Souter going out with a bang!

So, Sir Brian Souter will be a guest on BBC Question Time tomorrow night.

Expect some fireworks in light of recent House of Commons' business, as in the past Sir Brian has had some clear views on promoting what were once termed 'alternative' lifestyles.

No matter.

Thursday's telefest may be the Wee Man's last high profile public outing, ahem, before he becomes Stagecoach Group's chairman in May, relinquishing the role of chief executive to the now ubiquitous Martin Griffiths (currently finance director).

Despite Brian's interesting history with matters 'equality' don't expect too much criticism from Humza Yousaf the MSP member of the panel. In the devolved world of Scottish politics Our Brian has proven a generous benefactor to the Scottish National Party over recent years.

No doubt First's Tim O'Toole, which currently holds the ScotRail franchise, will be watching with interest?

Pointless signs - Networker misses the point

Obviously not a good day on the South Eastern...

Almost certainly too good to be true, but who cares!

Corridor connection leads to brief encounter

This from Gwynneth Dunchairing...

Who should the Secretary of State's team meet in the corridor outside the TSC this evening, but the SoS for International Development!

Justine Greening (for it was she) asked how it had gone?

An evidently busy McLoughlin appeared unable to chat, leaving a couple of nervous officials to explain the TSC's exhaustive interest in InterCity West Coast and franchising policy.

"Oh. Well I hope it went OK" she said, flushed bright red and ran off frowning intently at her BlackBerry.

No doubt a text from the PM? Ah, the benefits of promotion.

Lookalike - Bagpus Delivery Group edition

Network Rail shelves plans to acquire DBS sites

This from Network Rail...

We received a number of responses to our consultation on the proposal for Network Rail Infrastructure Limited (“Network Rail”) to acquire a number of freight sites from DB Schenker Rail (UK) Limited (“DBSR”).

Having carefully considered and taken account of the responses we have decided not to proceed with the proposal as consulted on. Nevertheless, we remain keen to continue to explore ways in which it may be possible to achieve the overarching objectives identified in our consultation document. We recognise the desirability of wider industry support should there be major structural changes required to achieve this.

A real shame! 

UPDATE: This from A Man in Chains...
 
A couple of points:

1) Weren't the yards "gifted" to EWS in the first place?

2) At least one "yard" NR thought it was buying is already a housing estate (Barrow)

3) The deal proposed giving DBS protection for the best/longest sidings for its own exclusive use, "ransom" strips of land or track that other freight users would still have had to pay to use/cross and other restrictive clauses weighted in favour of DBS.
 
A purchase of something already given away should at least have come without any covenants in favour of the previous owner…

Beardie Bubble Bonus on West Coast

Good news for passengers on Virgin's extended West Coast franchise.

To celebrate, ahem, recent events the victorious TOC is providing free champagne all week in first class!

Just the thing to soothe fevered brows as the infrastructure falls apart yet again. (shurely "as you speed on your way"? Ed)

European rail liberalisation going swimmingly

Good to see that the statist behemoths in Europe can all  come together to embrace market reforms and real competition!

But what's this?

This rather forlorn press release has just emerged from the CER press office...

Liberalising continental railways seems to be proving a very grube business, or indeed, perhaps not enough of one?

In the dirt at York

Oh dear!

Platform 10 at York today

Low speed and no injuries, suggestions of track spread...

Definitely not a good month for charter operators.

UPDATE: This from George Hudson...

Have NR got it in for Charter Operators?

I think we should be told!

HS2 unveils video...

This slightly strange video has been released by HS2 Limited.


 
Eye wonders if the odd shape of the passengers' heads points towards trains built in Germany?

UPDATE: This from Rabid Burns...

I notice in the map just before the end that the right hand branch of the "Y" in Scotland, avoids Edinburgh and crosses the Forth to serve Fife. 

Is this down to Lobbying by Fife Council? Do the good burghers of Edinburgh know? 

I think we should be told! 
 

Chiltern offers tip to DfT franchise team...

 
Nice!

Ministers not responsible for ICWC fiasco - Official

Good news for the government in the Transport Select Committee's report into the InterCity West Coast fiasco!

We now know that the following is self evidently not the case:

“More than 45 million pounds of public money has been wasted, the department and the United Kingdom have suffered huge reputational damage and the railway industry is left in a state of uncertainty and therefore Ministers in post at the time of this fiasco should consider their position.”

Indeed!

Furthermore the following actions are not required:

“Ministers at the time must take responsibility for their mistakes and misjudgements.”

Quite so.

And how do we know that Hammond, Greening and Villiers should shoulder none of the blame? 

Because the following coalition members of the TSC voted against the above paragraphs being included in the final report:

• Steve Baker (Con)
• Karen Lumley (Con)
• Karl McCartney (Con)
• Adrian Sanders (LibDem)
• Iain Stewart (Con)

Just fancy that! 

UPDATE: This from Diamond Bob...

I thought Eye readers might be interested in these wise words from iDave when reflecting on another leader whose organisation went seriously awry:

"People want to see real accountability for what has happened. When people have broken the rules, they should face the consequences and this needs a change of culture absolutely."

Yes, Prime Minister. Absolutely.

McLoughlin wins non-sequiter of the year award

Good to see that the DfT hasn't lost its skill at pretending a pig's ear is a triumph.

In today's press release from the Department on the future of the C2C, FGW, FCC and Southern franchises is the following gem from McLoughlin...

"As always our priority is to ensure these changes will not impact on services or our commitment to improving the railways. Our latest step towards delivering a high-speed rail network which will link many of our major cities by a new fleet of state-of-the-art trains is testament to how we are delivering on that commitment."

Presumably this is ministerial confirmation that the franchising debacle will now also not be resolved until the late 2020s?

