What sort of fresh hell is this?
RSSB's 2017/18 Business Plan eschews old fashioned nonsense like photographs for vibrant avatar style imagery.
Here is the image that graces CEO Mark Phillips' forward...
This from The Duke...
The p-way near Sapperton Tunnel on the Swindon Gloucester line.
This from The Scotsman...
Officers have begun leaving the British Transport Police ahead of its controversial integration into Police Scotland, it has emerged.
The British Transport Police Federation said a small number of officers had left to join specialist forces elsewhere in Scotland, while others were seeking transfers to England.
Fancy!
Interesting fact!
Nicky Morgan was tasked by the last Government with assembling views from East Midlands MPs on the new EMT franchise.
This from the dim and distant past.
In fact the 12th January 2017:
Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South): This time two years ago, when the Blackpool North electrification scheme faced delays and the rail Minister was a Back Bencher, he rightly demanded answers from Ministers. There is now real concern that the electrification of the midland main line will be further postponed or even cancelled north of Corby and Kettering. Will the Minister provide the House with the clarity that he sought for his constituency and give an unequivocal assurance that this key Conservative manifesto promise will not be broken?
Paul Maynard: We are continuing to work towards the key outputs that matter most to passengers. I recognise the importance of the network, and my right hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Nicky Morgan) will work on a cross-party basis to identify the key regional priorities that we want to be reflected in the new franchise. I look forward to working with the hon. Member for Nottingham South (Lilian Greenwood).
So, electric cars good but electrification of the whole of the Midland Mainline is unaffordable and scrapped..! https://t.co/32nPjOchxQ— Nicky Morgan MP (@NickyMorgan01) July 26, 2017
Good to see that the art of the non-answer is alive and kicking in the Department for Transport.
Or so it seems judging from this clutch of hapless responses to Stephen Hammond's pertinent questions:
Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on ensuring that the railway supply chain receives a sufficient volume of orders through to the end of Control Period 6 to its maintain skilled workforce.
Paul Maynard Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport): We have regular discussions with Network Rail throughout the year on a number of topics, including supply chain capability. We are currently undertaking the biggest investment in our railways for over a century and our HLOS, published on 20 July, makes clear that we expect in the volume of renewals and that funding will be available to meet this increase, subject to further work to assure the costs of this activity. This signals to the supply chain that there will continue to be demand for their services in the current and future control period.
Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which projects his Department expects Network Rail to complete in Control Period 6; and what the cost will be for each such project.
Paul Maynard Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport): Network Rail published an update to its Enhancement Delivery Plan (EDP) on 30 June 2017. This sets out the outputs, scope and milestones for the projects that Network Rail is delivering, indicating which schemes are due for completion in CP6.
No doubt readers and the supply chain will be reassured to note that schemes originally scheduled for completion in CP6 include the, now very dead, electrification of both the Midland Main Line and Cardiff-Swansea route.
Make it up, you could not.
This from the Catholic Herald!
John Hayes, who is Minister of State at the Department of Transport, was speaking at an event organised by the think tank ResPublica, as part of their Backing Beauty project...
However, he said, “We have lost our faith in beauty, because we have lost our faith in ideals. As Pope Benedict lamented: ‘We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognise anything as definitive and has as its highest value one’s own ego and one’s own desires.’”
Extraordinary!
A minister in this torpid Tory government who is actually willing to espouse Conservative principles.
How refreshingly Sound!
So that nice Mr Gove has decided that diesel cars will be phased out by 2040.
Meanwhile that nice Mr Grayling has decided to 'phase out' further rail electrification immediately.
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to joined up government.
Righteous fury from elected Northern Mayors over Grayling's backing for Crossrail 2 today:
On Friday, Tories say they can't afford rail schemes in the North. On Monday, they find billions more for London. Are these 2 things linked? https://t.co/SQc30hcdQd— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) July 24, 2017
I look forward to a similar announcement on Northern Powerhouse rail, which was in Tory manifesto unlike #Crossrail2 https://t.co/QwPawQJejG— Steve Rotheram (@Steve4LCRmayor) July 24, 2017
This from the Rail Delivery and Rail Supply Groups...
WORKING TOGETHER – NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN RAIL SUPPLY GROUP AND RAIL DELIVERY GROUP
Good news for the railway via Justine Greening!
The equalities minister has announced that those over a certain age will be able to self define their gender without the need for a medical diagnosis.
Eye understands that, in recognition of this momentous change, the vibrant Rosco community has already decided to self define their Pacer fleets as IEPs.
This from Beacon Rail...
