IEP RIP?

It's almost July and the DafT boys and girls are looking forward to their summer holidays. And if there is a particular spring in their step it is almost certainly because they won't have to wade through IEP bid submissions on their return.

The original programme envisaged Civil Servants reviewing bid submissions in "Summer 2008" but it is becoming increasingly apparent that this timescale will not be met.

The IEP is already know as a Frankenstein Train having been beset by problems ever since the specification was drawn up and issued by Whitehall Mandarins. As befits the Masters of Compromise the train was to be both electric and diesel powered.

To their credit Network Rail quickly spotted that DafT was 'Talking Bollocks' and called at the end of last year for the diesel option to be abandoned.

Then Alstom, one of only three IEP bidders, abandoned the competition in February leaving just Hitachi and Express Rail Alliance (a Bombardier/Siemens JV) in the running.

Such is Hitachi's unhappiness with the IEP specification that it has had to issue constant denials that it was planning to give up on the competition. Meanwhile Express Rail Alliance, which was backed by RBS and Babcock & Brown, is suddenly looking very wobbly after last week's exit from the rail market by RBS (which sold Angel Trains to IEP partner Babcock & Brown).

Despite a collective raspberry from the market DafT continued to maintain that IEP was on track.

So it probably came as a shock to Mike Mitchell and his DafT chums when Ruth Kelly, in Rosa Klebb mode, stuck the stilleto into the project on the 9th June by recanting her previous faith in diesel traction and becoming a born again evangelist for electrification.

With Rosa having stiffed her own Department and thoroughly confused the supply chain it can't be long before the InterCity Express Programme derails

Meanwhile The Fact Compiler is keen to know exactly how much this barren process has cost the taxpayer to date?

Fares freeze?

David Cameron unveiled the Tories "Blue/Green Charter" today.

In his speech Cameron lamented "packed and expensive trains". In almost the very next sentance he identified the need for "High speed rail to connect the country quickly".

The Fact Compiler is very excited. Is this a Tory promise not to increase fares to pay for HS2? Somehow we doubt it.

Micromanagement

Much excitement at DafT this morning following reports from Down Under that Rio Tinto plans to introduce diverless trains on its 800 mile freight network.

For an investment of just $371m Rio hopes to be able to do away with drivers, increase capacity and control the network from Perth some 800 miles away.

The Fact Compiler looks forward to visiting the new DfT National Control Centre in Marsham Street.

Fare's fair

The gents of the press have an uncanny knack of plucking out the most expensive prices from the fares book when they want to run their favourite old chestnut about the the high cost of travelling by train.

But funny how you can prove the case the other way if the news editor so demands it.

Today's Guardian special supplement on How to Save Money quotes some staggeringly cheap train fares which beat even coach prices in the newspaper's comparison tables.

Bet you won't see these mentioned again next time a knocking story is on the agenda!

Dead greedy

National Express East Coast have a demanding subsidy profile and every penny counts.

So Eleanor Summers discovered when her husband Thomas dropped dead and NEEC refused to refund the £96 they has spent on pre-booked travel tickets.

The Summers, from Byker, Newcastle, had planned to visit their son in London on 6th June, but unfortunately Thomas suffered a severe stroke on the 21st May and died a week later.

When grieving widow Eleanor contacted NEEC they offered her a £52 travel voucher – worth £44 less than the original set of tickets - claiming the difference covered "administration charges".

“We are very private people, but they are making millions of pounds out of people like my lovely husband.” said Eleanor.

After local paper The Journal became involved NEEC admitted they were wrong not to refund the entire price of the ticket, and promised to do so if Mrs Summers returned the vouchers.

The Fact Compiler thinks NEEC has an absolute cheek to charge an administration fee of almost 50% on ticket refunds, especially after the Banks had their bottom's spanked for similar sharp practices!

Perhaps this explains how parent company National Express can continue to fund the salaries of displaced MDs from all the franchises they have lost?

Rail celebrities don't sell

A report from Railway Eye's independent Auction Expert:

A nameplate bearing the moniker of eminent train snapper Brian Morrison failed to reach its reserve at today's Sheffield Railwayana auction.

The nameplate, from a former Virgin Class 47, was priced at a relatively modest £1.200.

Brian, who was presented with one of the two plates when they were taken off the loco, remained philosophical. Instead of boosting his pension, the oldest snapper in the train biz is clearly going to have to carry on working.

Stingy lot these railwayana buffs.

A set of plates from the Wessex Electrics, donated by SWT in aid of a children's charity struggled to sell.

Most plates only achieved prices in the low hundreds despite much prompting from auctioneer Ian Wright.

