocking at Marsham Street's door?
UPDATE: This from a Mr Tony Miles...
Theresa Villiers in Alstom's press release (06/12/10 re. the delivery of 11-car Pendolino 390054) said:
“From April 2012 it will form part of the rolling stock for the new West Coast Main Line franchise."
The Birmingham Post article to which Eye links says:
“...as a result, the train has been delivered - but will not be used. Instead, the Department for Transport has told other rail companies they are welcome to borrow the Pendolino for the next 18 months if they want it."
Alstom explained, as the train was being delivered to Edge Hill depot for commissioning, that it will take until the end of May or early June 2011 for the set to be fully tested and commissioned.
So that makes it available for only 10 or 11 months maximum.
Factor in testing on any route other than the WCML, signaling immunization, driver training etc. etc. and that might just give a new operator six months 'quiet enjoyment' with a good headwind!
An awful lot of money would need to be spent for such a short loan, a bill no doubt that will be picked up by the taxpayer.
Welcome to the Age of Austerity!
So who was the First Group senior executive whose Beardie Rail breakfast was dramatically curtailed on Monday morning?
Bemused customers witnessed the scene as Virgin staff served a breakfast to the industry big-wig, only to confiscate it minutes later.
Apparently the traveller's papers were deemed 'not in order', falling foul of Beardie Rail's restrictions on bearer pass dining.
The usual fiver for any additional information...
Telegrammed by Sir Joseph Chamberlain
Much unease in the West Midlands over Virgin's current Euston - Birmingham - Wolverhapton service.
A Virgin advert in the Conservative Party Conference brochure claimed an average journey time of just over two hours for the journey between the Capital and the Second City.
Perhaps a tad embarrassing as the usual journey time is actually 81 minutes - a time already considered pisspoor by many of the region's great and good as it is only eight minutes faster than the service was 30 years ago.
Of course Virgin's PR boo-boo did little to reasure the local business community who are already feeling unloved.
The very same week that Virgin was unsuccesfully schmoozing the Tories for a franchise extension the TOC also sent a General Manager to sooth Business Leaders at the influential West Midlands Business Transport Group.
Sadly he declined to give a presentation, and struggled to list even three items on the route that had improved under Virgin's watch. The refusal to engage in meaningful discussion left many seething, with a consensus quickly emerging that the time could better have been spent on the Golf Course!
This apparent disspassion towards the West Midlands seems in marked contrast to Beardie Rail's successful relationship with business travellers in the North West
Indeed, some Virgin-endorsed posters promoting Warrington as a business destination, just 1h40 from Euston, have caused a significant sense-of-humour failure in Wolverhampton. Aggrieved Blackcountry businessfolk were horrified to learn that the journey from Wolverhampton to London (126 miles) actually takes nine minutes longer than the journey from Warrington to London (180 miles)!
Perhaps the final straw was to discover that the fleet-of-foot can change trains at Stafford, and reach Wolverhampton in just 1h32 minutes, saving eight minutes on the direct service.
Perhaps Virgin has relied too long on the reputation Brummies have for being slow on the uptake?
Sadly, they can do so no more.
The powerful West Midlands Business Transport Group, led by Birmingham Chamber's eminance grise Jerry Blackett, has had enough of the nonsense, and is determined to see the Midlands get a fair share of goodies in any future franchise:
"A future franchisee would have an impact on the economic well-being of the Midlands, and we would wish to see a policy of active engagement with business.
"Based on discussions with prospective franchisees, Birmingham Chamber Group will also provide a view to the UK Department for Transport on the alignment of the potential franchisee with the perceived needs of business."
So, with an 'end of term report' due to land on Petrol-head's desk expect the award of the West Coast franchise to become increasingly politically charged.
UPDATE: This from the Shunter...
I had assumed that the McNulty Value for Money review had put paid to Virgin's franchise extension negotiations.
After all DfT were taken to the cleaners twice before by Beardie Rail.
So presumably, for the good of the exchequer, Marsham Street was forbidden to have another go.
This from Tony Miles...
Virgin has its Pendolinos.
It has its Mk3 "lookalike set" dubbed the Pretendolino.
Now it has its short-Pendo - 390004 - down to 8-cars after Network Rail managed to almost write off one vehicle at Oxley - and dubbed this week the Petiteolino
They will also need a name for the 11-car sets when they are delivered..
Might I suggest the Extendolino?
Eye prefers the alternative name for the fleet - the Bendydildos.
UPDATE: This from Signor Mario Caravadossi in Roma...
Signore
I am disappointed that you 'ave forgotten that Pendolino is an Italian word when naming variations on the theme.
Pretendolino must be the first and last example of such Italish or Englian.
The eight car set now running must be the Piccolino and the extended 12 car units the Lungolinos.
