Sumner's Olympian memo tells it like it is!

This from Hugh Sumner, Director Transport, ODA...

Dear staff,

The nation’s toughest task, your moment in the global spotlight, millions of smiling spectators.

You grasped the task with both hands and I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of you.

Some seven years ago Britain won the honour of hosting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The nation held its breath in excitement; for many, from the journalists to members of the International Olympic Committee, grave concern existed in our ability to hold such an important and significant world event. They said it couldn’t be done. You did it.

Together you’ve been at the heart of the most successful Games of the modern era. From Weymouth to Glasgow and from Cardiff to Hadleigh, you’ve served people from all over the world irrespective of who they are or where they come from.

You’ve done things better than they’ve ever been done before. Your customer service has been terrific and the spectators noticed and loved you for it; your attention to the operational detail has been excellent and it’s made a real difference. Your desire to work together and find the solutions that work for everyone has made the greatest challenges surmountable.

In all of it you lived the values of safety, service and fun. None of that happened through luck or by chance. You worked hard to get here and in your planning, building and preparations you set the foundations for success. Look back now on a glorious summer of operations and ask yourself: what have we done that’s made all this possible? Don’t wait to take hold of the things that have made you so successful, take hold of them now and put them into practice for your future life.

Walk tall, push your chest out a little further, you deserve to feel yourself fill with pride; carry this pride with you always. The greatest show on earth, our nation’s greatest peace time challenge: you have made it an unparalleled success. Take that pride with you and put it to work in everything you do: every one of you is the true legacy of London 2012.

All the best for the future, wherever it may be and whatever you may do.

Hugh

Hugh Sumner
Director of Transport, Olympic Delivery Authority

Good effort. That is all.

Virgin launches new route to Scotland

This from Virginia Water...

With DOR set to run both East Coast and West Coast InterCity franchises the state will have an effective monopoly over the London - Scotland rail market.  

Happily this will put them in an excellent position to compete with short haul air services, including, and in particular, the new flights to be operated between Scotland and Heathrow from next summer by Virgin Atlantic.

Judicial review anyone?

Bob Crow talks sense, for a fleeting moment

This from the RMT...

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today paid tribute to the thousands of public transport staff in London and beyond who have been central to the delivery of the successful Olympics and Paralympics which drew to a close last night.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“This has been a fantastic summer of sport for Britain and as well as the success in the medals tables we have also delivered on the biggest transport challenge that London has ever faced.

“The successful transportation of the millions of extra passenger journeys each day is a testament to the skill and dedication of the workforce and has been achieved through increasing staffing levels and through ensuring a proper recognition and reward for the extra pressure carried by the transport team over the past two months.

“The lesson that has been learnt is that where staff are given the opportunity and the resources, in a spirit of co-operation rather than confrontation, they can deliver gold-standard services that are the envy of the world."

So far so good and quite right too.

But what's this? 

After praising the spirit of 'co-operation' Crow Bar reverts to type:

“It would now be a travesty if TfL and the train operators were allowed to slide back to their old position of hacking away at jobs and standards in the drive for cuts and with the Games now successfully delivered RMT is demanding that there is no return to the bad old ways that undermined transport services prior to the Olympics and Paralympics.”

Eye congratulates Bob for being the first to "return to the bad old ways" that undermine transport services!

Tom Clift - funeral arrangements

The funeral of Tom Clift will be held at St Martin's church, Caerphilly at 13:15 on Monday 24th September.
 
The service will be followed by a private cremation for family and close friends only

All are welcome afterwards at Caerphilly Rugby Club.

Family flowers only please, donations to the Railway Mission.

Railway unbothy - Tamworth

This from Captain W E Johns...

This is one of two 'open plan' waiting rooms at Tamworth station. 

The old waiting rooms were scheduled for replacement last winter. 

Now, following weeks of inactivity, it looks like punters will be treated to the al fresco experience through the winter as the contractors are not to be seen. 

What has happened? I think that we should be told!

UPDATE: This from London Midland...

 
Just fancy that! 

Railway Garden Competition - Shipley

This from Barrett Homes...

Three from Shipley.

Here the entrance subway off Station Road

And here the former platform opposite the current platform 5.

And finally the station building.

Not so much a Railway Garden as a Railway Garden Centre?

Pointless signs - Cardiff Bay

This from a Dr Gloucester...

I thought Eye readers might like the following example of a multilingual pointless sign.

Note the cunning reference to a footbridge on one of the traditional "Passengers must not..." signs.

Not sure why the English line is worthy of a circumflex on the 'e' in "Passengers", however, that's not the real point of this entry.

The sign is located at the end of the platform at Cardiff Bay, which has but one platform (and no footbridge).

DfT prepares to activate DOR on West Coast

As Beardie and ToT gear up for this afternoon's barnstorming performance at the TSC, the DfT is turning up the heat on Virgin.