UPDATE: This from Chionanthus Virginicus...
 
Aha -  we're going to have "state of the art" trains for HS2 are we?

So we must infer that DfT

• have the necessary technical clairvoyance
• have drawn up the specification of  the trains
• have resolved any inter-operability issues with the "conventional" railway

An Epiphany moment... could they have been blinded by a bright object which has stopped over a birthplace in the North East?

FCC and FGW to carry on but share price drops

Good news for Tim O'Toole and First Group following today's announcement on the Thameslink and Great Western Franchises.

This from the DfT:

• The Great Western franchise competition will be terminated. The current franchise will now run until October after the Department exercised its contractual right to extend the current contract with First Great Western by 28 weeks. Negotiations for an additional two-year contract will commence with the operator, while longer-term proposals will be set out in the spring. 

• The Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise competition will be resumed with the Department working towards awarding a seven-year contract. The current Thameslink/Great Northern franchise operated by First Capital Connect ends in September but allows for a 28-week extension, which the Department intends to exercise. Negotiations will commence for a further contract of up to two years as part of the finalisation of the wider franchise programme.

Alas on opening trading the markets appear somewhat underwhelmed...

Eye can't imagine why.

First Class franchise director?

This from the DG Rail, courtesy of Twitter...

Is the DfT in danger of becoming transparent?

Eye goes off-message on HS2 - Shocker

In the latest issue of Passenger Transport, published on the 18th January, the Fact Compiler questions HS2 station locations...

The next edition of Passenger Transport will be published on the 1st February.

UPDATE: This from Nottingham Noddy...
 
There are already suggestions that the Nottingham Tram network could be extended to serve the proposed HS2 station at Toton.

However, journey times by tram to the city will be about half an hour so along with a change of mode not a very attractive proposition.

Perhaps using the Attenborough chord HS2 services could be extended off HS2 to serve both Nottingham and Derby.

Although I'm not sure that this would align with HS2 plans to serve the East Midlands en-route to the North

UPDATE: This from Trailer Second...
Toton is the obvious place for the East Midlands station. 

All it needs is to divert the Derby – Nottingham line away from Trent Junction, cutting off between Attenborough and Borrowash, obviously electrifying it at the same time. 

That would give Derby – Nottingham in about 20 minutes and give both cities a 10 minute “proper train” connection to the High Speed Line.
 
 

Another nail in the coffin for Charter operations?

Not a good 24 hours on the North Western.

With a West Coast Railway empty stock move getting on fire yesterday at Salford Crescent significant disruption was caused to a range of TOCs and their passengers.

Clearly it will be up to RAIB to determine the cause of this incident but the timing could not have been worse.

ORR is currently consulting on proposals that could see an end to Network Rail's cap on penalties charged to charter operators for delay causing incidents (currently set at £5,000) on the basis that this currently acts as a subsidy.

If these proposals are adopted then it is likely to be the death knell for the successors to BR's Special Train Unit.

Either way Wet Toast's social this weekend is likely to be a sombre affair, with the weather in mind perhaps just as well it won't be a BBQ...

UPDATE: This from Cynical Simon...

Has anyone else noticed what's being advertised in this picture?   

UPDATE: This from CLC commuter...

Is this a 'Point' less sign at Oxford Road.

If there are any points (full stops, or periods for our North American friends) used in the punctuation of this message, then they are out of sight off the side of the screen, along with some of the words.

Does that count as a pointless sign or just a terrible pun? (Sadly a terrible pun. Ed)

Pointless signs - Limehouse

Small beer or bad branding?

This from the Famous Eccles...

I'm not sure who this beer's aimed at, but it's clearly misnamed: at only 2.8% abv, you'll never bounce as much as a Nodding Donkey on it.

I didn't try it, for obvious reasons.
 

Arriva announces Dutch Cap on WiFi roll out!

This from Arriva...

December 2012 - Arriva Netherlands, the Dutch rail operator, is completing a rollout of wireless internet on all its trains through specialist provider Nomad Digital. A pilot of ten trains was first trialed early last year, and, following popular demand from passengers, the project has since been extended to fit Nomad wireless routers on its remaining 51 trains, as well as on an additional 38 new Stadler trains going into service at the end of this year. 

By January 2013, its entire fleet of ninety-nine trains will offer free passenger WiFi.

Alas, despite 'popular demand', Arriva Cross Country's class 170 fleet remains resolutely WiFi free.

The 4th Railway Package – a lesson in lobbying?

This from Sue La Manche...

Lloyds List reports that the publication of the European Commission’s 4th Railway Package has been delayed by the direct intervention of Angela Merkel, at the behest of state owned DB.

The Frenchies have also swung behind the Boche, surprisingly enough defending their own entrenched positions.

And where is the brave, newly emboldened and battle ready British Government in all of this? 

Is it perhaps speaking out in defence of the UK free-market model?  

Is it perhaps rushing to support UK businesses struggling to compete with state owned European railway monopolistic behemoths? 

Or is sat twiddling its thumbs awaiting a speech from dithering Dave, that may or may not take place on Wednesday?

So much for defending the national interest! All in all a very grube business...

UPDATE: This from Sir Bean-Counter, the accountant...

I am grateful to Lord Berkeley for sharing the thoughts of one Michel Barnier.

“One should not underestimate social and political unrest that may stem from the perception that the EU is aiming at dismantling bodies of professionals which are cemented by a strong corporate culture and a long history without it being absolutely indispensable for a well-functioning competitive market”.   

This is clearly a Damascene conversion from the man who sought to break up the Big 4 audit firms, bodies of professionals cemented by a strong corporate culture and a long history, no less!

Reading this wiki entry you might detect a whiff of a revenge strike on the UK for keeping his hands off the City.