Steve Davies pots black at NRM!

This from the Doncaster Free Press...

Steve Davies will join the NRM at a date to be agreed in the New Year, from his position as Director of the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Manchester.


Judging by this picture he might, just, make an honorary railwayman...

UPDATE: This from Driver Potter...

TFC has clearly lost his marbles; Mr Davies fails to score in the following vital areas;

• No high-vis,
• No hard-hat in case of Health and Safety,
• Looks pleased to be at work.

He also appears to be passing water vapour from the rear.

Clearly his fusible plug has gone...

Return of the Parly

This from the Daily Telegraph..

If Sir Christopher Kelly has achieved nothing else, he has provoked an unprecedented level of interest in railway timetables among our MPs.

A big welcome back to the Parliamentary Train.

Arriva announces interims tomorrow

City excitement as Arriva prepares to unveil interim management results tomorrow.

But with the market distinctly twitchy the Eye thought it might be helpful to introduce this splendid new logo.

Just in case.

HS2 to be rebranded - Shocker

This gem from Anthony Smith at this afternoon's Transport Select Committee:

"High Speed Rail should be renamed 'Big Rail'."

Let's hope Passenger Focus is never asked to market rail services.

Men from the ministry of a similar hue...

A reader asks if the Fact Compiler can spot any parallels in the following report...

Review into the loss of the RAF Nimrod MR2 Aircraft XV230:

"But for the delays in the Nimrod MRA4 replacement programme, XV230 would probably have no longer have been flying in September 2006, because it would have reached its Out-of-Service Date and already been scrapped or stripped for conversion.

"The history of Procurement generally in the MOD has been one of years of major delays and cost overruns. This has had a baleful effect on In-Service Support and safety and airworthiness generally.

"Poor Procurement practices have helped create ‘bow waves’ of deferred financial problems, the knock-on effects of which have been visited on In-Service Support, with concomitant change, confusion, dilution, and distraction as occurred in the post-Strategic Defence Review period..."

He's not wrong!

Khan to suffer Pilgrimage of Grimace

It's good to see that egalitarian principles thrive and prosper in the Department for Transport.

Whilst the ermine clad Noble Lord luxuriated on the cushions during his Pilgrimage of Grice, it appears that his junior must slum it on the omnibus.

This via Twitter...

@transportgovuk: Suggestions invited for Sadiq Khan’s mystery traveller bus tour

Eye suggests that Sadiq sends his boss!

Amendments to the Rule Book published

Eye has received the following Rule Book amendments from Our man in the 4 Foot.

Please ensure that you are fully conversant with them prior to booking on/giving up the will to live.

RuleBook
XS01

Elf 'n' Safety - committed to making even the simplest task nigh on impossible to perform.

Lookalike - About us the waifs

Fowl play?

WTF?

1

28/10/2009 09:39

2D08 reported an ostrich on the track between Ufford and Wickham Mkt. 1D03 confirmed same near bridge 435. Ips MOM attended but nothing found, NWR from 0935.

xxxxxx

NR

And before you ask...

No, it wasn't an emu!

Sparks porn

This also from NR's RUS press release today...

• 50% cheaper to run electric trains over diesel equivalents

• 33% cheaper to maintain

• Electric trains are 90% more reliable (21k miles per break-down compared to 11k on average for diesels)

• Electrification can pay for itself with cost savings outweighing the up-front investment

• Up to 30% less CO2

Just thought you might like to know...

UPDATE: This just in from Roger Ford...

According to Network Rail's fighting pro-electrification press release electric trains are 90% more reliable than diesel.

So what has happened to Captain Deltic's provocative champagne challenge for the first IC125 diesel fleet to get above the Class 390 electric Pendolinos in the Golden Spanners rankings?

UPDATE: This from a less than convinced Mr Saltaire...

The current lobbying for electrification by Network Rail could, in the eyes of a cynic, be seen as a supplier that is in a dominant position seeking to cement the market’s dependence upon it.

The railway is a system of which the train is a part.

A recent written answer to a parliamentary question highlighted the fact that train cancellations on electrified routes far outweigh those on diesel routes.

When assessing the reliability of diesel trains vs electric trains, this major factor should be taken into account.

Also, the railway’s ability to promote its green credentials by electrification is heavily dependent upon electricity generators producing green energy.

The UK’s electricity is set to become LESS green over the next twenty years, as older nuclear power stations are shut down, without replacements having been built and brought on stream.

Ironically, it would appear that the UK’s only potential method of maintaining the current proportion of green electricity for the foreseeable future would be to import more electricity via under sea cables from France, where they appear to have got their act together!

NR calls for electrification to Sheffield

Wise words from Network Rail...

Network Rail’s chief executive Iain Coucher said: “Passengers would see enormous benefits from further electrification with faster, quieter, smoother, greener journeys.

"The case for the Midland Main Line is extremely strong. Affordability and bringing down the cost of such projects are key if they're to get the green-light."

Of course were the Midland Main Line to be electrified sooner rather than later the IEP might even start to make sense...

