This from Isambard II...
I’m sure many of your sharp-eyed correspondents will have pointed out the header tucked away on page nine of yesterday’s Independent.
"Tory outcry set to divert high-speed rail line"
The story was credited to the splendidly named Andrew Grice, the Indie's Political Editor.
Perhaps Eye readers can draw attention to other rail related stories with appropriate bylines?
A week after NR started advertising for a new Chairman the first candidate has had his hat thrown into the ring!
This from yesterday's Independent on Sunday...
Keith Ludeman, the former boss of train and bus operator Go-Ahead, has emerged as an early contender for the chairman role at Network Rail...
Mr Ludeman has emerged as a leading internal candidate, having become a non-executive director at Network Rail after retiring from Go-Ahead in July. An internal appointment would follow recent form – Sir David Higgins having been plucked from the non-executive board to become chief executive in February.
But what's this?
Just two month's ago NR's current Chairman, Rick Haythornthwaite, said:
"We know that many of the public view the leadership of the industry with confusion, suspicion or disdain. They don't trust us and therefore are resistant to changes we want to make."
Good to see that this small perceptual obstacle has been so quickly overcome.
Virgin has been busy surveying passengers on the West Coast Main Line.
But what was the redacted question?
Answers on an email please to the usual address...
UPDATE: This from the Archer...
Given that Q22 above is in relation to Value for Money, might I suggest that Q23 started:
‘If you scored 4 or above for Q22...’
Q23 was then removed from the latest version of the survey given that no-one in the history of the franchise had ever been able to honestly answer it.
This from Bombardier...
Bombardier appoints new non-executive Chairman and Chief Country Representative
Bombardier Transportation today announced a number of changes to its senior leadership in the UK.
Sir Neville Simms, FREng has been appointed Non-Executive Chairman, Bombardier Transportation UK Limited with immediate effect.
Sir Neville is currently Deputy Chairman of International Power plc and Chairman of the Building Research Establishment Trust. He was previously Chairman of International Power for 10 years, until the merger of the group with the international power generation assets of GDF Suez early in 2011. Until 2005 he was Chairman of business services group Carillion plc, after the demerger of the company from Tarmac plc, where he was Group CEO for eight years. He has chaired a number of construction industry bodies and the Regional Leadership Teams for Business in the Community in the West Midlands and the Solent Region of the UK. He was a founder member of the UK Government’s Private Finance Panel, Chairman of the Government’s Sustainable Procurement Task Force, Deputy Chairman of Ashridge, the management college, a member of the President’s Committee of the CBI and served for seven years as a Non-Executive Director at the Bank of England.
Paul Roberts has been promoted to Chief Country Representative and President of Bombardier Transportation, Services UK and Passenger Fleet Management Service Line.
Paul joined Bombardier in 2009 as Vice President, Services UK. In his time with the organization he has successfully introduced a number of important performance improvements.
Colin Walton, currently Chairman and Chief Country Representative, Bombardier Transportation UK Limited, will retire in February 2012.
Colin Walton joined Bombardier in 1991, as Director of New Projects and was responsible for its newly acquired Prorail division, turning it into a key player in the British market. From 1992 to 1997, he was actively engaged in vetting potential acquisitions on behalf of Bombardier in the UK. He was named UK Chairman and Chief Country Representative for Bombardier Transportation UK in 2002.
André Navarri, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Transportation said:
“I would like to thank Colin Walton for his significant efforts on behalf of Bombardier and to express our appreciation for his unwavering dedication and commitment to Bombardier Transportation over the past 20 years. We wish him well in his retirement.”
“I am delighted to welcome Sir Neville Simms as Chairman for Bombardier Transportation UK and to congratulate Paul Roberts on his new role as Chief Country Representative. Sir Neville brings a wealth of experience to our company and Bombardier looks forward to benefitting from his leadership and expertise as we move our business ahead. Paul has already been very successful in growing our Services business. In this additional role, he will work together with Sir Neville and all our divisions operating in the UK to develop a new strategy for growth.”
- ENDS -
Oh dear!
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
This from Rail.co...
Should someone tell them that Select Committees are there to hold the Government to account?
UPDATE: This from Gricer Queen...
It's also nice to see that HS2 will have none of that untidy electric knitting.
Diseasels all the way!
UPDATE: This, dementedly, from McIvatt, Thane of Pride...
Is this a loco which I see before me,
The cab toward my hand? Come, let me lease thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To traction as to sight? or art thou but
A loco of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the IEP-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.
Enough Dead Poets. Ed.
Clue: it is sandwiched between the telephone box, poster board and the help-point to which it seeks to draw attention.
