So farewell former Transport Ministers Chris Mole (Ipswich) and Paul Clark (Gillingham) who both lost their seats.
Minister of State Sadiq Khan was returned as the Member of Parliament for Tooting.
And the unelected peer and Secretary of State for Transport also retains his House of Lords seat... for life.
The Fact Compiler is now £250 short.
And Wolmar is now £250 richer.
Thanks Dave!
UPDATE: This from The Master...
Look on the bright side, you'll probably get a chance to win it back in October....
This with a bowler tip to Channel 4 News... 23:15 Houghton and Sunderland South 00:30 Birmingham Edgbaston 01:00 Battersea 01:00 Torbay 01:12 Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath 01:50-02:00Thurrock, Batley & Spen and Carlisle 02:00 Rochdale 02:00 Norwich South 02:00 Guildford 02:13 Burnley 02:15 Sheffield Hallam 02:30 Kingswood 03:00 Morley and Outwood 03:00 Glasgow North 03:00 Luton South 03:06 Chorley 03:20 West Dorset 03:30 Brighton Pavillion 03:34 Witney 04:00 Edinburgh South West 04:00 Barking 04:00 Islington South 04:39 Romsey and Southampton North 04:45 Poplar and Limehouse 05:00 Redditch 05:30 Hammersmith Friday morning 14:30 Buckingham 15:00 Morecombe & Lonsdale
22:00 ITV News, BBC and Sky report the result of the exit polls. Traditionally a strong indicator of the results, the margin for error could be even greater this year.
Expected to be the first constituency to report, trying to beat the fastest count set in 2005.
The first key Labour/Conservative marginal expected to declare. The Tories need a 2 per cent swing.
Another key Conservative target, with the party needing a swing of just 0.5 per cent in this Labour marginal.
Lib Dem marginal. The Conservative party is looking for a 3 per cent swing to win back the seat lost in 1997.
Gordon Brown's constituency, this is a safe Labour seat with a 43.6 per cent majority over the SNP.
Three Labour seats to watch as the Tories battle for a 6-7 per cent swing in votes.
A Lib Dem seat targeted by Labour, now infamous for 'bigotgate'.
The Lib Dems would need a small swing to win this Labour seat, which also has a good strong from the Greens.
A Conservative seat under fire from the Lib Dems, which could nail it with a small swing.
Labour currently hold a near-on 15 per cent majority here, but if a fall to Lib Dems would indicate huge gains for the latter – and a hung parliament for the country.
Nick Clegg's constituency.
The Tories benchmark target, the fall of this Labour seat near Bristol would suggest a Conservative majority.
Ed Balls' constituency, David Cameron himself campaigned at this Labour seat to rally voters. The Tories need a 10 per cent swing.
One to watch as a gauge of Lib Dem performance – they would need a 6 per cent swing to swipe this seat from Labour.
A bellwether for the overall victor, since 1951 the winning party has triumphed here. A win here – where Esther Rantzen is running for the Independents - would signal a Tory majority of 50.
A Labour seat targeted by the Tories, who would need an 8 per cent swing. Who ever has won this seat has won the election since 1964.
Oliver Letwin could lose this Tory seat to the Lib Dems with a swing of just 2.3 per cent.
The Green Party's best chance of securing their first Westminster seat.
The Tory leader's constituency, David Cameron holds a 26.8 per cent majority over the Lib Dems.
Chancellor Alistair Darling’s seat, a fall to the Conservatives would be unlikely in Scotland and would need a swing of 8 per cent.
Targetted by the BNP, Nick Griffin is hoping to secure the party's first seat from Labour's Margaret Hodge.
An inner London seat currently held by Labour, but targeted by the Lib Dems.
The Lib Dems currently hold a majority of just 125 over the Tories.
Labour seat being targetted by Respect's George Galloway, who would need a swing of 11 per cent. Housing Canary Wharf and the Docklands, it has also been targeted by the Tories.
Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is fighting to keep her seat. The Tories would need a swing of 2.6 per cent to win.
A Tory win over Labour here would show the party is on track to reach Downing Street.
A further 39 constituencies will declare results by 5pm.
Speaker John Bercow faces a challenge by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
The Conservatives need a 5.9 per cent swing to win.
This from Fiona Gail....
This glorious scene taken at Waterloo today.
Is Network Rail perhaps planning to enter the station into this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show?
Alternatively is this Coucher-code for who should be in 10 Downing Street tomorrow?
The Fact Compiler is a great fan of Tom Harris.
Whilst not sharing his politics the Fact Compiler believes Tom to be a friend to the railways and boy do we need them!
More importantly he also voted against the evil and pernicious smoking ban (don't get me started).
With the above in mind Eye is happy to find space for Tom's "Prime Ministerial" (in the words of Iain Dale) election podcast.
Nice!
Good luck in Glasgow South today Tom.
UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic....
There is only one weak point in Tom's masterly broadcast.
The choice of subject to illustrate transport.
Eye followers might like to brighten up the wait for the end of polling by suggesting more apposite examples in the same light-hearted spirit?.
To get things going I would suggest a Saunders Roe Princess or Bristol Brabazon in the air as a forerunner of IEP (planes specified by civil servants).
Or since we really should have a railway subject, how about the Bulleid Leader?
UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...
No brainer!
For the non-kettle heads it's an Austerity...
