Eccles 25:17

Has the Silver Fox lost his touch?

Commenting on tomorrow’s widespread cancellation of services by London Midland, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers, said:

“London Midland needs to get their act together. They really should have contingency plans for a situation when their regular drivers don't put their names down for Sunday shifts.

“Given the importance of Sunday services to passengers, particularly families, it is just not good enough to cancel virtually every train for the whole day just because of driver shortages. And passengers should have been given much longer notice of this problem.

“Why didn't the company see this problem coming sooner?”

No matter.

Eye gives you Mr Eccles in full flow (in French of course)...



London Midland: Be afraid, be very afraid...

Arriva XC - Lather and lace?

Arriva Cross Country must be upping its game!

Judging by the chintzy lace blinds to be found on this Voyager set pictured at Sheffield.


Presumably the much derided 'trolley' now has a linen tablecloth?

UPDATE: This just in from Arriva Cross Country...

Dear Fact Compiler

Having seen the picture of our splendid Voyager at Sheffield I couldn't help but comment.

While we aim to ensure our customers' travel experiences with us are excellent, we hadn't actually thought about putting lace blinds in the windows.

However, looking at the image a little closer I think you will find that anyone who likes the idea could enjoy a similar experience by sitting opposite any stationary train at that platform on a suitably sunny day to get the same reflection from the canopy edgings.

Sadly, like the accusation our 'trolley' service is "much derided", there's just no truth to the story...

2009 Railway Garden Competition #XXIV

Through the wonders of MMS the following communication reaches The Fact Compiler.

It reads...

Captain Deltic's contribution to the 2009 Railway Garden Competition:


Eye imagines Iain Coucher saying "Pah! Amateurs".

Stagecoach rattles the bucket

Good news for East Midlands Trains passengers!

This from the Independent...

Some rail passengers will have to fork out for fare rises of up to 145 per cent from next week.

The East Midlands Trains company is making alterations to some of its Travelcard tickets which will affect passengers travelling in the morning from Market Harborough, Kettering and Wellingborough to London.

Presumably Stagecoach supremo Brian Souter needs all the pennies he can get if he is to buy the rail and bus businesses of the doomed National Express Group.

Meanwhile, don't expect DafT to kick up a fuss over EMT's swinging fare increases.

If Souter can raise the necessary gee-gaws to buy C2C and NXEA it will save DafT the public humiliation of testing Cross Default in court.

Happy days!

Pointless signs #11

UPDATE: This from A Train Driver Lost somewhere in EMT-land...

Pointless sign #11 isn't *entirely* pointless - in the areas of EMT-land where passenger intelligence is best described as limited, it can be almost embarrassing watching the darlings trying to open the doors by thumping the glass, kicking the body of the door, swearing at it or merely looking bemusedly at it because it hasn't magically opened for them.

Having a little sign pointing out that there's a nice button to press helps - at least for those who can read...

Nice to know our efforts are appreciated by the Eye though! ;o)

2009 Railway Garden Competition #XXIII

Eye is delighted to present the Hanging Gardens of Derby...



With a bowler tip to the Wicked Weaver...

Avaracious vending machines

A quid for a cup of hot water!


Compliments to Beardie Rail for allowing this mechanised mugging to take place at Rugby station.

2009 Railway Garden Competition #XXII

This just in from JASB the Ninja...

I thought you'd like to see a couple more entries for the Railway Gardening Competition, both seen on a jolly family outing to Vectis on Bank Holiday Monday.

Here's the start of our trip at Hook. My son said that this was "lacking in colour", so it may not be a winning entry.

He also pointed out that the vegetation is beginning to obscure the bases for the new signals (which were installed about 18 months ago as part of the Basingstoke resignalling phase II or III ... but that's another story).

Here's what we found at the other end.


Now this really is a Railway Garden.

It was installed on the disused Up platform at Shanklin some years ago (probably during Island Rail's short-lived period of UDI).

I think a machete is advised now if you want to admire its charms.

South Eastern shows a caring side

This just in from from Our Man in Bradway Tunnel...

Nice to see that there are still youngsters who are excited by the railway.

This from the BBC...

"The parents of a boy who has run away to try to catch a train have asked railway staff to put up warning posters to stop him getting into danger."

I note the young gentleman has tried to buy a ticket to leave Marden.

Can't say I blame him.