In yesterday's Sunday Times Karl West reported that Marsham Street is considering renationalising the InterCity West Coast franchise if there are delays to the start of the new franchise (due to commence on the 9th December).

A DfT spokesman said "In view of the legal challenge from Virgin Trains, we are looking at our responsibilities under Section 30 of the Railways Act and it is only prudent to increase our focus on contingency planning."

On the plus side, taking over the ICWC franchise for a short time this year will help Directly Operated Railways prepare for a longer custodianship in 2019. (Shurely shome mishtake? Ed)

Aslef asks for support for Charity run

This from Alan Moss, National Secretary, ASLEF/Virgin Trains Safety Advisory Committee... 

Could you please take a moment to pass the following Link round those you think may be interested, the auction is in Aid of the The Christie Hospital where the son of one of ASLEF members at Manchester was being treated before he sadly lost his battle a few weeks ago. 

There are a few unique items from Virgin Trains and BAE Systems.

They are all in conjunction with the Tractor Run from John o Groats to Lands End which starts in a week!!

Good effort and good luck to all involved! 

A request for Harrow and Wealdstone memories

This from London Reconnections...

Next month it will be the 60th anniversary of the Harrow and Wealdstone rail accident, Britain’s worst civilian rail disaster...

Harrow Council enquired as to whether we’d consider running a short appeal on London Reconnections to help them gather any memories readers, or their family members and friends, may have of the accident. We share Harrow Council’s belief that the disaster is a tragic and important event in the history of both London and the country at large, and one most definitely worth commemorating, so we happily agreed.

More details of what is being looked for here.

Railway Garden Competition - Slade Green 376

Railway Garden Competition - Wilmslow

Hammond back!

This from @Number10gov...

PM appoints Stephen Hammond as Parliamentary Under Secretary at Department for Transport.

Finally!

Rail brief please.

Tom Clift RIP - Passenger Champion

Eye was shocked to hear today that Tom Clift had passed away.

Tom recently described himself as follows:

Tom Clift has worked in the railway industry since 1972.

He has covered many roles including Operations, General Management, Business and Resources (including whilst MD of one company - being passed out as a Guard!).

Most recently Tom was MD of Open Access operator Grand Central, which he joined in August 2007, shortly before passenger services commenced. Before this he was MD of Valley Lines.

In 2011 Grand Central was judged by passengers to be Britain's most popular rail company (according to Passenger Focus).

At the beginning of 2012 Tom left Grand Central and is now advising rail companies facing similar challenges.

Tom is married, has a daughter and a Westie and lives in Caerphilly, South Wales.

Tom supports Sheffield United FC, Caerphilly and Wales Rugby teams.

He is misguided enough to own a former British Rail Class 26 diesel locomotive.
 
Many readers will remember Tom for his dry humour, enthusiasm, care for colleagues and attention to detail.
 
Residents of Great Minster House, Kemble Street, King's Place and Bernard Street will remember him for his tenacity!

Tom - Eye salutes you. 

Norman Baker still in post

At least plans for tram trains may have some continuity.

Bwahahahaha!

That is all.

Mostly missing minister replaced by Burns

The new Minister of State for Transport is Simon Burns.

Biog below from his website:

Simon was born in September 1952. He was educated at Christ the King School, Accra, Ghana; Stamford School, Stamford, Lincolnshire; and Worcester College, Oxford, where he obtained a BA Honours Degree in Modern History. He also has an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from Anglia University.

Simon's Experience
Simon was Member of Parliament for Chelmsford from June 1987 – April 1997, for West Chelmsford from May 1997 to April 2010, and elected Member of Parliament for Chelmsford in May 2010.

From 1975 to 1980 he was Political Adviser to the Rt. Hon. Sally Oppenheim MP. From 1980-83 he was a journalist and company director of What To Buy for Business magazine, and from 1983-87 was on the Policy Executive of the Institute of Directors.

He has been active in politics since 1970 when he was a founder member of the Rutland and Stamford Young Conservatives, and founder and Chairman of the Stamford School CPC.

In 1972 he worked for Senator George McGovern in his presidential election bid against Richard Nixon. In December 2007/January 2008 he spent 10 days working on Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign in the New Hampshire Primary. From 1973-75 he was a committee member, Political Action Officer and Secretary of Oxford University Conservative Association, and a member of the Oxford Union.

From 1977-81 he was Treasurer, Southfields Ward, and a member of the Treasurer's and Executive Council, Putney Conservative Association. In 1983 he was Conservative candidate in Alyn and Deeside (North Wales) when he reduced Labour's majority from 6,800 to 1,368. In 1986 he was Chairman, Avonmore Ward, Fulham Conservative Association.

Simon has been Parliamentary Private Secretary to Timothy Eggar MP, and the Rt. Hon. Gillian Shephard MP, at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food until July 1994. He has also been Assistant Government Whip (1994-1995), Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty's Treasury (1995-1996), & Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health (1996-7).

