Is the RMT's Bob Crow planning a career change?
This extra-ordinary description of the great man on the Rail Network site:
RMT General Secretary, TV's Bob Crow said: “Despite all the talk about tougher contracts..." (cont' p94).
"TV's Bob Crow"!
Someone better be having a laugh.
Otherwise that's one more reason not to pay the licence fee.
Lord Adonis has been much exercised over the accuracy of PPM recently.
Only last week Her Majesty's Daily Telegraph suggested he was keen to tighten up the measure used to calculate on time arrival, so as to make the figure a more accurate reflection of time in the real world.
Of course no such strictures apply to the Noble Lord himself.
Why only this morning the High Speed Evangelist kept a bevy of TOC MDs waiting 20 minutes before he finally arrived to open the Stations Summit.
Fortunately right time arrival was achieved, but only after career railwayman, Chris Green, had jettisoned the final section of his presentation.
Leadership by example - shome mishtake shurley.
UPDATE: This from Strawbricking...
Instead of seeking to re-define "On time", currently within 10 minutes (for InterCity TOCs, Ed) at the "Final Destination", would not Lord A's attention be better directed at looking at trains which are late during their journey but still arrive "On time" because of the slack built into the time-table?
And then there are the ways in which the figures are "massaged", such as:
Good to see that Lord Adonis remains committed to the principles of Open Government and transparency.
These weasel words given on the 18th January:
Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat)
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 16 December 2009 (WA 233), how many civil servants were seconded to the private sector in the transport industries during 2008 and 2009.
Lord Adonis (Secretary of State, Department for Transport; Labour)
In instances where there are five or fewer occurrences, it is Department for Transport policy not to release information on grounds of confidentiality
Can you help Lord Bradshaw with his question?
If you find a Sir Humphrey lying around your railway company perhaps you could let Lord B know.
UPDATE: This from Sinoda...
With reference to the mysterious whereabouts of the Sir Humphreys amongst the TOCs, perhaps the answer is that they are all invisible.
As this advertisement says "Watch out, watch out, there's a (Sir) Humphrey about!"
The Fact Compiler observes - "birds dipping their beaks" - those were the days!
...Glenda Flagg.
Hats off to dishy Lord Adonis!!?!! He's the Transport secretary that sent National Express a-slithering and a-wriggling off the East Coast!?! Often seen out and about on the railway while he sends his junior man on the buses!?!! Who cares he's promised more new railways with less money than George Hudson!!!???!! With vision like that you can electrify Glenda's line anytime m' Lord!!!?! Geddit!
Lord Adonis!!!?!! Who does he think he is, this back room boffin from Number 10!?!! Who put a nerdy trainspotter in charge of transport when the roads needed a-gritting!???!! Poor old Glenda was a-slipping and a-sliding and it wasn't with delight!!?!! Geddit! What does boffin boy know about real transport, busy drawing pretty lines on the map whilst FuCC goes to hell!!!???!!! And as for a Rolling Stock Plan, I wouldn't trust you to colour code the knickers in my undies drawer, sweetie!!!?!!!
You're fired. Ed
Exciting news from FuCC.
The doomed TOC has a brand new MD!
One Neal Lawson.
Here his page from professional networking site Linkedin.
But what's this?
Apparently our Neal has been MD of FuCC for a whole 'nine' months!
Clever of Mary Grant to put Neal into the firing line a mere week into his new job!
So HSBC is still trying to flog its rolling stock leasing division (Rosco).
This from Project Finance Magazine:
Bidding consortia are forming for the sale of HSBC's UK rolling stock portfolio. The bank, which owns around a quarter of the UK's rolling stock, is said to be putting together a staple financing, where the seller offers a pre-packaged acquisition finance plan to potential buyers.
As HSBC Rail (nee Eversholt) was originally set up to be the electric train Rosco the decision to increase the number of route miles under the wires must add something to its potential value.
Although the greatest risk to HSBC's fleet portfolio was DafTs insane idea to seek early replacement of the highly reliable East Coast IC225 fleet with the Frankenstein Train.
But as the IEP is now hurtling to oblivion, bidders must be queuing up to take a punt.
Or should that be Pyle?
The shocking details on Comrade Scribbler's very own blog.
Just because you're innocent doesn't mean you're not guilty...
This just in from Bushy...
Now, I don't like to malign our entrepreneurial friends at Wrexham & Shropshire (and their Chiltern overlords) but parts of the operation seem not to be singing from the same hymn sheet.
In a release dated 24th September 2009 Wrexham and Shropshire MD, Andy Hamilton, said:
“This comes at an exciting time for Wrexham & Shropshire... By operating as part of the Chiltern Railways business, we will be able to serve additional stations such as Leamington Spa and will benefit from the single-minded commitment of one of the world’s most successful transport companies.”
On the WSMR website home page there is a drop down menu to select the start and end point for the intending passenger's journey.
Although the site clearly says that 'Journeys to and from London and Banbury are available' it is actually impossible to book Marylebone to Banbury (or v.v) using the WSMR website.
Meanwhile, Leamington Spa doesn't appear in the drop down menu at all.