That's all for now, the firing squad awaits. But do not fear, the rifles will be loaded with blanks.
This just in from Tony Miles...
My good friend Charlie Hulme who runs the North Wales Coast website - one of the oldest and the best - has been given the chance to auction a cab ride in a Virgin 57/3 whilst it tows a Pendolino along the N Wales coast line in aid of Virgin's charity (with free first class tickets from anywhere on the VT network to join the train).
Any chance you can copy his posting onto Railway Eye?
No sooner said than done!
Here is Charlie's original email:
In connection with Virgin's support for the London Marathon and the CLIC Sargent childrens' cancer charity, Virgin Trains have asked me to organise bidding for a ride for two with the Driver of the Class 57/3 which hauls a Pendolino on Saturdays between Crewe and Holyhead (One of their team of drivers will be running the marathon).
A first class return ticket from any Virgin Trains-served station is included, and you can bid for either the 'down' or 'up' runs.
For info about the offer and how to bid, please CLICK HERE
UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...
Let's hope the winner doesn't try to use Virgin's T-Mobile WiFi to update the world with their progress.
This from Beardie Rail...
Virgin Trains has appointed Paul Furze-Waddock as its new Business Development Director.
Paul takes up his new job in the new year and his main focus will be future franchise bidding, including the West Coast franchise, which is due for re-bidding in March 2012. He will report directly to Virgin Trains’ Chief Executive Officer Tony Collins.
Will the First one out last please turn off the lights.
Telegrammed by Anonymous Contibutor
Eye readers are invited to try Virgin Trains Wifi when next in Beardie Land and to pause at the launch screen.
Whilst there why not count just how many stations are misspelt in the network diagram.
Manchester Picadilly (two "c"s please)
Llandudlo Junction (well the Wifi is dud past Chester)
If you use this, please credit it to an anonymous contibutor.
Wouldn't want my Season Ticket revoked!
A bit later than expected Virgin has indeed stated that it wants to run the ECML franchise.
Honestly, Beardie Rail would attend the opening of an envelope.
Telegrammed by the Archer
From Virgin’s presentation at yesterday’s Railway Strategies Supply Chain conference:
"Current performance is dominated by infrastructure failures, with 75% of recent performance caused by Network Rail and 15% by Virgin."
Unfortunately, as Virgin had the afternoon 'graveyard' slot Network Rail's contingent had already left the building, after of course they had used their morning slot to explain how investment is meeting NR's current business needs.
Funnily enough they failed to mention the business needs of their customers...
This from 'Dreadnought'...
I was interested to see your little extract from Virgin and their ambitions for the Glasgow market.
On Wednesday I travelled first class to Preston on the 0830 ex Euston and returned on the 1440 ex Glasgow.
No breakfast on the way up due to a faulty kitchen.
Four out of six toilets out of use on the way back.
It looks as if the strain of trying to run the VHF timetable with too few units is starting to take its toll.
A chap sitting opposite told me it was the second time in a week he had been deprived of his breakfast due to kitchen problems.
Not exactly good enough for the bargain price of £390 return!
Yes it's quick, it's frequent but the quality is falling noticeably.
UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic...
If you are running the VHF short of a Pendolino due to Grayrigg (thanks Network Rail) and because of infrastructure failures (thanks Network Rail) you are regularly stepping up units, leading to the situation where Alstom Train Care don't know which depot a train with a problem is going to end up at. So the replacement griddle may be at Longsight whilst the Train with the dodgy griddle ends up at Wembley...
This is not to say that Virgin and Alsom are blameless, but merely to introduce some mitigating factors.
And from a chart on the wall of Wembley depot noted last Wednesday, about 80% of Pendolino 'toilets out of use' arriving on depot are blocked, so presumably something unsuitable was put down them.
Mind you, when I was the world's leading writer on train toilets (in a field of one, I might add) I went to see the Scandinavian pioneers of vacuum, toilets and they designed to avoid blockages due to coke cans. They use dog food for testing, by the way.
This from Virgin Trains...
More frequent departures and even faster journeys are on the Virgin Trains agenda as demand for rail travel grows and air goes into decline.
Virgin Trains is going all out for the Glasgow market, having grounded the airlines between Liverpool and London and become the travel mode of choice for Manchester-London.
And on, and on, it continues. With not one mention of the infrastructure controller.
Nice.
UPDATE: Up to a point Lord Copper...
Good news for West Coast Main Line Passengers.
According to PR Week:
Network Rail has appointed Iris to handle an integrated consumer PR and advertising campaign... to showcase Network Rail’s £9bn upgrade of the West Coast main line.
Indeed and very splendid the ad is too.
Much to the chagrin of Virgin, who would rather the £2.4m campaign spend had been used to deliver a reliable railway.
