Eye signs legendary 'Chris Crossrail'

This from Chris Crossrail, Fleet Street's legendary 'burrower for news'...

Although now fully retired and resting I can't help but notice things are not quite so ahead of the game on Crossrail.

Little things.

The quarterly newsletter that used to boast of Stakhanovite targets being met, and even exceeded, is now a month overdue and the January edition was pretty lame.

Through the grimy windows of an HST yesterday I noted that track laying trains are still working the tunnels from Ladbroke Grove. As I understand the track has got to be in before other ancillary services can be fitted out this is beginning to look a bit tight.

My guess is that the project is not in real trouble but a lot of irreplaceable float time is being used up and the unions are on to this. Big 'productivity' deals are being negotiated at Liverpool Street etc... following the excellent lead of The Brothers at Paddington.

Perhaps Eye readers can burrow further? All submissions at the usual address (see right hand menu bar).

Shaken and stirred: Graham Coombs

Eye hears that Graham Coombs is departing RIA.

After two decades as Communications Director at the Railway Industry Association (the UK's supply chain trade association) Coombs has decided he's had enough of erecting stands at exhibitions!

Speaking exclusively to Eye, Coombs said:

“I can’t grumble at a job that has taken me everywhere from Blackpool to Beijing, but it is time for a change. 20 years of supporting suppliers is more than enough for anyone.

"Now isn't it your round old man?" 

Coombs, a former BR Board Press Officer, has accumulated an astonishing 36 years of rail PR experience since he joined the Southern Region Public Relations and Publicity Office in 1981.

Colleagues who wish to see Graham off in 'old railway' style can find him on or about the RIA stand at Railtex this week.

Eye's Summer Special Offer!

This from Barry Spotter Enterprises...

Having trouble with air conditioning controllers going walkabout?

Do you find yourself unable to keep your office or mess room at just the right temperature to allow restful sneaky snoozes on company time?

Have no fear! The Southern Region has the answer!

Just attach your air-con hoofer-doofer to a spare insulating pot using cable ties and flummox any remote control pilfering miscreants!!

Price: Just a fraction of the cost of all that knitting nonsense that is going so well elsewhere in the country.

Note: Offer only available on the Southern Region, London Underground and Merseyrail*.

*Customers on the Eastern, London Midland, North Eastern, Scottish & Western regions will need to install proper traction supply systems before purchasing.

Railway Sculptures - Hall Royd

The return of an occasional series celebrating the rich diversity of artistic forms that Network Rail have left in strategic locations to delight the passenger...

Behold, Hall Royd Scrapyard... sorry, Junction!

This sculpture was installed in 2015 to commemorate the opening (finally) of the Todmorden curve.

Exclusive - DfT proposes new DOO train design!

Despite purdah, Eye sources have leaked this revolutionary DfT design for a DOO compliant train...

#BreakingNews:
Department of Transport reveals new look DOO rolling stock design.@TheFactCompiler pic.twitter.com/8HWlqj4Ogw

— Driver H. Potter (@DriverPotter) May 4, 2017

Perhaps surprisingly, no mention of how it will draw juice from the Apostle of the Third Rail!

UPDATE: This from a Mr Barry Spotter, for it is he...

Further to your enquiry regarding shoe gear on the exciting new DfT approved DOO train.

Potter Rail has been assured by operators that all drivers will be fitted with shoes. Or boots.

Wet Toast - warming the market for rail

How the heart swells when you see traditional scenes like this on today's railway!

What's that you say?

It's not from a kettle!

Oh!

Shaken and stirred: Ross to Scotrail

This from The Herald...

David Ross, one of the most senior figures in [Labour leader, Kezia] Dugdale’s team, will leave after June 8th to join transport firm Scotrail on a temporary basis.

His social media biography describes him as “official spokesman” to Ms Dugdale and states: “I am a senior staff member in the Scottish Labour Party's communications team, reporting directly to the leader.”

A big gain for Scotrail, but the timing of the announcement is interesting, just before the local and general elections.

PM commits to HS2

This from The Grauniad...

Theresa May has committed to delivering the HS2 high-speed rail link.

The prime minister was reportedly coming under pressure from Tory MPs in the south to cancel HS2, which the government projects will cost £55.7bn.

Her announcement ends speculation that she was preparing to drop the new north-south railway from the Conservatives’ general election manifesto.

That sound? That is the sound of the Chilterns weeping into their skinny lattes.

The crumbling edge of quality: Manchester Piccadilly

This from Charlemagne...

It looks like NR's cutting back on renewals is good news for the makers of tie-bars. 

The road through platform 13 at Manchester Piccadilly is held together by dozens of them!

Pointless signs - Northallerton

This courtesy of 'BA'...

So much thought, so little point!

Phillips chairs BTPA as McVey contests Tatton

This from the British Transport Police Authority...