Beacon Rail Leasing, a leading Pan-European rolling stock lessor, is pleased to announce that it completed the acquisition of a fleet of Bombardier Class 220 and Class 221 Voyager diesel-electric multiple units from subsidiaries of Lloyds Bank plc and the Royal Bank of Scotland plc.
The units are currently in passenger service on the Virgin West Coast and the Arriva Cross Country Franchises. The fleet is comprised of 352 vehicles in 78 sets of 4 and 5 vehicle formations. 58 sets are operated on the Cross Country franchise and 20 sets are operated by West Coast.
So many questions...
UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic...
Project Thor, anyone?
Well, well, well!
An UnHLOS, no enhancements and no Statement of Funds Available!
This from the 14th March debate in the Lords on GWML Electrification...
Reproduced now, only because My Lord Bradshaw made such an elegant but pointed observation:
Lord Bradshaw (LD)
My Lords, the Great Western railway electrification scheme was designed in the Department for Transport; it was specified there and the trains were ordered there. However, the new trains and the new system will not provide a faster or better service than was the case 40 years ago, when I was general manager at Paddington. In future, will the Government look very carefully at whether there are better design and procurement methods to ensure that we get a scheme that delivers benefits to passengers and saves the taxpayer money?
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
I do not agree with the noble Lord’s premise. I believe that the new rolling stock that I referred to will bring passenger benefits. As I am sure he knows from his experience in and vast knowledge of the area, the IEP fleet, which is coming into service on the whole route, will run in both diesel and electric modes. That will provide flexibility in the delivery and appropriate scheduling of the electrification programme, which I accept is challenging.
'Challenging' is certainly one word for it. Others include... *REDACTED FOR REASONS OF TASTE*
This from a Mr Weights and Measures...
According to the Network Rail Rail press release on the annual report and accounts:
A record £3.9 billion was spent on enhancing Britain’s railway last year, 10 percent more than in any previous year, according to Network Rail’s annual report published today.
Almost all significant project milestones were met, although two were not – Gospel Oak to Barking electrification, and one on the Edinburgh to Glasgow improvement project. The report also highlights that the company’s exceptional safety record has continued to improve in both workforce and passenger safety.
Those 'significant milestones' were of course removed and placed further along the road by the Hendy Review!
This from last Thursday's Electrification debate...
Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) (Lab)
What steps he is taking to electrify the rail network to Swansea and further west. [900455]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Chris Grayling)
I congratulate the hon. Lady on her election to this House. Electrification work is continuing on the Great Western main line, but the good news for her constituents and others in south Wales is that the new generation of electric trains will arrive in Cardiff and Swansea this autumn, providing more seats and better journey experiences. That is good news for rail users in south Wales and the west country.
Remind me, what exactly was the question?
This from William Huskisson...
From ORR's Annual Health & Safety Report of Performance on Britain's railways 2016-17:
National SPAD Strategy
Work continues on the development of a national SPAD strategy and it is now at ready to be presented to the Train Accident Risk Group (TARG) for their endorsement before it goes to System Safety Review Group (SSRG) and the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) board. This is the first of three stages. Stage one is to deliver the strategy.
Oddly no mention of UTCAA*
Would it be unkind to suggest that this litany of abbreviations reflects the bureacratic structure of a fragmented railway?
*Uncle Tom Cobleigh And All
This from Snapper...
There's never a good time to close a railway for engineering works, but one does wonder if someone looked at an events calender when planning the forthcoming Huddersfield blockade.
This from the Rail Forum...
Announcement from Rail Forum chair, Paul Francis:
"Some of you may be aware that I have announced my forthcoming retirement as CEO of Porterbrook Leasing.
“This will not take place immediately and therefore it is my intention, subject to the agreement of the RFEM executive, to continue as Rail Forum Chairman until our 2018 AGM.
“These are exciting times for our industry and especially the rail supply chain in the East Midlands, I want to continue as your Chairman so that we can work with government and regional stakeholders to capitalise on the huge investment that is being poured into both Classic and High Speed Rail, as well as the opportunities created through Brexit...
“I have no immediate date for leaving Porterbrook as I will be working very closely with Porterbrook’s Chairman and shareholders in the coming months as we appoint a successor as CEO. I will of course provide a further update once the name of my successor at Porterbrook has been announced.”
Interesting.
What is that sound?
That is the sound of industry CVs being polished.
This from Thebel Tolzforze...
A small reminder, for anyone who might be interested?
Under the terms of the Railways Act 2005: the DfT has until midnight Thursday to let the Office of Rail and Road have the High Level Output Specification and Statement of Funds Available for Network Rail, covering Control Period 6, which starts on 1 April 2019.
Thought we'd mention it, just in case it had slipped anyone's mind?
What with all that HS2 excitement an' all.
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