Surprisingly though, you can book on the 07:29 Leamington to Marylebone WSMR service, but only via Chiltern's site.
Given they are both part of DB Regio this isn't exactly joined up.
UPDATE: This from Yokel...
Don't worry too much about on-line booking!
Us Yokels much prefer the civilised nature of being able to get on the train without a ticket, and to pay the manager when he comes round, and all without a penalty fare!
Again, don't worry about Leamington Spa, as it is only a recent addition to the itinerary.
Quite a shame really, because when W&S trains had to pass through, it was a rare chance to travel on the centre roads at Leamington that now seem to have reverted to their empty stock and freight only use.
Whatever happened to the non-stop London to Birmingham express trains that would thunder through the centre lines of every station in between? Oh, Dr Beeching, and "rationalisation".
Nostalgia ain't wot it used to be!
Is Beatrix Potter running the railway?
(LNWN) At 1726 the driver of 1M98, EA, 1611 Edinburgh Waverley - Manchester Airport, reported that CE483 signal on the Up Main line at Carlisle Kingmoor had reverted from green to red as the train approached. The driver was unable to stop and passed the signal at red. The driver was fit to continue. It was confirmed by the Signalling Shift Manager at Carlisle PSB that a momentary remote systems failure had occurred at the time at Carlisle Kingmoor. The S&T team attended, and upon arrival at Kingmoor Relay Room discovered a cat climbing over the racks which house the TDM equipment, and which may have been responsible for the momentary failure.
The cat was removed to a place of safety, and it was also reported that the roof of the Relay Room was leaking and the floor flooded, although not affecting equipment, the Property Action Line advised.
TRUST 740862 IQRO = 5 trains = 28 mins. Fault No.450842. CCIL 523594.
There was also disruption on the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line just before mid-day today - due to a fox on the line at Warren Street.
UPDATE: This from 'Is 1A03 out of Chester yet, Bert?' with a bowler tip to Messrs Kitchener and Ford...
Metro had a similar story on the 8th December last year - here suitably captioned.
This for everyone on the railway who has ever been dry-shafted by the Daily Mail.
So that will be all of us then.
By way of background the doctor of the dodgy dossier, Alistair Campbell, suggested on his blog last week that Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre may harbour a furtive passion for him.
Now view on gentle reader...
"So go away and write poisonous crap. Now." - Nice
With a bowler tip to Sir William Pollitt for drawing this to the Eye's attention.
This from Annoni Mouse...
Suddenly the entire railway seems to have fallen in love with Michael Portillo following his recent TV series on railway journeys.
Why even Nigel Harris raved about his performance!!!
But don't be taken in!
Given a choice between a free Indy and a free Torygraph on the train to York today which do you think he took?
And devoured it from cover to cover.
A leopard doesn't change its spots!
UPDATE: This from Leo Pink...
Actually, Portillo was quite a good Transport Minister in the Hippocratic sense.
He did no harm and was a good egg.
UPDATE: This from Tory Girl...
And which party, when in Government, approved the Channel Tunnel - a rail only link with the continent?
UPDATE: This from our slightly furious International Correspondent...
I am confused after watching the very Thatcherite former Hon Member for Enfield East, (latterly the Minister of State for Transport) recalling his version of "saving" the Settle & Carlisle line during his BBC2 Great Railway Hagiography.
He said saving the line was one of the greatest achievements of his political career.
It is all a long time ago but I thought that at the time he, and his predecessor David Mitchell, were both "minded" to consent to closure.
This in full accord with their official's aspirations.
And so it would have been but for a real railwayman.
London Midland Region's Ron Cotton (deep doff of the bowler, Ed) "accidentally" kept cocking up the closure procedure, thus allowing the Chair of the TUCC to listen to Ruswarp (the late and much lamented Border Collie objector).
Happily this was all resolved when, on the 11th April 1989, Portaloo published a letter that refused consent on the first page.
However, so badly spatchcocked was his missive - evidently at the 11th hour, that it made no sense at all (actually consenting to closure on subsequent pages).
There is a statue of Ruswarp on Garsdale station platform, commissioned by the Friends of the Settle and Carlisle Line.
But of Michael Denzil Xavier Portillo - not even a cheap plaque marks his passing.
Good.
There is no such thing as a bad dog, so the saying goes, merely bad owners.
Whilst FuCC languishes in the mire, its senior managers accused by passengers of being invisible, sister TOC First Great Western shows how to engage with customers.
This from the Bristol Evening Post...
The head of First Great Western is offering free first class tickets as a thank-you to customers for their patience during the bad weather.
Nice.
UPDATE: This from Forbes (not the magazine)...
But they’re only offering free first class tickets to people who use FGW as part of a prize draw.
Not an across-the-board demonstration of largesse, then, and certainly not to all their FGW commuters. (as per the link to the original Evening Post story. Ed)
Still, their PR machine must be doing well!
Maybe FCC realise that doing similar would enrage its 75,000 captive commuters even further.
If that were possible...
Telegrammed by Dave Spart
Leading railway author and sans culotte Christian Wolmar is on the University run to Hull this weekend.