I am writing to inform you that Esther McVey has formally resigned her position as Chairman and her membership of the British Transport Police Authority following her selection as the Conservative Party candidate for the Tatton Constituency in the upcoming General Election. Esther, who was formally selected as a prospective parliamentary candidate on 26 April, has been Chairman since November 2015.

Mark Phillips, the current Deputy Chairman, will be fulfilling the duties of Chairman until a permanent replacement can be appointed. Mark, who has been a member of BTPA since September 2013, has a background in rail, having worked for British Rail, Railtrack and National Express. He is currently Chief Executive of the RSSB.

Tatton was the constituency of the former Chancellor, George 'Many Jobs' Osborne.

Railway Garden Competition - Urmston

Back due to popular demand (thanks Sid and Doris Gricer) Eye's Railway Garden Competition!

@TheFactCompiler you really need to bring back the railway garden comp pic.twitter.com/6Jz1ua6UTd

— Pete (@noddingdonkeys) April 29, 2017

Keep 'em coming!

Shaken and Stirred: Nick Joyce takes on DG Rail role

Nick Joyce is the acting Director General, Rail Group, at the DfT

Previous incumbent Bernadette Kelly took on the role of DfT Permanent Secretary on the 18th of April.

Joyce became acting DG Rail on the 25th April, and was previously DfT's Corporate Finance Director.

Fans of the West Coast Franchise fiasco will remember Joyce as a safe pair of hands, after the event.

Presumably this dreadful photograph of Nick, from the equally dreadful gov.uk website, was taken at that time? (Why do DfT insist on publishing awful photos of officials on their own website? Ed)

It will be interesting to see how quickly this key role is filled with a permanent appointment.

Scotrail celebrates #EdBallsDay

Alas, not taken in passenger service...

No doubt the Cybernats will soon demand this tweet is deleted?

Good effort!

Eye's powerful intervention in Nationalisation debate!

As any ful kno evidence based arguments are the way forward!

That is all.

Shaken and Stirred - RDG's Quigley and new arrival Thomas

Word reaches Eye of some changes at the Rail Delivery Group.

Christine Quigley, Head of Public Affairs, has been poached by Keolis as their new Director of Communications. Prior to joining RDG Christine was special advisor to then Labour Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Mary Creagh. In her spare time Christine treads the boards as a stand-up comedian (Shurely a mandatory skill for anyone in railway comms? Ed). Christine starts her new role at Keolis in June.

John Thomas will join RDG as new Policy Director in July. John has railway form, from 2001 to 2011 he was an economist at ORR. Most recently he has been in the Middle East developing new railway networks across the region and has advised the World Bank.

Presumably the arrival of Thomas at RDG will be causing palpitations in One Kemble Street?

Gibb Report spiked - Official

This written response from Paul Maynard confirms what Eye predicted last week...

Caroline Lucas Green, Brighton, Pavilion: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answers of 20 January 2017 to Question 60337 and 21 March 2017 to Question 67853, on what date he received the (a) advice and (b) set of recommendations developed from the advice from Chris Gibb; if he will publish all documents received from Chris Gibb in full before Parliament prorogues ahead of the 2017 General Election; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Maynard Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport): Chris Gibb’s findings were received by the Department on 30 December 2016. The Department will not be publishing Chris Gibb’s findings before Parliament prorogues however we intend to publish Chris Gibb’s report in full, with minor redactions to protect commercially sensitive material, and the Government’s response in due course.

So no, you can't see the Gibb Report before the election on account of the fact that it is probably too embarrassing for DfT.

Jones unlucky at Hornchurch and Upminster

Further to yesterday's post on Simon Jones seeking selection as Tory candidate for Hornchurch and Upminster

This from Conservative Home...

Cllr Julia Dockerill... won [last nights] selection in Hornchurch and Upminster by an outright majority on the first ballot.

Back to business as usual in the DfT SpAds office...

BTP promotes early age safety culture

This from the Inverness Courier...

TWO Inverness schoolchildren are to become rail safety ambassadors after trespassing on a main line near the city. 

The girl and boy aged five and six were caught with a group of older children on the railway line at Woodside Burn, Smithton...

PC Andrea McGhee said: “When the schools go back after the Easter holidays I will be speaking to the local primary school on the dangers of being on the line and I have asked the two children to be my wee helpers during my presentation.

“I have already had a chat with them and made them aware of the dangers of going onto a railway line.”

Always good to see Scotland leading the way.

More of this please British Transport Police, as part of your national programme.

Precisely why we need a specialist, nationwide, transport police service. 

Just in case Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, is listening?

RMT backs Corbyn for GE2017

This from The Brothers...

"The union said that, following a decision of its ruling NEC, RMT is supporting a maximum Labour vote at the 2017 General Election to defeat the Tories and for there to be a Labour Government led by Jeremy Corbyn."

In other news, bears have confirmed that their PNBs are wood centric.