The following have been shortlisted for the Crossrail operating concession:
This from the Abellio website...
Following the announcement in late March that Ian Bevan had decided to step down from his role as MD of Northern Rail, Abellio and Serco have appointed Alex Hynes as MD for Northern, commencing in September 2013.
Alex’s
early career as a senior consultant for Halcrow Fox saw him providing
policy, financial and economic advice to transport operators in UK rail
franchise bidding. He then progressed his career with the ORR before
joining the Go-Ahead Group in 2005, performing a number of roles
including Commercial Director for London Midland and his most recent
role as MD – Rail Development. In this role he was a member of
Go-Ahead’s Executive Committee and led the development and delivery of
Go-Ahead’s 5 year rail strategy including all franchise bidding
activity.
Alex brings a wealth of experience in which will
position him well to take Northern Rail to the next stage of operational
excellence across all aspects of the business. We welcome him to the
Group and wish him every success in his new role.
We would
also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to Alan
Chaplin for undertaking the role of Acting MD to date and pending
Alex’s commencement at which time he will facilitate a smooth handover
before returning to focus on his COO role.
Nothing about the appointment on Serco's website though...
Good news for fans of black armbands and dirges!
ATOC is hosting a tres elegant soiree in July to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Railways Act, the piece of legislation that paved the way for, in Chris Grayling's words, "a flawed privitisation".
Quite so.
The timing could not be better with the next party of government nudging ever closer to renationalising the railways, according to an article today by Mark Ferguson on Labour List.
No matter!
No doubt those attending the ATOC bun fight, including the Secretary of State for Transport, will appreciate the deep irony of holding it in the former home of the Greater London Council (now the Marriott County Hall).
Of course that was another piece of Tory abolition legislation that has subsequently been reversed.
More amusing still is the fact that the successors to the GLC, the Mayor and GLA, are absolutely adamant that Concessions, rather than Franchises, are the way forward for rail services; unless of course you include London Underground which remains resolutely state-owned.
Perhaps ATOC realises the game is up?
This from the Wicked Weaver...
This from Judge Nutmeg...
The European Commission has today announced that it is taking proceedings against the UK and French Governments over their failure to comply with European railway law in the structure and regulation of the Channel Tunnel.
In particular, the Commission is concerned that this non-compliance is causing prices for passengers and freight customers to be too high.
No doubt this will be strongly opposed by the Governments, and long protracted court cases will follow.
Of course, if the European single market was working properly, one could rely on competitive powers to control prices; in this case competition from the alternative mode, cross channel ferries.
The same ferries in fact that the Competition Regulator has just banned Eurotunnel from buying, with multiple legal cases also heading to court.
The benefits of EU Membership for the Legal Profession can surely not be doubted even by Monsieur Farage and Co.
This from Passenger Transport...
The Rail Delivery Group, the Department for Transport and franchise
owning groups have begun initial discussions which could lead to train
operating companies purchasing new trains directly rather than leasing
them from the ROSCOs (rolling stock leasing companies).
Good news indeed.
Anything that emasculates those with a long term interest in the industry, whilst benefiting "thinly capitalised equity profiteers of the worst kind" has to be a good idea (Is this right? Ed).
Apparently First Group is already chomping at the bit to buy new rolling stock for its Great Western franchise.
According to Tim O'Toole, CEO of First Group:
“We need more trains, and we’ve made this plain to the government, and
they have got to allow this to happen”.
Quite so Tim and with First Group finances in such robust health it seems such a shame that Dai Woodham is no longer in business.
UPDATE: This from Leo Pink...
Has DfT Permanent Secretary Philip Rutnam taken a leaf from the General Galtieri Book of Political Strategems?
With his department's expensive in-house procurement of IEP and Thameslink rolling stock under fire, how better to deflect criticism than attacking those nasty people in trade - the 'expensive' ROSCOs.
UPDATE: This from Ithuriel...
At a recent meeting of the Rail Delivery Group one topic rasied was:
Rolling stock – issues emerging on value for money.
Can it be that they have woken up to the ludicrous cost of the Great Western and East Coast Ninky Nonk train ?
Probably not. We suspect that the real concern is the blood-sucking rentals being charged by the Roscos for err.. Pacers.
Exciting news from those masters of railway finances - the ORR!
Here is the feedback form from yesterday's ORR industry periodic review 2013 bash in London.
This from Thomas Edmonson...
Manchester's new transport smart card is to be called 'My get me there'
Now I can understand the rationale behind LT's 'Oyster' - as Del Boy would say, with the card the world's your lobster.
Merseyside's 'Walrus' is an obvious homage to the Beatles - Hong Kong having got there first with the Octopus.
And I suppose Southern's 'Key' could imply that it is the key to simpler travel.
But 'My get me there' sounds more like a nursery euphemism.
Should the Manchester authorities decide to recant in the face of local protects can I suggest 'Itso'? (Why? Ed).
Because It's so easy to use! (Groan. Ed)
UPDATE: This from a Mr Paul Prentice...
They can't use 'Itso'.
It sounds far too much like a certain Japanese sushi bar chain (Itsu) in which one Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned…
This just in from a Mr Fergy Lee...
Services on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway came to a halt today due to the
presence of two tortoises loose on the line near Wirksworth.
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The Fact Compiler's latest column in Passenger Transport published on the 7th June...
This from ITV...
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has today confirmed that the threat of
closure hanging over Bradford' National Media Museum and York's National
Railway Museum has been lifted .
"They [the Science Museum Group] asserted if there was a certain
level of cuts they would have to look at closing one……..They are not
going to receive those level of cuts so there is no reason why any of
these museums should close," said Mr Vaizey
Very good. Carry on.
Good news for fans of cuckoo clocks!
The Engineering Innovation Team are looking for new ideas but this one from Switzerland shows what the UK is up against.
This from Global Rail News...
Clip-Air’ has been touted by its developers, Swiss university EPFL,
as the future of intermodal travel. Passengers could board a train in
London and arrive in New York without leaving their seat.
This from Richard Hebditch of the Campaign for Better Transport...
Given Eye's occasional interest in toilets on the network, thought you might be interested in this rather long series of PQs from Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn on toilets on the rail network from today’s order paper:
403 Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with train operating companies in respect of the provision of adequate toilet facilities.
404 Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department collects on the provision of toilet facilities or working toilet facilities by rail franchise.
405 Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department collects on concerns raised on the adequacy of toilet facilities provided by train operators.
406 Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what sanctions are available to his Department against train operating companies who do not provide adequate toilet facilities; and what sanctions have been employed against train operating companies in the last five years.
407 Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is a requirement in franchise agreements for train operators to have working toilets on all of their services.
408 Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there is a requirement in franchise agreements for train operators for a minimum level of working toilet provision on train services before a train enters service.
409 Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there are different requirements for toilet provision in train franchises in respect of (a) commuter, (b) intercity and (c) regional services.
410 Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which body is responsible for monitoring whether train operators provide adequate and working toilet facilities; and what methodology is used for any such monitoring.
This from Citizen Smith...
Once there was a mirror on a pole on a platform.
Then bits of it were painted yellow, then a small fence was put up round it. Bits of the fence were also painted yellow.
Then someone realised the fence meant that anyone passing the mirror might walk in an area behind a yellow line.
They put up signs so that people walked the other way. They made sure these signs were branded.
This from the Hammer Man...
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