Command Paper celebrates the markets!

This from Captain Deltic...

I note from section 4.67 of the Command Paper that:

Our preference would be that, building on the Competition Commission decisions and this work, operators and ROSCOs drive better value through a market-based approach.

So the ROSCOs are being encouraged to adopt market led pricing.

As in letting rolling stock fleets, which are in short supply, to the TOC offering the highest lease rental? (Probably not what DfT had in mind! Ed)

Railway Garden Competition - Tottenham Hale

Perhaps Clog Rail, with their home-grown expertise in water management, can do a little better than the previous franchisee?

NR turns to Ford... again for new Chairman

This from Stockmarketwire.com...

Professor Richard Parry-Jones is to be the next chairman of Network Rail.

It is his intention to appoint a non executive public interest director to its Board and implement a series of changes to its membership structure designed to better hold the Board to account.

Another former Ford man at the helm, following in the steps of Ian McAllister (hopefully his after dinner anecdotes won't be as dull! Ed)

ITSO in disarray as CEO departs

Good to see that the government's plans for smartcards are going well.

According to Modern Railways...

Michael Leach has left the smartcard organisation ITSO, where he was Chief Executive Officer.

And last night Captain Deltic tweeted...

ITSO CEO has resigned today and left with immediate effect.

Perfect timing!

What with today's Command Paper expected to focus on the benefits of ITSO and smart ticketing.

Manuel Cortes fires up the Quattro

Oh dear.

This from the leader of the TSSA today:

Manuel Cortes said: "If the local booking office goes, then the station itself will not be far behind it. Justine Greening must reject the siren voices of the train operating companies which want the freedom to close one in four of all booking offices.

"This will amount to a mini Beeching with hundreds of stations in rural areas facing the threat of long term closures altogether.

" An unmanned station is a less safe station, particularly for the elderly and young women travelling alone at night.

Unmanned?

Unmanned!

The politically correct term is 'unstaffed'!!

Shame on you Manuel, the sisterhood will be having your guts for garters!!! (shurely shome mishtake? Ed)

UPDATE: This from a Mr Le Carry...

Manuel?

Shurely Personuel?

Exciting new Eye avian competition launched

Time for an exciting new Eye competition!

Please study these two statements contained in recent press releases from the RMT and Labour tranport team:

The RMT said: "The idea of “deep alliances”, as a forerunner to infra-structure privatisation, is already being piloted on a joint operation on South West Trains and has long been demanded by the train operators as a way of seizing complete control and maximizing profits. In addition to a series of failed “mini-Railtracks” across the country, RMT also expects the Command Paper to confirm a series of other damaging and potentially lethal proposals (cont p94)..."

Maria the Eagle said: "Even though Ministers have run away from fronting up these policy changes, we now know the government's intentions for the railway and they are deeply worrying. In future, as a result of so-called deep alliances, a single regional manager will for the first time be accountable not just to Network Rail, but equally to private train company bosses. The creation of a set of mini-Railtracks will take us back to the days when decisions on infrastructure and maintenance were profit-driven."

Now using your skill and judgement see if you can guess what three word phrase is hidden in the picture below:


Do you know what it is yet?

Pointless signs - CrossCountry Voyager

DfT flounders for answers to railway reform

In advance of Friday's industry briefing on rail reform, government spinners have been hard at work.

In the FT today the Department unveiled its latest BIG idea...

Passenger trains along Cumbria's coast would be run by the state-owned body responsible for taking apart and cleaning up waste from civil nuclear plants under an offer made in response to government plans to overhaul rail policy.

Direct Rail Services, a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority that operates freight trains, has held talks with Cumbria county council on taking over the running of passenger services on the coastal branch line between Carnforth and Carlisle.

So let's get this straight.

The solution to the problems of the rail industry is to errr.... get a nationalised company to run the trains!

Well at least this one's British, but for how long?

ORR gives regulatory thumbs up to Alliances

This from the Office of Rail Regulation...

We support the concept of alliances and welcome their potential to add value in the rail sector, delivering benefits not only for the parties involved but also for rail users and taxpayers. We will help prospective alliance partners develop their plans and we welcome discussions - the earlier we are involved in these the better we will be able to help.

That is all, although My Learned Friends will no doubt wish to pour expensively (shurely, 'exhaustively'? Ed) over the details here.