Exciting times for North British travellers!
Transport Scotland today launched a consultation on whether or not to ban booze on trains, turn back Anglo Scottish services at Edinburgh and kill, or flog, off the Deer Stalker Express.
In happier news ScotRail has acquired a new Commercial Director.
This from The Drum...
Newsquest Herald & Evening Times sales boss Sean Duffy is to leave the publisher to become commercial director of First Rail.
It is understood that Duffy, who joined the Glasgow operation of Newsquest in September 2010, is expected to take up his new role early next year, where, he will oversee all advertising and sales contracts throughout First Rail.
From frying pan to fire?
UPDATE: This from our man at 222 Marylebone Road...
It was the Green of McGreen who started extending InterCity services north of Edinburgh.
This, surprisingly, from the late William Butler Yeats...
Suffering from writer's block I was idly surfing the web and came across your website.
Reading about the uncertainty in the Department for Transport.
Immediately some lines sprang to mind,
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the railway".
With inspiration restored I hope to work this up into a new poem.
I think i shall call it ''McNulty delayed" in honour of a fine Irishman...
Sigh!
This from Earl Attlee...
My Honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport (Justine Greening) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
Our railways are currently the most expensive in Europe. That is something we can and must tackle. The recent review by Sir Roy McNulty found scope to cut rail costs by 30 per cent - up to £1bn a year. My department is committed to working with the rail industry to develop a strategy to deliver a better value railway for the benefit of passengers, taxpayers and the wider economy.
In furtherance of that strategy, my Department has undertaken to develop and publish detailed proposals on delivering a sustainable railway including reform of Network Rail. I am today announcing my intention to publish a Command Paper that sets out those proposals early next year.
It will allow time for greater consideration of other issues central to the question of rail reform. This will also allow the Command Paper to properly reflect the consequences of my decision following our consultation on a national high speed rail network.
As part of the development of a comprehensive strategy for rail, and alongside the Command Paper, I also plan to consult on the scope to devolve responsibility for some rail passenger services in parts of England to sub-national bodies, and on issues relating to the review of fares and ticketing announced in May. In addition, the ORR expects to consult later this year on possible changes to its role, particularly in respect of future franchises.
Is it not paradoxical that the department of state tasked with ensuring that the trains run on time cannot itself meet any of its own timetables?
This from the Transport Salaried Staff's Association...
TSSA's next General Secretary will be Manuel Cortes, the current Assistant General Secretary
TSSA's independent scrutineers met today and confirmed that following those close of nominations yesterday (14/11/11) there was one successfully nominated candidate for the position of General Secretary.
Manuel Cortes will therefore begin a five year term as General Secretary with immediate effect.
- ENDS -
This from Sir Roderick Orr-Watt...
I was delighted to see in this morning's FT that young Osborne has listened to the concerns of the Treasury Select Committee and the National Audit Office and is launching a 'fundamental review' of the way public projects are funded .
I can only concur with the view of Jesse Norman, a member of the Select committee, who told the FT: 'This is the end of PFI as we know it'.
With the financiers of the Thameslink rolling stock deal demanding high returns for the funding package one can only hope that Osborne will place Thameslink fleet procurement on immediate hold, as well as that for the even more expensive Intercity Express Programme. That is, if Justine Greening, who I mentored during her MBA at the London Business School and who is bringing a welcome breath of Yorkshire common sense to Marsham Street, doesn't do it off her own bat.
As a non-executive director of Angerholt Leasing I am confident that all the rolling stock companies are ready, willing and able to to provide the private funding and take on the risk through conventional operating leases, which have served the rolling stock market so well since privatisation.
Meanwhile, my colleagues and I will of course respond graciously when the new Transport Secretary initiates the long overdue rapprochement with the Roscos.
UPDATE: This from Leo Pink...
Is Eye's contributor above the same as 'Bonkers' Orr-Watt, who as a young finance whiz was responsible for the 'Bidwatch' section in Modern Railways during the early days of passenger rail franchising?
If so, I am not surprised to see that he has subsequently flourished since he brought a refreshingly unstuffy and lightly worn expertise to the interminable pages of Informed Sources.
UPDATE: This from a Mr Tony Miles...
Oh dear.
This won't please politicos in the North West awaiting the wiring of the Manchester - Liverpool route. As they are already due to wait at least 2 years after the wires go live for cascaded rolling stock, a further delay on releasing exThameslink trains will have them up in arms.
Of course an initial fleet of 9 x 4-car Class 317/7 sets is due to become available in February 2012, released by Abellio Greater Anglia. Once these have been put through a heavy overhaul to make them PRM-TSI compliant they will be ready to start work in 2014 for Northern Rail.