UPDATE: This just in from Chris Milner via Faceache...

Nice to see the dunces at the back of the class have finally woken up.

Add Sheffield to Doncaster and Derby to Proof house jct and you have a decent electrified network.

UPDATE: This just in from Peter Mark Roget...

Sir - Can I point out that the conjunction of 'IEP' and 'Making sense' is an oxymoron

UPDATE: This just in from the Raver...

So the government says it wants two lines to be electrified but rules out Sheffield for the time being as too expensive, then Network rail presses for it, claiming the idea for the first two was all its own, when, in fact, John Armitt was adamantly opposed to electrification of the Great Western, using environmental arguments as well as cost.

NR seems to have a way of winding up the government which does not bode well for its long term future.

Bombardier puts monkeys in front of typewriters

Exciting news from Bombardier!

As the recession bites the rolling stock manufacturer is now getting passengers to design their own trains!

According to the HYVE Innovation Community in Munich...

We, the HYVE Innovation Community in collaboration with Bombardier Transportation, are hosting the “YouRail – Visions of modern transportation” - online design competition.

The contest which runs from 26th October to mid-December is all about visionary designs that help create a unique new interior of a future train and that satisfy the special needs of different types of passengers (e.g. leisure or business).

A highlight is an online configurator by which users can develop their custom-made train seat in 3-D.

The monetary prizes and gifts for the winners and most active participants amount to a total in excess of 10,000 Euros with the winning design being presented at InnoTrans 2010.

Eye hopes lots of readers will want to help Bombardier reduce costs design their own trains.

And don't worry if you know absolutely nothing about rolling stock design.

Nor does DafT but it specified the IEP - the contract for which still hasn't been signed...

UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic...

If Ian Walmsley finds out about this the web site will probably crash.

But perhaps they have filters to prevent people designing subversive seats that people might enjoy sitting in?

Ben Fisher RIP

This obituary from the Grauniad...

Ben Fisher, who has died unexpectedly aged 45, was an inspiring teacher of French at Bangor University and the creator of one of the most visited railway websites in the world, the Welsh Highland Railway Project.

Visit Ben's website here.

UPDATE: This from Bushy...

Eye readers may be interested to know that there is a memorial service for Ben in Powis Hall, Bangor at 18:00 on Monday 23 November.

Golden Whistle Awards launched

Modern Railways is to celebrate best railway operating practice with Golden Whistle Awards.

More details at the MR website.

About time too!

UPDATE: This, surprisingly enough, from the late Mr Churchward...

Is someone having a larf?

The GW Awards?

Involving a whistle!

"Sir, we do not blow whistles at people from Newbury."

On whose say so?

No, no, no, no, no!

EU representatives have said that if Mr Blair became President of the EU Council he would expect to travel in a cavalcade and all local traffic to be halted when he made a 'state visit' to member countries.

And when, pray, did we get a say in any of this?

Pointless signs - St Andrew's Road

Southern unveils... Captain Permatan

This exciting news from Southern...

The Marketing team have been working with a top advertising agency (sic), who are responsible for the ‘118’ and ‘Compare the Meerkat – Compare the Market’ television adverts.

Our campaign will feature a brand new Southern character ‘Captain Permatan’, a Mexican wrestler who is passionate about trains…(is this right? Ed)


Perhaps Captain Permatan's first task should be to try and rescue doomed sister franchise London Midland?

WSMR doomed?

This from Railnews...

WSMR Managing director Andy Hamilton said: ‘Considering the current revenue position of Wrexham & Shropshire and the pressure put on the business by the current economic climate, I can confirm that if the ATW 38th Supplemental Agreement is approved it is very likely that DB Regio UK will cease funding and it is likely that Wrexham & Shropshire will immediately withdraw from the market.'

Perhaps time to recall the wise words of Beardie himself, after Virgin waved the white flag and withdrew its own plans to serve stations along the WSMR route earlier this year:

In return, I think that the people of Shrewsbury should now receive firm assurances from DB and W&S that they will continue to run this service for years to come.

Perhaps just as well such assurances were never made...

UPDATE: This just in from Scotch Corner...

According to the Railnews story the person leading ATW's London service bid is one Mike Bagshaw.

Could this be the same Mike Bagshaw who was previously Commercial Director at Chiltern?

Strange but true!

2009 Railway Garden Competition - Malaysia

This just in from Paul Bigland....

I'm back in the UK now and thought you'd like these images for the international railways gardens.

They were taken in Malaysia on what is known as the 'jungle' railway. The first shot is at Gemas.

The second much further up North near Kuala Perlis, where the chaps are indulging in a bit of jungle clearance with petrol powered strimmers.


Enjoy!

Specialists prove pope catholic - shocker!

This from the department of the bleedin' obvious and posted round various depots...

SPECIAL NOTICE

Seasonal Weather Warning

Advance reports from Network Rail weather specialists indicate that the Southern region may experience more adverse autumnal conditions during the coming few days.

To remind you, this may lead to the trees shedding their leaves and you experiencing low rail adhesion conditions.

No shit Sherlock!