UPDATE: This from another satisfied reader...

Not for the first time do I have to correct the illiterate content of this so-called blog.

In a blatant and ill-informed attacked on the legal profession, a fine body of men and women who are all that stands between the privatised rail industry and anarchy, you refer to them pouring - presumably a snide reference to the consumption of alcohol.

In my experience they spend long hours into the night poring over legal documents to ensure that the railway runs smoothly.

I remain your etc...
R.Slicker

It's a fair cop!

Man travels entire FGW network - by choice!

This from Inspector Blakey...

Would you mind giving a plug to my friend Ollie's charity fundraising tour of the FGW network?


He's aiming to cover the entire system this week whilst raising funds for Save the Children and CHICKS.

If anyone feels able to support this worthy endeavour details can be found here.

Mad but good effort.

Villiers vignettes - Rolling stock procurement

This from Cruella...

Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2011, Official Report, column 1021W, on rolling stock, how much her Department will spend on new passenger rolling stock in each year of the current spending review; and to which franchises such rolling stock will be deployed.

Theresa Villiers (Minister of State)
holding answer 1 March 2012 - The Government do not directly invest in rolling stock. This is a matter for the train leasing companies.

Splutter!!!

Eurostar causes Catwalk Catastophe

Big disruption to Eurostar services following yesterday's OHLE problems in France.

Judging by media coverage the only people affected were numerous Luvvies returning from the Paris Fashion Show (Yawn! Ed).

Prize for the top headline goes to Malta Today...

Eurostar delay angers fashionistas

From comments on Facebook and Twitter, leading models, designers and fashion label faces, talked about the distress caused by the delay.


Where is Derek Zoolander when you need him?

Command Paper to be published Friday?

According to today's lobby briefing...

Justine Greening will publish the Government response to the Sir Roy McNulty report on Friday.

So now you know...

UPDATE: This from one or two others...

No, the Command Paper will be published on Thursday! (You pays your money you takes your choice... Ed.)

BTP now armed at major stations

Sad to say police officers with firearms are now set to become the norm at major stations.

As pictured at St Pancras on Friday...


Eye shares the concern of others, including the World's Greatest Living Transport Correspondent, about this development which does little to reassure and serves only to create a climate of intimidation and fear.

Although, to be fair, this particular BTP officer was charm itself, despite his clutching a device with the power to make quite a hole in one's diary...

UPDATE: This from the Archer...

I assume the officer in question was on riot patrol...

What with the soi disant 'veteran observer' and others making an emotional return to Derby post the IMechE Luncheon.

Man fails to put kettle on - keeps job

Exciting news from the National Railway Museum!

According to the Yorkshire Post...

THE director of the National Railway Museum in York has confirmed he will stay in his job despite previously saying he would “fall on his sword” if the troubled restoration of the Flying Scotsman was not completed in time for a high-profile event next month.

Mr Davies announced this week that the Flying Scotsman would not be available for a major event at Barrow Hill in North Derbyshire, which would have seen the locomotive on show alongside the Mallard, Blue Peter, and the recently-constructed Tornado, even though tickets have already been sold.

Quite so.

Whoever heard of a Civil Servant actually resigning over anything?

No matter.

In happier news, Eye's International Correspondent has commissioned a Limited Edition Flying Scotsman model from Hornmann Models.

He assures collectors that it is utterly faithful to the preserved loco in as-seen condition.

Pointless signs - Battle

As nice an example of meaningless Newspeak as you are likely to see.


Anything wrong with the good old fashioned - Out of Order?

Railway Garden - Saltash Bridge

Welcome to the 2012 Railway Garden competition!


Good to see that Isambard's bridge is getting a lick of paint.


Perhaps between brush strokes someone could get the garden loppers out?

Pointless signs - Abroad

This from Snapper, out East somewhere...

I thought Eye readers might enjoy this picture from Asia.


Judging by the placement of this disabled sticker I reckon it's worth having a punt on the Thai team in this years Paralympics.

Pointless signs - Parson Street

This from a Mr Ethridge...

This pointless sign was photographed at Parson Street station a few days ago.


I feel the "For further information please call..." is a particularly nice touch to a sign with no actual content.

Pointless signs - East Coast

This from His & Mine...

Lavatory door of East Coast HST vehicle 41044 taken today.


The loo is working fine.