In the latest issue of Passenger Transport, published on the 1st February the Fact Compiler opines on social media...
An occasional series celebrating the genius that is Simon Burns MP, the Minister of State for Transport...
This from the 4th of February:
Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made on re-opening the platforms at the former Waterloo International Terminal for domestic commuter services; and if he will make a statement.
Simon Burns (Chelmsford, Conservative)
The Government is committed to bringing the former International platforms at Waterloo station into domestic use, commencing with platform 20 being brought back into use by 2014 to assist South West Trains in delivering additional capacity into this busy station. In advance of this, work to refurbish the roof is already under way.
With regard to the other four former international platforms, previous plans to bring these back into use have now been subject to detailed evaluation which has shown them to be too short-term in respect of the efficient overall expansion of Waterloo station. A more comprehensive and longer term plan is required. On 16 July 2012 the Secretary of State published the High Level Output Specification (HLOS), which included recognition that major works are likely to be required at London Waterloo and made provision for this as part of a wider rail strategy for Control Period 5 (2014-19).
Network Rail published its Strategic Business Plan (SBP) in January 2013 setting out how the rail industry proposes to deliver the Government's HLOS rail strategy for 2014-19. The SBP proposes a £300 million investment to increase capacity into London Waterloo in CP5 as part of a longer term enhancement programme that will deliver significant capacity improvements into CP6 and beyond. During CP5, improvements will focus on suburban routes into London with platform extensions to accommodate longer 10 car trains and the integration of the former Waterloo International Terminal and its platforms to increase capacity within the station.
What on earth does Third Degree Burns mean when he says the four other platforms at Waterloo International station are "too short-term in respect of the efficient overall expansion of Waterloo station"?
Does he think these platforms are planning to move somewhere in the near future?
Or perhaps, at over a quarter of a mile in length, they will be unable to handle whatever trains SWT can throw at them?
Almost completely meaningless - Cruella would have been proud of him.
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?
Obviously not a good day on the South Eastern...
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.
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…
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)
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...
Oh dear!
Platform 10 at York today
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!
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:
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
Good news for Tim O'Toole and First Group following today's announcement on the Thameslink and Great Western Franchises.
This from the DfT:
In the latest issue of Passenger Transport, published on the 18th January, the Fact Compiler questions HS2 station locations...
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...
.JPG)
Posts