Simon Burns MP celebrating the resurfacing of Lady Lane following his successful lobby of Essex County Council - September 2009

In June 1997 he was appointed opposition Front Bench Spokesman for Social Security, a position he held until August 1998 when he was appointed Front Bench Spokesman for Environment, Housing and Planning, until June 1999. He was elected a member of the executive at the 1922 Committee in July 1999 and Treasurer of the 1922 Committee in November 1999. He was a member of the House of Commons Health Select Committee from 1999 – 2005.

In September 2001 Simon was appointed Shadow Health Minister and was reappointed to this position in May 2005. From December 2005 to May 2010, he was the Senior Whip in the Opposition Whip's Office and since May 2010, he has been Minister of State at the Department of Health. In January 2011, he was appointed a Member of the Privy Council.

Aside from his Shadow Ministerial duties, one of Simon's proudest achievements in Parliament since 1997 was successfully piloting through Parliament his Private Member's Bill – the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999 – to tighten up the law on football hooligans, and pressuring the Government to strengthen legislation further in 2000 by giving the courts the power to withdraw hooligans' passports and prevent them from causing trouble abroad.

Simon is interested in American Politics, collecting political books and swimming.

Following, ahem, a slight problem on the roads, Eye suggests he devotes his considerable skills to safely focusing on the needs of rail users.

McLoughlin demands MML upgrade!

This from the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP...

This is clearly not a line in decline—it is a line with increasing investment, improving services and more passengers. 

Yet I understand the widespread desire for even further improvement. The campaigners want their line to be electrified, but electrification would not necessarily make the trains run any faster. That could be achieved with current rolling stock were it not for the layout of the line. 

The midland main line contains a high proportion of curves, junctions and stations which mean that very high speed is impracticable. Although the speeds on the line are good, they could be even better...

Quite so Minister, quite so.

Wise words from 1990, and we are still waiting.

Over to you, the sooner the better of course!

TSC brings ICWC protagonists face to face

This from the Transport Select Committee...

Oral evidence – Rail 2020: West Coast Mainline Franchise 

The Transport Select Committee will question Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Group and Tim O’Toole of FirstGroup over the Government’s decision to award the West Coast mainline rail franchise to FirstGroup.

Monday 10 September 2012

The session will take place in the Grimond Room, House of Commons.

Witnesses:

4.05 pm

·         Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group Ltd

·         Tony Collins, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Rail Group

4.45 pm

·         Tim O’Toole, Chief Executive, FirstGroup plc

·         Vernon Barker, Managing Director, UK Rail division, FirstGroup plc

Eye hopes bouncers will be present in the committee room corridor?

Note to diary: Cancel appointments, plug in interweb and order large bag of popcorn.

A big Eye welcome to Patrick McLoughlin

So. Farewell Justine Greening and the mostly missing Theresa Villiers.

And a big Eye welcome to Derbyshire Dales MP and former Chief Whip Patrick McLoughlin, the new Secretary of State for Transport.

Biog below from the Conservative Party site...

Patrick McLoughlin

Member of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales

Patrick was born in 1957 in Staffordshire, where he was educated first at Cardinal Griffin Roman Catholic School and then at Staffordshire College of Agriculture.

He worked for five years in agriculture, before following his father and grandfather - both coal miners - and going to work underground at the Littleton Colliery in Cannock.

He became a member of the National Union of Mineworkers and then an industrial representative for the National Coal Board's Western Area Marketing Department.

He began to get involved with the voluntary arm of the Conservative Party from 1977, becoming a member of several National Committees and serving as Vice-Chairman of the National Young Conservatives from 1982-84.

Before becoming an MP in 1986, Patrick gained valuable political experience in the world of local government, sitting on Staffordshire County Council from 1981 to 1987 and Cannock Chase District Council between 1980 and 1987.

In June 2005, Patrick was appointed to the Privy Council.

POSITIONS HELD:

• MP for West Derbyshire, 1986 -
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Transport, 1989 - 1992
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Employment, 1992 - 1993
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry, 1993 - 1994
• Assistant Government Whip, 1995 – 1996
• Head Commissioner at the Treasury, 1996 - 1997
• Pairing Whip, June 1997 - 1998
• Deputy Opposition Chief Whip, 1998 - 2005
• Opposition Chief Whip, Dec 2005 - May 2010
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip, May 2010 - 2012
• Secretary of State for Transport 2012 -

PROUDEST POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENT:

• Winning my Parliamentary by-election with a majority of 100

 INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF POLITICS:

• Walking
• Gardening

 FAMILY LIFE:

• Married with two children

 Now awaiting junior posts...

Joined up Government explained...

This from Toby the Tram...

I saw this at the Department for Communities & Local Government yesterday.

Perhaps Eric Pickles should have a word with Justine Greening?