But what's this?
Has NR appointed Iris as part of a charm offensive to win over Virgin's top man?
As regular readers of Eye will recollect Sir Beardie is very fond of being pictured with ladies in various states of undress.
As Iris also handle Wonderbra the potential for joint PR could be breath taking.
Telegrammed by the Raver
Just when Network Rail is celebrating punctuality at 90% (sic) into the inbox thuds an angry missive from Virgin Trains:
Our customers will be far from satisfied with these figures - and nor is Virgin Trains.
After £9bn was spent on the West Coast Mainline, customers have every right to expect performance to be at least as good as the rest of the country.
That has not happened and sadly it proves that many of our past concerns about Network Rail were correct.
We have complained formally to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) and now demand that the regulator holds Network Rail to account, and that Network Rail delivers the performance we and our customers expect.
Interesting that Beardie's mob are so exercised about Network Rail's failings.
Would they, by any chance, be seeking to distract the media from their own failings?
Notably trains that make the average cow shed smell salubrious, cramped luggage space, falling passenger numbers, a ticket pricing that makes no sense given the frequency of its services and a PR boss who will now never be believed because of his failure to invite any knowledgeable journalists to Beardie's ridiculous musings through fear of embarrassing the great man?
Or would that be mischievous?
UPDATE: This just in from our Independent Expert...
Branson may be right!
Two disastrous journeys with late running along the WCML today leading to a missed appointment for this author.
'Signals' apparently to blame.
Or is it coincidence that there are so many anxious-looking orange-clad men trackside a mere day after the Whitsun break?
UPDATE: This from 'Alexander the Great'...
So according to Network Rail's PPM press release today "No credible numbers exist pre1992" for performance.
Meanwhile, on the 2nd April 1985 Hansard said:
"Information on British Rail's punctuality performance is contained in the annual reports of the British Railways Board and the Central Transport Consultative Committee, which are laid before the Houses and copies placed in the Library."
So pray tell what is "not credible" about that system?
Or is the High Court of Parliament now so discredited that Network Rail dares to accuse it of lying?
UPDATE: Captain Deltic notes:
In the final year of what John Major clone Lord Adonis calls a 'national joke in terms of quality and reliability' British Rail's InterCity business achieved 88.1% of trains within time plus 10 minutes on the West Coast Main Line.
Also in 1993 ECML was at 89.2% (today 87.4%).
But congratulations to Mark 'Black Mac' Hopwood for showing the value of old-railway skills with Great Western today at 90.8% compared with 87.2% in 1993.
And back in 1993 across InterCity as a whole, all customer satisfaction scores were at 90% or above with helpfulness of staff on trains at 98%.
Helpfulness of staff at stations was at 93%, satisfaction with information at stations and cleanliness at stations were both at 91%.
Perhaps we could do with more 'jokes' like that to lighten these grim times.
Oh dear, oh dear.
Not content with upsetting the transport correspondent of a national newspaper it now appears as if the Virgin media machine has annoyed the trade hacks.
The invitation to yesterday's PR junket at Euston station curiously failed to reach a number of key columnists including Captain Deltic and Wolmar.
Could this have anything to do with the fact that the event contained such thin gruel that it would have been ridiculed by anyone with an ounce of industry knowledge?
At this rate Beardie Rail will have no friends left amongst the chattering classes.
UPDATE: This just in from Nigel Harris over at Rail...
Just seen your piece and can confirm that despite also being excluded from the 'press conference' we were nonetheless showered with press releases and pictures - while Virgin media staff are eagerly offering to 'talk us through it.'
Hm. How odd. Why not just let us go in the first place? Ah. You also seem to have tumbled that one. Consensus amongst the specialist railway journos is that there was a desire to not have anyone there who really knew the railways.
"The event was for business desks only" we were told.
Which is presumably why it was also leaked to the Sunday Times Dominic O Connell, who ran a story two days before the event revealing what 'Richard Branson will say etc etc...'
Once upon a time, Virgin was desperate to have specialists journalists around - not least at its numerous Pendolino launches.
As My Lord Adonis described Rail as "essential reading" we can only hope Nigel doesn't run the non- story in the next issue. That way DafT will be unsighted on this latest piece of Beardie Rail puff.
With a bowler tip to Mark Frary over at The Times...
And this with a bowler tip to Westmount and, of course, Saatchi and Saatchi...
Just in case anyone is in doubt about what BR could achieve.
Whilst the rest of the media swallowed whole Virgin's latest puff piece about the introduction of on-train wifi the geek press was not so easily spun.
So full marks to ZDNet for spotting the inconvenient fact that:
Virgin Trains Wi-Fi arrives one year late
Beardie Rail late - never!
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