Frying pan fire

***An interesting piece in tomorrow's (yep - tomorrow's) Sydney Morning Herald on Angel's new owners.***

Railway Eye readers will be aware of the recent volatile share price of former parent RBS.

It appears that all may not be well Down Under either.

You can read the SMH Business section here.

We Char Railway Company

Do you know this man?

He and his associates were seen in the vicinity of the Cumbrian Coast line on 26th May 2008.

After they had passed through the area a number of very serious fires were discovered on, or about, the railway.

One of these has caused severe damage to the historic Eskmeals Viaduct.

Witness David Moore, Fire Brigade watch manager at Seascale said "The 200 metre long viaduct was burning in three places, including right in the middle. Approximately 100 square metres of timber sleepers were burned.”

Repairing the damage is likely to cost several hundreds of thousands of pounds.

If you see this man please inform Network Rail, who are very keen not to talk to him, if possible, ever again.

Pith and wind

Rail editor Nigel Harris was quick off the mark and managed to secure the first interview with Mike Alexander the new Chairman of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC).

It was not a happy meeting, judging from the resulting Comment piece in the last issue of Rail.

The article ended with Harris demanding that Alexander and ATOC "Shape up" and push for further electrification (as Adrian Shooter, Alexander's predecessor at ATOC, had done).

The dust still hasn't settled on their row.

A copy of Alexander's follow up letter to Harris has reached the Fact Compiler, it is printed below:
-----------------------------

04 June 2008

Dear Nigel

Many thanks for the opportunity to “shape up” regarding the debate on electrification as outlined in your editorial of 4^th June.

ATOC has passengers and the railways at its heart. It represents train operators. The closest companies you can get to the passenger in today’s world. Our members survive on their success in meeting passenger requirements, often exceeding the constraints of their operating licences. The rapid growth in passenger numbers, over 40% in the last decade, is testament to TOCs’ and others’ success in meeting passengers’ desires. There are few other groups who care so passionately about the quality of the day-to-day service delivered to customers. So it is not surprising that ATOC takes a similar stance, and is pushing for today’s and tomorrow’s railway to meet customers’ needs. We are strong supporters of the benefit railways provide to the UK economy, and we are anxious that this advantageous position continues. Rail is generally more environmentally friendly (comfortable, time-productive, and speedier) than motor transport. So let’s pull together at getting the UK railways’ needs met now, to 2014 and well beyond.

Turning to electrification. A hot topic in the industry and with yourselves. I am not against it. In fact, I would be a supporter if/when we identify that this is the best economic and technical solution to provide a better railway for passengers. This may be an easy case to make – for certain lines and capacity constraints. So let’s get on with it. Customers are waiting. In the pursuit of this solution ATOC, together with the extremely capable TOC staff, acting jointly with Network Rail, will be right behind early planning, and competent and efficient delivery. But… as I said, we must start with the problem “how to improve the railways for the present and the future of UK plc – in particular, for passengers”. Get this right, and with a clear sight of the problem to resolve, we can then apply the correct solutions. We all need to stand tall in this debate, put our ‘favoured answers’ to one side, and ensure public money is spent wisely. Such clarity of thinking will ensure our requests are well-justified, and supported outside the industry and in government. We need to lead with an open mind, yet deliver what is needed for the economy and the passenger – starting now, and into the future. Electrification to the fore?

Yours sincerely

Mike Alexander

--------------------------------

The ATOC release announcing Alexander's appointment claimed he has a reputation "for making things happen and managing change".

The Fact Compiler cautions that electrification is a great totem to the railway industry. Alexander will need to manage the issue well, otherwise he may find that a reputation for "vacillation and wind-baggery" is more easily won.

Freightliner sold

***Freightliner has been bought by Arcapita***

3i Press Release here

Irish vote no!

Guido had it first

RBS flogs Rosco

***Royal Bank of Scotland has offloaded Angel Trains for £3.6bn to a consortium led by Babcock & Brown***

BBC story here

UPDATE: Sources indicate that RBS is very pleased with the price paid by Babcock and Brown.

Apparently the business was packaged in three lots: MOLA fleets (ex BR stock), New Trains and Angel's unregulated European business.

The strong price would indicate that B&B and it's advisors are pretty confident that the Competition Commission enquiry into the ROSCOs will not impact dramatically on MOLA lease rates going forward.

The Fact Compiler is not surprised, with a National Rolling Stock Shortage where else would the railway get alternative vehicles to meet current demand. Suggestions that DafT have asked the MOD to release the "Strategic Reserve" have been denied.

