WCML disruption

Another for our press office friends.

The dangers of ὕβρις.

If a thing can go wrong - it will go wrong.

ECML disruption

One for our press office friends.

What's the difference between a BBC Producer and BBC Journalist?

A sense of balance.

The Fact Compiler compliments National Express East Coast for keeping passengers informed.

Low cunning?

Even the Gricerati have been invited to the Transport Ministers' Christmas drinks reception hosted by Geoff Hoon on Tuesday evening.

We wonder whether any of the railway hacks will be brave enough to ask Lord Adonis to explain the table in the Rolling Stock Plan which the Prince of DafTness claimed was 'crystal clear' to him?

Or come to that will anyone dare seek a steer on who is going to be announced as preferred bidder for the Frankenstein train on Thursday?

Actually the announcement was scheduled for Friday but was brought forward to the 18th.

No doubt this is unconnected to the fact that Modern Railways and the Railway Gazette are both having Christmas do's on that very day.

DafT are presumably hoping that the technical hacks will be too tired and emotional to coherently brief the Nationals on this procurement disaster?

Battle of the Barriers

At last good news for gricers!

Britain's beleagured bashers have a new champion despite the shock of last week's Wolmargate!

Yesterday the muesli-munchers of York backed the cranktocracy as part of the city's 'Battle of the Barriers'.

Regular Eye readers will know that there is significant resentment in the city over the National Express plan to gate York station, which will inconvenience visitors to the NRM and local residents alike.

As anger grows the local Green Party have taken to picketing York station to encourage an NX rethink.

The leaflet they handed out contained the following statement:

8. Railway enthusiasts should not be discouraged
Most railway enthusiasts are knowledgeable about the railway and are responsible citizens.

That means that they behave sensibly on railway premises, and, as the railway press has been pointing out in the controversy about attempts by staff to prevent photography, enthusiasts can be useful extra eyes on platforms to identify anything untoward.

To discourage them would therefore be unwise, and it would alienate the railway's natural friends.

Any attempt to stop large numbers of people attending the visits of steam specials would be a disaster for relations with the public.

Perhaps York Greens should be asked to write the revision to ATOC's still unpublished enthusiast guidelines?

Out of sight...

Following the Government's decision that a legal product must now be hidden by retailers Old Holborn has some good news.

Read Old Holborn here...

The Fact Compiler is slightly concerned that this could have a dramatic impact on TOC car park revenues, which of course are unregulated.

What a clown!

This from Southport.gb.com via WNXX...

Read the rest of the story here...

Eh?

Sugar Daddy?

A quick visit to Wolmar's website to catch up on the Manchester "No" vote.

But what's this?

An ad for sugardaddie.com!


The Fact Compiler hopes that Mystic Wolmar is not suffering a mid-life crisis?

Sorry love, no really does mean yes!

Good news for Mancunians should the city vote 'No' to the congestion charge.

As a valued part of the great European project Manchester's citizens will of course have the opportunity to vote again on this important topic.

And again, and again, and if necessary again - until they get the answer right!

Wolmargate

***Nigel Harris has published his views on Wolmargate***

First for doing the BTP's job

When Ian Johnstone has finished his inquiry into the Met's assault on Parliament he may wish to turn his attention to the lackluster performance of his own force.

BTP rozzers in Plymouth managed to... ahem... misplace, vital photographs that could have secured the criminal conviction of a thug for attacking rail staff.

This from the Plymouth Herald: "After repeated questioning, BTP has now admitted to The Herald it did fail to hand over the vital photos, and did not submit the equally vital paperwork for seven months."

Fortunately First Great Western persevered with a private prosecution which saw pissed-up busker Robert Halkett sent down for four years.

PUG2 RIP

Telegrammed by 222 Marylebone Road
For the first time since they took over Railtrack, Ozymandias and his fellow Network Rail board Members will be able to sleep at nights without the threat of nuclear annihilation hanging over their heads.

From 02.00 on Sunday 14 December. Virgin West Coast's new Track Access Agreement comes into force - replacing Passenger Upgrade 2 (PUG2).

Forged for Virgin by Tom Winsor, PUG 2 was the train operator's equivalent of the hydrogen bomb. At any time Virgin could have demanded the contract terms must be met.

PUG2 would have destroyed Railtrack and made a very nasty dent in NR - with the fallout and collateral damage wiping out all intelligent life in the Department of Transport (hasn't the last bit already happened? Ed).