It's heartening to read this, though:

"Railway staff at stations all along the line from Tonbridge to Ashford now have pictures of Toby to help them keep a lookout for him should he try to get on a train again."

A bowler tip to staff on South Eastern - clearly they are taking their duty to their passengers seriously.

Sir Peter Hall claims barriers "insane"

This just in from a Mr Malins...

I know the Eye has had a lot of fun with the Railway Garden Competition, and I trust we shall see more of the weedkilling train as a result, but are you ready to return to the theme of barriers? It deserves Eye's renewed attention.

I have a letter, signed by his Lordship DafT Vader concerning the work of his stationers Green and Hall:

"The stations standards initiative that I have set up will be focusing on getting the basic facilities right as well as considering the broader role of stations. It will not be looking at ticket gates."

The duo have been to Sheffield whereupon Sir Peter described the Stagecoach barrier scheme as "insane" and said he would have a word with Adonis.

So it's back to you Secretary of State.

Results of Eye's latest exciting survey

Obviously Railway Eye is now required reading within DafT's sprawling empire.

Or so it would appear from Eye's latest exciting survey (eyes right).

As usual, Eye's powerful analytical software has identified the source of the single vote, cast in favour of DfT specifying new High Speed lines...

Welcome Sir David and thank you for taking part.

ATW backs steam rail motor

The Fact Compiler compiler has been forwarded the following witty email.

It reads...

"Most of you will be aware of the splendid GWR Steam Railmotor under restoration at Didcot."

"In support of the project, Arriva recently staged an impromptu demonstration of what a modern steam motor might look like..."


Eye apologises to Paul for the blatant plagiarism but this was just too good not to use...

Sarah and the security guard

Oh dear.

Perhaps a little additional staff training required for these fine gentleman at Upminster station (C2C and the General Manager of the District line please take note).



Meantimes... nice to see pictures of Sarah back in traffic!

Scots independence adds to HS2 bill?

Good news for North Britons!

Last week the figure to build HS2 to Scotland was £34bn.

Now, according to the Birmingham Post, it's £41bn!

Presumably the SNP's referendum announcement has already halved the value of the putative country's new MacCurrency.

2009 Railway Garden Competition #XXVII

This just in from Peter...

I thought you would like this, but I can’t compete with Wrexham...

Welcome to Norwood Junction.




Taken on Friday at great risk from the platform ‘Stasi’ as I was standing between the yellow and white lines!

Kaption Kompetition

On Thursday former Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling MP attended a photocall to mark the improvements at Ewell West station.

Also pictured is the former mayor who has campaigned for the changes.


Without leaving The Fact Compiler at the mercy of My Learned Friends perhaps readers might wish to suggest an appropriate caption...

Those who go down to the sea in ships...

Telegrammed by our International Correspondent
For those who remember when the British Railways Board went down to the sea in ships, an appeal for dosh to revive the Paddle Steamer Ryde.


This one time icon and vomit bucket paddled generations of holidaymakers to and from Vectis and has now been replaced with a sort of jetfoil catamaran thingy that is Just Not The Same.

It isn't the last railway paddler - that honour belongs to PS Waverley, neither is it the biggest bit of ex-Sealink detritus to clutter our shores (see TS Duke of Lancaster, rusting not very gently next to the North Wales Coast line) but it is very fondly remembered by those who lost their lunch overboard.

Anyone with a few bob left after the global financial crisis is invited to contact the PS Ryde Trust at info@psryde.co.uk

Heseltine backs NR

Former Minister Michael Heseltine has just come out in favour of Network Rail's new high speed rail proposals!

And on Radio 4's 'Any Questions'.

Mind you he was part of the government that built the Channel Tunnel!

Mediaballs #4

Good to see the Telegraph maintaining its hard won reputation as a journal of record.

This from the Torygraph's website about safety concerns on the sub-surface District line.


Illustrated with a nice shot of tube stock at Oxford Circus station.

Mind you, the General Manager of the District line once ran the Bakerloo...

2009 Railway Garden Competition #XXVI

This just in from 'Willie' Rushton...

Further to your earlier request for updated pictures of Hawarden Bridge I travelled the Bidston to Wrexham line yesterday but did not alight there.

However I did take this photo of the northern end of platform 4 at Wrexham General station.


Could this be a contender?

Indeed it could!

The Fact Compiler is amazed anyone can actually sign this route, unless it's by touch.