Spot the Crank #2

Today's mystery crank is so keen to get the perfect shot of LU heritage loco Sarah Siddons that he appears to have forgotten the railway by-laws relating to feet on seats.

If you have a spare copy perhaps you could send them to the address below:

Mark Hopwood
Performance Director
FGW
Freepost SWB40576
Plymouth
PL4 6ZZ

David Davis resigns

***David Davis is standing down from both Shadow Cabinet and Parliament to trigger a by-election on the ticket of setting the people free from this overweening Government.***

The Fact Compiler wishes him all the best and hopes that the resultant reshuffle will see a Shadow Transport Secretary of the stature of Chris Grayling rather than the one we now have, whose name eludes me...

NR promises to speed up WCML upgrade

The Fact Compiler understands that NR talent scouts from the West Coast upgrade team are planning to attend Horwich Carnival...

UPDATE: The Health and Safety Taliban will be delighted to know that owing to "insurance" issues only narrow gauge sleepers will be used.

FURTHER UPDATE: Sources within the ORR confirm they have suggested that NR do the same to help reduce costs and Lost Time Injuries...

The road to hell is paved...

You feel for the poor PR souls tasked with promoting First Great Western. The company is not without a certain promotional flair.

Regrettably this is all too often let down by FGW's piss-poor operating department, who have proven themselves consistently able to snatch disaster from the jaws of victory.

The Swindon Spinners recently jumped at the chance to leap into bed with feisty Bristol rag the Evening News. The plan was to celebrate the new summer timetable on the Severn Beach line by offering readers free travel last Sunday.

Clutching their tokens loyal readers descended on stations between Temple Meads and Severn Beach to take advantage of the offer, which FGW must have hoped would usher in a new positive relationship with one of their most vocal media critics.

Whoops! Of the 16 scheduled services, seven were cancelled, leaving dozens of passengers stranded on platforms.

A Worst Great Western spokesman blamed "a train fault and a shortage of staff" for the debacle which has seen any remaining FGW credibility with the Evening News pissed-up against the wall.

The Fact Compiler thinks the Swindon Spinners were being too kind.

He would have named the chocolate teapot in the operating department responsible for diagramming and rostering. To run a high profile community event in conjunction with hostile local media and not have a watertight operating plan is nigh on criminal.

Sorry is the hardest word

The Fact Compiler is a fan of Rail Minister Tom Harris MP.

Not least for his witty, self deprecating and frequently off-message blog which somehow escapes the attention of the party's thought police.

However, there are concerns for his sanity following an interview last night with Christian Wolmar on the BBC Wales programme "Week In; Week Out".

Harris told Wolmar that had the railways still been nationalised in 1997 "then I think we (Labour) would have privatised them."

Unfortunately for Harris and co the Tories had already buggered-up the national rail system by the time the party came into power.

Not to be outdone New Labour turned its attention to the London Underground.

The Big Grin himself promoted the disastrous PPP that saw contractor Metronet bite the dust saddling the tax payer with a bill likely to top £1bn.

Of course the Tories have had the good grace to apologise for breaking BR but as yet from Labour not a word.

So perhaps it was better for Tom to focus on what Labour might have done to BR rather than the real damage they did to LU.

My dad's bigger than your brother!

The RMT's failure to close down the EMT Connect network on Saturday has caused embarrassment to the Union and anger amongst members who lost a day's pay.

The cause of the strike is a long running dispute, inherited from Central Trains, about Sunday working.

Unbelievably a Spanish Practice dating back to BR days means that Sunday is not a rostered turn leaving East Midlands Trains reliant on "volunteer" guards to run Connect services, resulting in frequent cancellations due to non-availability of staff.

On Friday in a bullish announcement RMT leader Bob Crow claimed that more than 130 guards at four Connect depots across the TOC would strike on Saturday effectively crippling the EMT rural and inter-regional services. This was to be the first of three such actions over successive Saturdays.

Alas Saturday's display of strength turned into farce as EMT, supported by parent company Stagecoach, managed to run 70% of the 215 timetabled services and brought in 104 replacement buses from across the country to infill for cancelled trains.

After such a piss-poor RMT performance Crow-bar might at least let ACAS do their job before calling the next days inaction.

Scottish threat to Crossrail

***Rail Minister Tom Harris MP exposes how the West Lothian question is already affecting plans for an expansion in English rail capacity...***

View Original Article

Brown tells Minister he can't count

***The Times on Saturday had a letter from the Chief Executive of Eurostar exposing the litany of fallacies that underpin the Government's anti-electrification agenda.***

View Richard Brown's letter here