By carrying over PUG2 to the new infrastructure owner Virgin, alone among the TOCs, could tell DfT to get stuffed and pay up - or else!. So farewell then, PUG2.

While Tom Winsor's fees are eye watering, however much PUG2 costs, Virgin must regard it as money well spent.

Freighty Christmas

Telegrammed by The Raver

Interesting to see yesterday's Railfreight Group annual bash pass off with nary a mention of the fact that EWS are making over 500 people redundant.

Perhaps that may not be such a bad thing as one client of EWS was overheard commenting that he always phones them in the morning as his account executive usually swans off to the golf club every afternoon. It made him hark back fondly to the bad old days of British Rail...

But then was it tactful of DB Schenke to pay thousands of pounds to provide chocolates and Christmas decorations for the assorted guests.

At least the colour, black, was apt!

Ozymandi've had enough!

Telegrammed from the Millenium Death Falcon Star
"Hello again...

"As you can see in the full length picture of Iain at Rugby he is standing in the designated walking area (see below).



"Indeed, the COSS was nearby and had approved Iain's PPE and his location.

"Sorry to spoil your fun.

"Anyway, I must get back to neo-Stakhanovite endeavours of promoting the fantastic new opportunities for passengers and freight users (that) the completion of the West Coast project opens up."

Soup dragon!

Wolmar vindicated!

Telegrammed from Eboracum (50A)

As if further proof were needed...

Zontar - "My Lord!"

Ozymandiain lV

Telegrammed by King Coal
Eagle-eyed readers of Network Rail's neo-Stakhanovite proclamations may have noted a recent picture of Mr Coucher leaning against an EPS125 PSR board, trying hard not to grin and wearing a very smart NR high visibility vest.

But what's upon his head?

Why nothing!

Are not NR staff now mandated to wear hard hats of whatever colour is deemed suitable this week?

Perhaps the COSS was holding it, what with Iain being within 3 metres of the nearest running rail and all.

Death Falcon Il

Telegrammed by the late Sir William Pollitt
On a railway far, far away...

Although the Millennium Falcon generally came up trumps at the end of the day, isn't it also true to say that the battered old thing only did so after much persuasion, cajoling - and occasionally a good old kick in the dashboard?

Duly rebuked/persuaded it would then cough, splutter and finally shoot off doing almost the right thing, but barely answering to the controls and generally causing everyone on board to have palpitations?

Strike a light! Yes, Black Tower v2.0 certainly IS more Millennium Falcon than Death Star!

Death Falcon I

Telegrammed by our man at 222 Marylebone Road
Network Rail would do well to keep quiet about its new headquarters.

What with its basement concert halls and art galleries not to mention the chi-chi cafe where the beaux monde of North London can join Guardian journalists and Network Rail directors for a ristretto whilst admiring the landscaped canal.

Already railway visitors are questioning whether it is perhaps a bit too flash for an honest utility and we are urged to look at Ozymandias' new office to appreciate the grandeur.

But no signs of the statue going up as yet.

A time for giving

This from the East London Advertiser...

"STAFF on the London Underground have kick-started the season of goodwill by holding a collection for a 'heroes' charity.

"They raised £7,000 for Help for Heroes, which supports soldiers injured in Afghanistan and Iraq, at the ticket barrier at Bank station in The City."

Railway Eye is happy to publicise charitable works...

Ozymandiain lll

Another stern rebuke from Network Rail reaches The Fact Compiler!

It reads:

"I see you are on your usual churlish form whenever you write about Network Rail.

"It is true the West Coast project is complete. Our task was to upgrade the infrastructure to deliver the Dec 2008 timetable. The work we needed to do for that timetable change is now done.

"Does that mean we are never going to do any more work on WCML? Of course not.

"We have work to do there as we have on any line across the network. It was skimping on improvement works which led to the poor state in which Network Rail inherited the WCML.

"PS: Our new headquarters is more Millennium Falcon than Death Star."

The Fact Compiler is not convinced. Dear reader it is for you to decide in Railway Eye's latest exciting poll !

Crossed off the list

An email reaches The Fact Compiler with details of Sue and Aidan Nelson's exciting new venture.

Such a serious subject demands the very widest attention.

Anyone know the producers of 'HIGNFY'?

"And this weeks guest publication is Level Crossing News..."