Plane crazy

The bids for the IEP were submitted to the DfT today.

Unfortunately Alstom weren't amongst the bidders having pulled the plug on their bid for the Frankenstein Train some months ago.

Which is a shame as Alstom is now looking at producing a freight version of the TGV that would offer companies like UPS and FedEx a rail alternative to their current carbon hungry fleet of planes.

Just as well they're not in the running. With Daft so in hock to the aviation lobby a real rail alternative to airfreight like this would never be allowed to take off.

Happy Mondays

Not a happy Monday for folk arriving on early morning trains into Euston today, many of whom were delayed into the capital (surprise, surprise).

Virgin first class customers will have been even less pleased, since their free at-seat copy of The Times had a lead letter from Network Rail boss Iain Coucher, extolling the wonders of the railway - particularly the punctuality record.

Coucher boasted that "now more than 90 per cent" of train services arrive on time.

As one exasperated passenger put it: "A bloody shame that the remaining 10% all serve Euston!"

Lookalike

The DafT official tasked with masterminding Government electrification policy (or lack there-of) has been discovered moon-lighting as an extra in the Peter Kay comedy series Phoenix Nights.


Spencer, much like DfT electrification policy, is hapless.

Make your mind up

In a shock horror splash across most of the Sundays the Campaign for Better Transport has revealed that walk on fares are err... more expensive than tickets bought in advance.

No shit Sherlock!

As pointed out by Railway Eye only two weeks ago the story could equally well have read "Buy early for best deals" - except that wouldn't have made quite such a good story.

CBT Director Stephen Joseph said "We have to have reasonable walk-on fares or people will walk on straight into their cars."

An interesting point Stephen. But can you suggest how else the railway manage demand for its scarce capacity?

Particularly when your organisation's website lists rail over-crowding as it's primary concern.

The Fact Compiler congratulates CBT for a slick piece of PR which adds precisely nothing to the debate but positions CBT as the master of "Cake and Eat it".

I should Coco

Beleaguered Network Rail boss Iain Coucher was in grim mood as he gave an address to the railway industry's Fourth Friday networking club.

The only time he broke into a smile was when it became apparent there would be no more questions from the floor at the end.

But at least no one called him "Mr Croucher" as the interviewer did on Monday's Today programme.

Coucher also took the opportunity to make clear that he is more than willing to see the ORR refer Network Rail to the Competition Commission over the level of funding the regulator believes the infrastructure owner needs in CP4.

Referral to the Competition Commission is becoming something of a badge of honour in the railway industry. First the ROSCOs, next NR...

Spot the Crank #4

This Gentleman was recently seen shopping for a lawn mower.

Despite the very large cheque in his hand (pictured) his local B&Q were unable to help as he refused to buy the machine, insisting that he would rather have it on wet lease terms.

Do you know who it is yet?

Answers on a postcard to

Anyone Left?
HSBC Rail (UK) Ltd
PO Box 29499
London
NW1 2ZF

Axis of IEPvil

***DfT announcement yesterday on changes to IEP bidders***

"Hitachi Europe had been succeeded as an applicant for the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) by Agility Trains Ltd (a consortium comprising of Hitachi (Japan) Ltd, Barclays Private Equity and John Laing Projects and Developments).

Bidders are:

• Express Rail Alliance (a consortium comprising Bombardier Transportation, Siemens, Angel Trains and Babcock & Brown)
• Agility Trains Ltd (a consortium comprising of Hitachi (Japan) Ltd, Barclays Private Equity and John Laing Projects and Developments)

The tender return date for the Intercity Express Programme is midday, Monday 30 June 2008."

Is the Fact Compiler alone in looking forward to the inevitable NAO enquiry into this extraordinary procurement process?

All Change at HSBC

***Both Peter Aldridge and Robert Marrill, Head of Customer Services and Operations at HSBC Rail have been seen shopping for new lawn mowers***

ScotRail is keen to talk to anyone at HSBC about funding for their nemesis trains.

PM to wave magic wand!

The Big Grin used yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions to hint that he has something revolutionary and exciting up his sleeve for the railway industry!

Norman Baker (Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Transport; Lewes, Liberal Democrat)
As a Scottish MP, the Prime Minister will have noticed the strong success of the recently reopened railway between Stirling and Alloa, where passenger numbers are currently three times greater than the projected figure for 2011, and the reopened line to Ebbw Vale in Wales is similarly a success story. If reopening lines in Scotland and Wales makes such good economic sense, why has the Department for Transport ruled out, despite the strong social and environmental case, reopening lines in England, such as the line from Lewes to Uckfield?

Gordon Brown (Prime Minister; Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath, Labour)
Last year, we said that we want to double the capacity of the existing network, which includes the whole of the United Kingdom. We have invited Network Rail to examine options for supporting further growth, which might include new lines and electrification. The hon. Gentleman will find that Network Rail and the Government are looking at those issues. I also hope that he acknowledges that we have committed £10 billion to increasing capacity over the next five years, which will result in the single biggest increase in capacity for a generation, 1,300 new carriages and funding for major projects in all parts of the country. We are honouring our commitment to the railways of this country, which is why more people are using the railways than at any time since the 1940s.