So strong is his old lefty conscience that he prefers driving the 190 mile slog up and down the M1 rather than have any truck with bourgeois private sector open access train operators.
Eye salutes Comrade Scribbler for being true to his proletarian principles!
Eye posted this last year...
...but it somehow seems more topical now.
Note how, in spite of the white stuff, the railway continues to function.
Younger readers may struggle to recognise an item at the front of one of the kettles in this film.
It is called a snowplough.
Believe it or not they were used to clear the white stuff (snow) from the line so that trains could run normally.
How very quaint!
Eye believes that the last serving railwayman to use one of these in anger was Stewart Palmer.
Stewart, who retired as MD of South West Trains last year, apparently signed snowploughs when he was based at Carlisle.
If readers know of any current railwaymen (or women) who can remember how to use a snowplough please contact Network Rail.
UPDATE: This from NR's Internet Rapid Rebuttal Unit...
Is a snowplough like one of these?
Which was operating in Scotland only last week...
The Fact Compiler responds "And I'd have got away with it, if it hadn't been for that meddling rapid rebuttal unit!"
UPDATE: This from NR's Internet Rapid Rebuttal Unit...
Eye readers may be interested in the hardware that we have available to keep the railway running in winter.
Network Rail’s National Delivery Service (NDS) manage the delivery of NR fleet to the Routes requirements to mitigate the effects of winter weather
19 Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPVs) can be deployed to cover areas with third rail traction to prevent ice build up by spraying an anti-icing agent directly to the conductor rail .
Way back in July last year this entry from Sheffield station appeared in the 2009 Railway Garden Competition.
Unbelievably, despite the best efforts of the British weather, it is still there!
As it is now an established fixture perhaps EMT should donate it to the National Railway Museum?
This from the Jewish Chronicle on First Capital Connect...
FCC... has ‘run’ one of the surely most shambolic, inept, insulting services ever seen in this country.
As the JC points out there is now a Facebook group called I hate First Capital Connect and a newly launched petition on the Downing Street website, calling for First to be stripped of the franchise, has already secured almost 2,000 signatures.
Meanwhile from DafT not a murmur.
Perhaps Dr Mike Mitchell, Director of National Networks at the DfT and a former First Group Business Development Director, is still on his Christmas hols?
UPDATE: Nadine Dorries MP sends a letter to Lord Adonis sticking the boot in...
I wish to raise the question as to whether First Capital Connect should lose their franchise as many of my constituents have lost faith in them to provide the services that they are supposed to.
Much excitement over tomorrow's press conference to launch Evergreen 3.
For those who can't wait Chiltern have very kindly put up a website which contains all the details.
So not much to announce then.
But what's this?
An Embargoed Press Release reaches The Fact Compiler from the Department for Transport (with a bowler tip to Steve Strong and Charles Yerkes).
As it is embargoed until 00:01 on the 15th January the Eye wouldn't dream of disclosing any details.
Other than pointing out that Chiltern have always had a 20 year franchise so obviously the release can't be re-announcing that.
Can it?
UPDATE: This from the Major...
The Fact Compiler needn't have worried.
ATOC have broken the embargo!
The below, one of their 'five a day', was issued at 16:10 today:
CHILTERN RAILWAY’S NEW LINE IS GREAT NEWS FOR PASSENGERS – ASSOCIATION OF TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES
News provides perfect example of what train companies can achieve with smarter franchising
Responding to Chiltern Railways’ announcement of a £250m new line, Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said:
“Chiltern Railway’s project to significantly improve services between London and the Midlands is great news for passengers, and a good example of what a private train operating company can achieve under the right conditions.
“Franchises which run for 15 years or more, as with the case of Chiltern Railways, provide incentives for train companies to invest in upgrading their services and to focus ever harder on meeting passengers’ needs.
“We want to move to more widespread use of longer franchises, together with other smart franchise reforms, to free train companies to provide passengers and taxpayers with a better deal.”
Ends
Shows scant knowledge of railways and less still of PR.
No doubt DafT will be delighted.
UPDATE: And now the floodgates have opened...
This from the Tories at 18:10
Commenting on the new rail line agreement for Chiltern Railways, Shadow Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers said:
“Chiltern’s innovative investment in new capacity is only possible because of their 20 year franchise. Lord Adonis may pay lip service to longer franchises but until he is willing to make 15-20 year franchises the norm, and not the exception, passengers will lose out on private sector investment in better services, better stations and new trains.
“Only a Conservative Government can..." (cont' p94)
Frankly the Department has only itself to blame - issuing a release and embargoing it for 14 hours is asking for trouble.
Telegrammed by our Independent Expert
In the current extremely cold weather it is vital to maintain body temperature.
You may need additional insulation.
Why not use abandoned copies of dead tree media (pictured).
This public service announcement brought to you by the Tube Lines ambience team, who are obviously resting.
Tom Harris MP on the delights of winter travel...
I’m not sure why people are so much more tolerant of airline delays than railway delays.
Eye suspects it's because rail travel is seen as humdrum whilst air travel still retains a mystic allure (makes no sense to me either).
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