As that franchise is 50% owned by Abellio does that mean the Cloggies have already developed their own Rolling Stock Strategy?
This from the late Bruce Lee...
On Sunday afternoon, whilst watching the Lord Reith-inspired hard hitting documentary series 'Fat Families' on Sky Living channel, I couldn’t help noting the resemblance between Dimleby heir-apparent Steve Miller and the newly-enthroned David Horne at EMT
Is there a family connection and will EMT passengers be enjoying calorie-saving snackettes as a result?
This from the RMT...
RMT confirmed this morning that Bob Crow has been re-elected unopposed for a further five year term as General Secretary.
Bob Crow will begin his third five year term at the helm of the union in the New Year.
This from the Department for Transport...
Rail passengers and businesses are set to benefit as Rail Minister Theresa Villiers today pledges to crack down on unnecessary red tape.
Nearly 200 rail transport regulations have today been placed on the Red Tape Challenge website – a Government-wide site aimed at reducing bureaucracy. They will remain there for consultation for four weeks. The Challenge asks everyone whether they think that a regulation is well designed and provides vital protection or is badly designed, badly implemented or simply a bad idea.
Among the regulations that the Government is asking the public to comment on are the National Rail Conditions of Carriage – the terms and conditions passengers must adhere to when travelling on a train.
Other examples include the requirement for the Secretary of State to approve train operations on all sections of a line, the speed of those operations and a variety of other conditions for tramways and other minor railways including heritage operations.
The review also targets a number of arcane and obsolete regulations on the statute books that could run the risk of eroding public confidence in regulations. For example, there are regulations in force covering closures on railway lines which no longer exist and various exemption orders which have expired.
Theresa Villiers said:
“We want everyone - including passengers, businesses and volunteer groups - to get involved and help reduce the number of badly thought out and obsolete regulations in our country.
“The Red Tape Challenge is an ideal opportunity to consider innovative ways of delivering better rail services. We are already working on delivering less prescriptive rail franchises and taking forward reforms to help the rail industry to reduce costs.
“By reducing red tape, we can also free businesses to compete, create jobs and unleash a private sector-led recovery.”
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said:
"Since the Red Tape Challenge was launched in April, we have received more than 25,000 comments and proposals made by the public and businesses. Already this has resulted in plans for significant changes to legislation – we have looked at 378 pieces of regulation and announced plans to remove or simplify 220 of these.
"I look forward to seeing the results of the 200 rail transport regulations under the spotlight. This process can only result in a more efficient rail network, which will be good news for all rail users and growth in the wider economy."
Experienced ‘Sector Champions’ will provide expert knowledge on the issues faced by those on the shop floor during the Red Tape Challenge.
Graham Smith, Secretary of the Rail Delivery Group said:
“An expanding railway also has to be an efficient railway. The rail industry is tackling a range of initiatives that will increase efficiency and improve value for money for the passenger, freight shipper and taxpayer that will unlock further growth in rail use.
“Many of the barriers to that greater efficiency can be found in the bureaucracy, red tape and regulations that delay, or even prevent, improvements to Britain’s railways. Removing the bureaucracy, discarding the red tape and scrapping unnecessary regulations will help the rail industry to provide an even better service to its customers.”
David Morgan and Mark Smith of the Heritage Railway Association said:
"The Heritage Railway Association fully understands that regulation is as essential for us as for any sector of the industry. Our challenge will be to identify that which is appropriate for our operations and retain it whilst the inappropriate, unnecessary and redundant is dismantled."
The overall aim is to remove barriers to economic growth and increase individual freedoms. The presumption is that regulations will go, unless it can be justified why a regulation should be kept.
Hot on the heels of DB Arriva's take-over of Grand Central, this from the RMT...
RAIL UNION RMT revealed today that rail workers are being told to take German lessons as part of their training course for operating new track equipment...
Rail staff on a recent course in Kent were told that they had to learn a series of German phrases relating to instructions on track equipment. RMT says that it would be simpler and safer to get the equipment re-programmed with a translation into English rather than placing the responsibility to learn German on the workforce but the union believes it is all about money.
Phrases that form part of the course, and which workers are to be tested on include:
Kdo abgew AZGR ANFORD Grund BETRIEBLICH - Reset requested but not carried out due to section being clear
UARTFEHLER - Receiver / transmitter fault - corrupted data message
VERBINDUNGSAUSFALL - Connecting failure
We are all German now.
UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...
Or Spanish!
As according to The Times today the siesta monkeys at RENFE are sniffing around Go-Ahead.
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