So the Government is committed to doubling the capacity of the network and has instructed Network Rail to look at options for further growth which, in the PM's words might include new lines and electrification.

If it doesn't include new lines and electrification then what precisely does the PM have in mind? Perhaps one of our Westminster readers could seek clarification....

Rosco update

The current turbulence in the world's financial markets has not left the Rolling Stock Leasing Companies unscathed.

With the price of capital soaring little new business is being written.

Earlier this month RBS managed to flog Angel Trains to a consortium led by Babcock and Brown for £3.6bn. The deal did nothing to restore market confidence in BB whose share price continued in free fall and is now worth 30% of its start of year value.

Meanwhile over at Porterbrook the world's 'Oldest Active Data Room' has received yet another spring clean as Banco Santander plays host to the latest bidder undertaking due diligence on the Derby based firm.

Only at HSBC does all appear quiet.

Indeed, so much so that MD Peter Aldridge is reported to be looking "very relaxed".

Should anyone see Peter purchasing a new lawn mower at B&Q please could they let the Fact Compiler know.

Eye bollocks

Oh dear - is ageing satirical magazine Private Eye loosing the plot?

The latest issue has a story by Gavel Basher on "worth every penny" PR and lobbying agency Golden Arrow Communications.

As Basher warms to his theme (the general uselessness of former Ministers as lobbyists) he keeps insisting that both "National Express and GNER" are Golden Arrow clients.

Whoops - as any fule kno GNER ceased to require lobbying services on 9th December 2007 when the East Coast Mainline franchise was transferred to errr... National Express!

Sloppy of Basher not to check his story with the Eye's resident railway expert Dr B Ching.

Contractor cleans up

***Short staffed and under pressure crew on an Arriva XC Leeds to Soton service this morning were delighted when ISS manager Margaret rolled up her sleeves and helped serve at seat refreshments to first class passengers.***

A nice example of partnership at work.

Hogwash

Telegrammed by our man in 222 Marylebone Road...

Here is Tom (why are you all so bloody miserable) Harris addressing the Institute of Economic Affairs Future of rail conference on 18 June:

"Although Network Rail is a product of this government, I’m certainly not its apologist. And if it fails in its delivery, then I will be the first to criticise. But I do believe it has suffered an unfair press. Mistakes were made at Liverpool Street and we saw the consequences when 16 overhead line engineers failed to show up for work over Christmas.

"But what’s conveniently forgotten by the pundits is that at that time we saw the most intensive period of engineering activity on the Railway since rail privatisation. There were 35 major project work sites plus dozens of instances of more minor works".

Clearly, while repercussions at Liverpool Street managed to penetrate Tom's Westminster-centric universe it seems odd that an MP with a Glasgow constituency is unaware of the shag up at Shields Junction.

And since he is known to travel by Virgin Trains between Westminster and his constituency it's equally odd that he missed the Rugby over run which also contributed to the £14million Christmas fine from ORR.

But we have to agree he's not an apologist when it comes to his government's creation, more a whitewasher.

D Notice

Media sections in yesterday's papers reported the likely demise of The London Paper, Murdoch's Standard spoiler.

Despite denials today from News International such a development couldn't come soon enough for London Underground, which has to get shot of thousands of copies left strewn around trains and stations each day.

As well as cleaning up the system, improving Customer Satisfaction Survey scores and reducing a potential fire risk, the demise of one of London's three evening newsheets would save TfL a small fortune in litter picking costs.

Fingers are crossed at 55 Broadway that Associated will also merge Standard Lite and The Evening Standard into one paper.

The Fact Compiler understands that BoJo can see the PR benefits of a cleaner looking Tube and has instructed his minions to help Lord Rothermere make the right decision...

NEEC healthy breakfast

A rail gourmet rants:

08:30 Kings X to Newcastle - No chef

09:00 Kings X to Edinburgh - Chef but no food!

The Fact Compiler wonders whether NEEC might also struggle to combine a brewery and a piss up?

Clueless!

Rail Minister Tom Harris had a difficult end to his week on Friday when there was quite a media brouhaha over his blog question demanding why Britons are "so bloody miserable".

The Fact Compiler fears that he must add to his woes by drawing attention to an extraordinary written reply he gave last Thursday to a Parliamentary question on rolling stock.

Railway Eye readers will recollect the hoots of derision that greeted DafT's Rolling Stock Plan (RSP), published on the 30th January this year.

In this fantabulous document DafT identified the need for an additional 1,300 vehicles for the network and even presumed to guess where these should be allocated (the three vehicles the RSP assigned to East Midlands Trains prompted a senior executive's exasperated response that he hoped they wouldn't all arrive at once!).

