Via Twitter
@transportgovuk: Adonis launches a consultation to convert Watford and St Albans railway into a tram line.
Let's hope this is more successful than the abandoned conversion of the Penistone line.
This update on the Battle of the Barriers from the BBC...
A rail company is appealing against a decision not to allow ticket barriers at York railway station.
The appeal is apparently to be heard in the New Year, by which time NXEC should have shuffled off its mortal coil.
So there is precious little benefit to be gained by the franchise, NatEx or indeed its hard pressed shareholders in mounting this appeal.
So who is yanking NXEC's chain?
Step forward Lord Adonis, DafT and DOR.
Eye salutes this unholy triumverate for learning from Ireland's experience with the Euro constitution.
Just keep asking the same question until they come up with the right answer.
Good news from the mother of Parliaments...
Former transport minister Tony McNulty has apologised to the House of Commons 'without reservation' and agreed to repay £13,837 of expenses he claimed towards his second home.
Well that makes it all better then.
UPDATE: In his statement to the House McNulty says its time to move on.
Indeed it is.
Directly to gaol without passing go.
This from Beardie Rail...
Virgin Trains has appointed Paul Furze-Waddock as its new Business Development Director.
Paul takes up his new job in the new year and his main focus will be future franchise bidding, including the West Coast franchise, which is due for re-bidding in March 2012. He will report directly to Virgin Trains’ Chief Executive Officer Tony Collins.
Will the First one out last please turn off the lights.
This from The Times...
National Express, the struggling transport group, has walked away from a last-gasp merger with rival Stagecoach over concerns that competition regulators could derail a deal.
State operator 'East Coast Mainline' is expected to take on the NXEC franchise at the December Timetable change.
This from nebusiness.co.uk...
Passenger revenue growth was 1.3% up on the CrossCountry rail franchise during the 42 weeks to October 24 and jumped by 3.8% in the last six weeks. The figure was even higher at Arriva Trains Wales at 6.7%.
Stand down DOR...
UPDATE: This from City Boy...
Remember that Arriva XC needs annual growth of 10% to maintain profitability on the franchise.
This from the Doncaster Free Press...
Steve Davies will join the NRM at a date to be agreed in the New Year, from his position as Director of the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Manchester.
Judging by this picture he might, just, make an honorary railwayman...
UPDATE: This from Driver Potter...
TFC has clearly lost his marbles; Mr Davies fails to score in the following vital areas;
This from the Daily Telegraph..
If Sir Christopher Kelly has achieved nothing else, he has provoked an unprecedented level of interest in railway timetables among our MPs.
A big welcome back to the Parliamentary Train.
City excitement as Arriva prepares to unveil interim management results tomorrow.
But with the market distinctly twitchy the Eye thought it might be helpful to introduce this splendid new logo.
Just in case.
This gem from Anthony Smith at this afternoon's Transport Select Committee:
"High Speed Rail should be renamed 'Big Rail'."
Let's hope Passenger Focus is never asked to market rail services.
A reader asks if the Fact Compiler can spot any parallels in the following report...
Review into the loss of the RAF Nimrod MR2 Aircraft XV230:
"But for the delays in the Nimrod MRA4 replacement programme, XV230 would probably have no longer have been flying in September 2006, because it would have reached its Out-of-Service Date and already been scrapped or stripped for conversion.
"The history of Procurement generally in the MOD has been one of years of major delays and cost overruns. This has had a baleful effect on In-Service Support and safety and airworthiness generally.
"Poor Procurement practices have helped create ‘bow waves’ of deferred financial problems, the knock-on effects of which have been visited on In-Service Support, with concomitant change, confusion, dilution, and distraction as occurred in the post-Strategic Defence Review period..."
He's not wrong!
It's good to see that egalitarian principles thrive and prosper in the Department for Transport.
Whilst the ermine clad Noble Lord luxuriated on the cushions during his Pilgrimage of Grice, it appears that his junior must slum it on the omnibus.
This via Twitter...
@transportgovuk: Suggestions invited for Sadiq Khan’s mystery traveller bus tour
Eye suggests that Sadiq sends his boss!
Eye has received the following Rule Book amendments from Our man in the 4 Foot.
Please ensure that you are fully conversant with them prior to booking on/giving up the will to live.
RuleBook
XS01
Elf 'n' Safety - committed to making even the simplest task nigh on impossible to perform.
WTF?
| 1 | 28/10/2009 09:39 | 2D08 reported an ostrich on the track between Ufford and Wickham Mkt. 1D03 confirmed same near bridge 435. Ips MOM attended but nothing found, NWR from 0935. | xxxxxx | NR |
This also from NR's RUS press release today...
Wise words from Network Rail...
Network Rail’s chief executive Iain Coucher said: “Passengers would see enormous benefits from further electrification with faster, quieter, smoother, greener journeys.
"The case for the Midland Main Line is extremely strong. Affordability and bringing down the cost of such projects are key if they're to get the green-light."
Of course were the Midland Main Line to be electrified sooner rather than later the IEP might even start to make sense...
UPDATE: This just in from Chris Milner via Faceache...
Nice to see the dunces at the back of the class have finally woken up.
Add Sheffield to Doncaster and Derby to Proof house jct and you have a decent electrified network.
UPDATE: This just in from Peter Mark Roget...
Sir - Can I point out that the conjunction of 'IEP' and 'Making sense' is an oxymoron
UPDATE: This just in from the Raver...
So the government says it wants two lines to be electrified but rules out Sheffield for the time being as too expensive, then Network rail presses for it, claiming the idea for the first two was all its own, when, in fact, John Armitt was adamantly opposed to electrification of the Great Western, using environmental arguments as well as cost.
NR seems to have a way of winding up the government which does not bode well for its long term future.
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