In a move that looks destined to break the Noble Lord's heart it appears that his bezzie mate Wolmar has succumbed to Cleggstacy!
Perhaps not quite in the same league as the Tories buying Facebook for the day...
UPDATE: This from Wolmar...
Is the Fact Compiler getting nervous about our wager on an absolute Tory majority?
I think we should be told!
Meanwhile the ads on my site do not reflect my editorial policy!!
With a bowler tip to @AMonkster, via Twitter.
Telegrammed by Haruspex
Having examined the entrails Eye's political forecaster makes the following predictions:
Conservative victory
Plainly planning inspectors know nothing about the railways.
This prejudiced view from The Royston Weekly News...
A planning inspector told a public inquiry into Royston’s proposed £3.7 million railway underpass that he would need “some convincing” to approve the scheme that would halve some residents’ gardens.
Had the aforementioned planning inspector spent anytime reading Eye he would know that Railway Gardens are an industry speciality.
It is, of course, none of Eye's damned business who you vote for.
However, with past and present sacrifices in mind, Eye respectfully suggests that all readers should consider exercising their right to vote tomorrow.
'Nuff said.
UPDATE: Nigel Harris over at RAIL makes the same plea.
Despite the recession there is one sector of the economy that is destined to grow and grow.
There must now be legions of experienced railway people employed by publications across the land to render into sense ATOCs wonderfully optimistic press releases.
This tosh from the Bernard Street bunker today:
- Virgin Trains is today adding extra carriages to a number of services from Birmingham to Scotland and an additional train from Preston to Glasgow. The extra carriages are the equivalent of around 1,400 additional seats.
Hmm... adding extra carriages to fixed length nine car Pendolinos has defeated even The Thin Controller - and he had (past tense) millions to throw at the problem.
Fortunately Railnews has been able to decipher the latest ATOCballs:
Virgin Trains has added some 1,400 seats by strengthening several services between Birmingham and Scotland and provided an additional train from Preston to Glasgow.
So hurrah for ATOC - never letting the facts get in the way of a good story.
UPDATE: This from Virgin's Press Office...
ATOC is right we did add extra carriages to the service.
We didn’t say we added carriages into a Pendolino but by joining two Super Voyagers to form a longer train than usual, we added carriages and, more importantly, much needed extra seats to the service to help stranded air passengers get home.
Eye stands corrected!
UPDATE: This from a Mr Reginald Slicker...
It ill behoves the Fact Compiler (sic) to criticise the one organisation in the railway which champions the excellent service provided by the franchised operators.
To repeat a phrase oft used in this blog, as any fule kno Birmingham - Scotland services are provided by Voyagers, noted for their fragrance, silky smooth ride & restful ambience, so it is a simple matter to 'add carriages' by coupling two or even three units in multiple.
Even though railway snobs may call it 'strengthening'.
More power to ATOC's elbow, say I.
I remain, sir,
Yr Obt Svt
R. Slicker
UPDATE: This from Fiona Gail...
Good to see the boys at Virgin defending their trade association. and great to see that the ATOC comms team's rail knowledge is almost good as their political vision, which suggested that the Tories where a sure banker for government.
Of course their political knowledge may prove to be better then their rail knowledge but me thinks not...
This from Modern Railways...
O'Toole and Franks leave National Express Group.
Eye hopes that hasn't spoilt yesterday's Brain Teaser.
Telegrammed by Leo Pink
According to Wikipedia...
Adonis (we presume they mean our transport secretary) "is a central cult figure in various mystery religions".
Sounds about right.
The First Church of the Live Catenary, Community Rail, The Blessed Congregation of the Elevated Velocity, not to mention the Cult of the TramTrain.
Noble Lord we believe, help thou our unbelief.
Telegrammed by our International Correspondent
What has happened to Rail Champions?
Set up by the fragrant "BBC Legend" Maggie Philbin, with help from Messrs Marshall and Harris of Railnews fame, Rail Champions claims to be a business that is:
"dedicated to strengthening your company's brand. We provide creative solutions to your advertising and marketing challenges, increasing your company's presence in the UK Rail Sector."
Alas.
You won't be able to find out about them on anything as fancy-dan as the internet, because their website is suffering from Error 404 syndrome.
But if you use the Google cached facility you can still find it... just.
No wonder their portfolio of renowned clients is password protected.
Mary, Nicola and Ray start out on a journey.
Mary takes both the train and the bus.
Nicola chooses the coach.
And Ray prefers to walk.
So what is the price of fish?
Mr Khan reports on #bigotsgate and the economy...
Please BBC include a slot for Mr Khan on Thursday night.
This is the country's busiest junction...
And on Monday it looked like Dingly Dell.
Please could someone at NR get a grip on vegetation control?
UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...
It must be Dingly Dell.
Isn't that Mr Blobby in the background?
This from Crossed Lines...
More Arriva Cross Country fares madness after the 23rd May.
Having taken a right royal kicking for the UK's first £1k+ rail fare which no one bought (No shit Sherlock. Ed) it would appear that Arriva Cross Country have retreated into the bunker.
The latest fares manual reveals that they have capped all First class Open Returns at £640!.
A few examples…
This from Pastor Redwonn...
What a splendid opening last Tuesday of the new East London line.
But just how quickly did operator London Overground record its first SPAD on the new railway?
Five minutes?
Five hours?
Five days?
Perhaps we should be told?
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