Through the wonders of MMS the following communication reaches The Fact Compiler.
It reads...
Captain Deltic's contribution to the 2009 Railway Garden Competition:
Eye imagines Iain Coucher saying "Pah! Amateurs".
Good news for East Midlands Trains passengers!
This from the Independent...
Some rail passengers will have to fork out for fare rises of up to 145 per cent from next week.
The East Midlands Trains company is making alterations to some of its Travelcard tickets which will affect passengers travelling in the morning from Market Harborough, Kettering and Wellingborough to London.
Presumably Stagecoach supremo Brian Souter needs all the pennies he can get if he is to buy the rail and bus businesses of the doomed National Express Group.
Meanwhile, don't expect DafT to kick up a fuss over EMT's swinging fare increases.
If Souter can raise the necessary gee-gaws to buy C2C and NXEA it will save DafT the public humiliation of testing Cross Default in court.
Happy days!
UPDATE: This from A Train Driver Lost somewhere in EMT-land...
Pointless sign #11 isn't *entirely* pointless - in the areas of EMT-land where passenger intelligence is best described as limited, it can be almost embarrassing watching the darlings trying to open the doors by thumping the glass, kicking the body of the door, swearing at it or merely looking bemusedly at it because it hasn't magically opened for them.
Having a little sign pointing out that there's a nice button to press helps - at least for those who can read...
Nice to know our efforts are appreciated by the Eye though! ;o)
Eye is delighted to present the Hanging Gardens of Derby...
With a bowler tip to the Wicked Weaver...
A quid for a cup of hot water!
Compliments to Beardie Rail for allowing this mechanised mugging to take place at Rugby station.
This just in from JASB the Ninja...
I thought you'd like to see a couple more entries for the Railway Gardening Competition, both seen on a jolly family outing to Vectis on Bank Holiday Monday.
Here's the start of our trip at Hook. 
My son said that this was "lacking in colour", so it may not be a winning entry.
He also pointed out that the vegetation is beginning to obscure the bases for the new signals (which were installed about 18 months ago as part of the Basingstoke resignalling phase II or III ... but that's another story).
Here's what we found at the other end. 
Now this really is a Railway Garden.
It was installed on the disused Up platform at Shanklin some years ago (probably during Island Rail's short-lived period of UDI).
I think a machete is advised now if you want to admire its charms.
This just in from from Our Man in Bradway Tunnel...
Nice to see that there are still youngsters who are excited by the railway.
This from the BBC...
"The parents of a boy who has run away to try to catch a train have asked railway staff to put up warning posters to stop him getting into danger."
I note the young gentleman has tried to buy a ticket to leave Marden.
Can't say I blame him.
It's heartening to read this, though:
"Railway staff at stations all along the line from Tonbridge to Ashford now have pictures of Toby to help them keep a lookout for him should he try to get on a train again."
A bowler tip to staff on South Eastern - clearly they are taking their duty to their passengers seriously.
This just in from a Mr Malins...
I know the Eye has had a lot of fun with the Railway Garden Competition, and I trust we shall see more of the weedkilling train as a result, but are you ready to return to the theme of barriers? It deserves Eye's renewed attention.
I have a letter, signed by his Lordship DafT Vader concerning the work of his stationers Green and Hall:
"The stations standards initiative that I have set up will be focusing on getting the basic facilities right as well as considering the broader role of stations. It will not be looking at ticket gates."
The duo have been to Sheffield whereupon Sir Peter described the Stagecoach barrier scheme as "insane" and said he would have a word with Adonis.
So it's back to you Secretary of State.
Obviously Railway Eye is now required reading within DafT's sprawling empire.
Or so it would appear from Eye's latest exciting survey (eyes right).
As usual, Eye's powerful analytical software has identified the source of the single vote, cast in favour of DfT specifying new High Speed lines...
Welcome Sir David and thank you for taking part.
The Fact Compiler compiler has been forwarded the following witty email.
It reads...
"Most of you will be aware of the splendid GWR Steam Railmotor under restoration at Didcot."