Despite considerable concerns within the industry about the paucity of the RSP there was at least a belief that the decisions it contained were based on a degree of knowledge about current rolling stock allocation.

Alas - this is not the case!

Last Thursday DafT released an answer from Tom Harris to the following question from his Tory Shadow:

Stephen Hammond (Shadow Minister, Transport; Wimbledon, Conservative): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) locomotives, (b) multiple units, (c) freight wagons and (d)carriages were in use on the rail network in the most recent period for which figures are available, broken down by (i) train operating company and (ii) class.

Tom Harris (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport; Glasgow South, Labour): This information is not held by the Department for Transport, but is widely available in the specialist press.

Frankly this is an extraordinary admission and must call into question the whole basis upon which the Department for Transport has drawn up its Rolling Stock Plan.

The Fact Compiler was so shocked by this admission that he sought clarification from wiser heads,

It emerges that at a media briefing with Tom Harris in May the Minister was told that his Department officials were reliant on an Informed Sources table from Modern Railways as their rolling stock crib!

"Is this true?" demanded the Minister. "Yes Minister" replied the Minister's minder.

So at least it is now official - the Department for Transport really hasn't got a clue what is going on.

Trumpet blast!

***Letter from The Business Editor, Rail***

Dear Fact Compiler

I enjoyed your analysis of last week's story about NR and its look at new lines. But the passage "The story emerged on Friday, not from within the notoriously leaky railway community, but via political sources in the Westminster village. Industry commentators, even the very well informed, were caught completely unawares..." should be compared with this extract from RAIL magazine "Network Rail is set to launch a major inquiry into when and where Britain needs new railways, whether conventional or high-speed."

The magazine's subscribers received these words on June 14 and the legions of readers who prefer to stand in WH Smiths every other Wednesday should also have not been surprised to hear the story two days later on the BBC.

Just so you know, no wish to blow own trumpet etc...

yours

Philip Haigh
Business Editor
RAIL Magazine


The Fact Compiler is just popping down to WH Smiths...

Spot the Crank #3

There was a time when this Gentleman was so far to the left that the photographer would have had to be in the Guard's van to get his picture.

Happily age has mellowed him and he has now traded in his Trotskyite membership for that of the British Empire (as awarded in The Queen's birthday honours list for "Services to the rail industry").

Do you know who it is yet?

Answers on a postcard to

Dr Paul Salveson MBE
Head of Government and Community Strategies
Northern Rail Ltd
PO Box 208
Leeds LS1 2BU

Que bono?

Who stands to benefit from today's leak that Network Rail is to undertake a review into the construction of five new main lines?

Not Network Rail which is struggling with its obligations to maintain and renew the existing network. Were NR to conclude that more lines are required then it is unlikely it would be able to undertake such labour and capital intensive projects itself.

Nor the TOCs who would much rather the infrastructure owner addressed current capacity constraints through incremental upgrades (additional junctions and doubling of track) or infill electrification to allow better utilisation of scarce rolling stock.

Perhaps the greatest surprise of all is that this major review isn't being led by the Department for Transport which, after all, is responsible for transport strategy. More importantly it would fall to the DfT to steer any resulting schemes through Parliament and secure funding from a reluctant Treasury (which still hasn't stumped up for Crossrail yet).

The story emerged on Friday, not from within the notoriously leaky railway community, but via political sources in the Westminster village. Industry commentators, even the very well informed, were caught completely unawares.

The timing of the leak was telling, it followed the damning speech made by Chris Bolt on Thursday, in which he lambasted the industry for a lack of strategic vision and declared that the Office of Rail Regulation would now produce its own long term strategy to fill the gap.

By getting Network Rail to undertake this White Elephant of an exercise Ministers will achieve a number of aims.

Firstly they can spike ORR's guns by pretending that work on a long term strategy is just about to begin.

Secondly they can suppress calls for incremental capacity increases and infill electrification by making these subordinate to the results of this massive study.

Finally, it will effectively bury High Speed 2 - the proposed high speed route that will link London to the West Midlands and which has broad industry support. With todays announcement that five high speed lines are to be evaluated the industry consensus on HS2 will dissolve in a frenzy of self destructive self interest.

As if proof were needed of the cynicism of this exercise today's leak claimed that NR will review two options to Birmingham one alongside the West Coast Main Line the other alongside the Chiltern route. Thus setting even local supporters of HS2 against one another.

Sir Humphrey and his masters must be very pleased with the way yesterday's fag packet idea has been portrayed by the media today as a major development in railway policy !

Double Dutch

BASEL (Reuters) - Switzerland's national railway has told its workers to stop using their normal orange reflective vests after confused Dutch football fans started following them on to the tracks.

A railway spokesman said the changed strip had been prompted by an incident in the Swiss capital Berne when a group of Netherlands supporters followed a worker on to the lines after mistaking his uniform for their traditional orange dress.

"We have now given out yellow vests to all our staff who have to work on or cross the tracks in Basel, where the Dutch fans are now based," Oliver Tamas said on Friday.