"In support of the project, Arriva recently staged an impromptu demonstration of what a modern steam motor might look like..."
Eye apologises to Paul for the blatant plagiarism but this was just too good not to use...
Oh dear.
Perhaps a little additional staff training required for these fine gentleman at Upminster station (C2C and the General Manager of the District line please take note).
Meantimes... nice to see pictures of Sarah back in traffic!
Good news for North Britons!
Last week the figure to build HS2 to Scotland was £34bn.
Now, according to the Birmingham Post, it's £41bn!
Presumably the SNP's referendum announcement has already halved the value of the putative country's new MacCurrency.
This just in from Peter...
I thought you would like this, but I can’t compete with Wrexham...
Welcome to Norwood Junction.
Taken on Friday at great risk from the platform ‘Stasi’ as I was standing between the yellow and white lines!
On Thursday former Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP attended a photocall to mark the improvements at Ewell West station.
Also pictured is the former mayor who has campaigned for the changes.
Without leaving The Fact Compiler at the mercy of My Learned Friends perhaps readers might wish to suggest an appropriate caption...
Telegrammed by our International Correspondent
For those who remember when the British Railways Board went down to the sea in ships, an appeal for dosh to revive the Paddle Steamer Ryde.
This one time icon and vomit bucket paddled generations of holidaymakers to and from Vectis and has now been replaced with a sort of jetfoil catamaran thingy that is Just Not The Same.
It isn't the last railway paddler - that honour belongs to PS Waverley, neither is it the biggest bit of ex-Sealink detritus to clutter our shores (see TS Duke of Lancaster, rusting not very gently next to the North Wales Coast line) but it is very fondly remembered by those who lost their lunch overboard.
Anyone with a few bob left after the global financial crisis is invited to contact the PS Ryde Trust at info@psryde.co.uk
Former Minister Michael Heseltine has just come out in favour of Network Rail's new high speed rail proposals!
And on Radio 4's 'Any Questions'.
Mind you he was part of the government that built the Channel Tunnel!
Good to see the Telegraph maintaining its hard won reputation as a journal of record.
This from the Torygraph's website about safety concerns on the sub-surface District line.
Illustrated with a nice shot of tube stock at Oxford Circus station.
Mind you, the General Manager of the District line once ran the Bakerloo...
This just in from 'Willie' Rushton...
Further to your earlier request for updated pictures of Hawarden Bridge I travelled the Bidston to Wrexham line yesterday but did not alight there.
However I did take this photo of the northern end of platform 4 at Wrexham General station. 
Could this be a contender?
Indeed it could!
The Fact Compiler is amazed anyone can actually sign this route, unless it's by touch.
The Fact Compiler salutes Arriva Dross Country.
In particular the genius who decided to dispense with the shop in favour of an 'at-seat' (sic) trolley service.
As last week saw the final shop removed from the Voyagers the following plaintive call is to be heard aboard all XC services:
"Due to overcrowding and luggage in the aisles the trolley cannot make it down the train. Passengers wanting refreshments are invited to come to the end of coach F."
Brilliant - replace a fixed retail unit in the centre of the train with one at the far end.
And of course it carries less stock because it's just a trolley.
Did any of the bid team, so ably supported by First Class Partnerships, ever ride XC services in summer?
UPDATE: This just in from 'Bacon Butty'...
Eye readers might like to know that during the bidding there were many "mystery shoppers" aboard XC services and the shop staff all warned these people about overcrowding, bumpy vestibule connections and the general unsuitability of trolleys.
Perhaps one for Lord Adonis to get his teeth into after he's sorted out catering on the new state owned (but FCP managed) East Coast franchise...
This from an astonished reader...
Renaissance Trains has certainly been behind some radical changes to the industry in recent years.
But it's not just Open Access where they have left their mark.
Or so it would appear, judging by this statement on their website:
"Mike is a recognised expert in the areas of rail customer services, both non-board trains and at stations."
So this is where National Express got the idea for 'non-board' catering!
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