Please watch this video carefully and see if you can spot the obvious safety failing (with a bowler tip to Motor Cycle News).
That's right.
The pillion rider failed to change his motorcycle helmet for a hard hat whilst on, or about, the railway.
Looks like Bell Pottinger has been busy earning its fee.
Today's FT contains details, in advance of publication, of Chris Garnett's report into Eurostar's pre Christmas Chunnel debacle.
The rest of us mere mortals (and indeed those unhappy legions trapped below ground) will have to wait until tomorrow for its official publication.
One piece of good news.
The Pink 'Un confidently predicts "that senior resignations look unlikely".
Good news indeed for Eurostar chief executive and broom cupboard star, Richard Brown, who can stay in place and keep counting the money.
Shurley "...stay in place while inquiry recommendations are implemented." Ed?
UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic, via The Gruaniad...
"The central thing seems to be that the management didn't handle the incident very well. They seemed a bit vague about how the snow was going in.
"There wasn't the technical depth that I've seen at other organisations I've been to."
For those of you who are twitter-monkeys...
You can follow those aboard tonight's Penistone Line 'Social Media Train' at #smtrain...
I know Eye am (or should that be is?).
UPDATE: Listen to the latest Audio-boos (broadcast or 'live' sound files in old money) here.
This surreal response from the Noble Lord, given in the Upper House yesterday:
Lord Dykes (Liberal Democrat)
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of suggestions for gross cost contracts for future rail franchises.
Lord Adonis (Secretary of State, Department for Transport; Labour)
Gross cost contracts would place all revenue risks of passenger train operations with the public sector and would require the Government to be more greatly involved in specification and monitoring of all elements of rail operations, including the setting of fares, timetable development, revenue protection, service quality and marketing activities.
We do not believe that government involvement in such an approach would benefit users or franchisees. The Government believe that the ability of private sector operators to attract more passengers, grow the market, improve the service and receive the revenue benefits of such actions is a key element of the current franchise model and one of the reasons for the significant growth delivered in recent years. Our discussions with operators have generally supported this view.
Using your skill and judgment you may care to guess which one of these the Government is currently NOT directly involved with:
- Setting of fares (DOR recast of East Coast fares at the Noble Lord's behest )
- Timetable development (Adonis telling NR to path a sub 4hr London - Edinburgh service)
- Revenue protection (DafT proposals to increase penalty fares and demanding station gating)
- Service quality (Adonis specifies catering on train and at stations)
and marketing activities.
The clue is marketing...
But Adonis has had a jolly good go at pushing the All Line Rover, despite ATOC's best endeavours...
UPDATE: This from The Tailor....
The noble lord DOES get involved in marketing.
I am reliably informed that he personally approved the East Coast newspaper advert, which appeared just before Christmas, that sought to capitalise on the threatened BA strike by proclaiming the rail alternative.
All very laudable, but surely not in his job description?
PS The 'arm's length' DOR offices at Marsham Street are literally an 'arm's length' from m'Lord's very own throne room.
The memorial service for Derek Holmes will take place at 12:45 on Tuesday 23rd March 2010
The service will be held at St Mary’s church, Eversholt Street, NW1 1BN.
The church, which is the usual venue for the industry carol service, is on the corner of Eversholt St and Aldenham St; approximately five minutes walk from Euston Station.
The service will be conducted by Father John Caster, the vicar of St Mary’s parish church and the London Transport Choir will provide musical support.
Dean Finch will become Chief Executive of National Express Group on February 15th 2010.
Tube Lines gain is National Express' loss (shurley shome mishtake? Ed)
This from UK.Railway on Google Groups...
Once a year I buy a Thomas Cook European Passenger Timetable.
Today tried to buy one from (WH Smiths) Luton branch. They would not sell me one unless I either produced my passport (yeh I really do carry that with me to buy a book) - or some other identification - and even then give personal details.
They said this is now company policy for security reasons.
Is there no end to this hysteria?
How in God's name did we ever survive the 70s and 80s when the Fenians were on the loose?
UPDATE: This from Reuben over at Thomas Cook (no less)....
Just a couple of points about that....
1. He tried to buy it from the Foreign Exchange counter at the Thomas Cook branch, not WH Smith as they don't sell the Timetable in their high street shops.
2. The assistant that served him had unfortunately misunderstood a Cook's policy regarding FE sales where as part of a drive to cut down on money laundering it is company policy that anyone exchanging money must have ID. It has been communicated to all Thomas Cook stores that this policy does NOT apply to the sale of guide books and Timetables!
As well as being available at the FE counters of many Thomas Cook store, both the European and Overseas Timetables are of course also available to purchase online (where you get a discount!) or directly over the 'phone by calling 01733 402002.
Hope that clears this up!
Evidently the industry is determined to ensure that at this General Election transport isn't allowed to slip below the political radar!
Eye hears that there are two debates planned where the parties respective Transport spokesmen/women will have their feet held to the fire.
Over at Nigel Harris blog he explains the difficulty he has experienced in securing Theresa Villiers for a debate a mere two weeks before the General Election.
Meanwhile the South East area of the Institution of Railway Operators have already planned their debate, sponsored by CSRE, with Messrs Hammond MP, Mole MP, Baker MP and a muesli muncher from the Green Party.
Election 2010 - The Rail Debate will take place on the 17th March and attendance is apparently free!
Details here.
Exciting news from the Tafia!
Punters keen to see the energetic Tiger Woods at the Ryder Cup had better be aware of the following draconian restrictions placed on those attending the event.
According to an email from ATW's Contracts and Compliance Manager:
Due to concerns of the Ryder Cup organisers and the security arrangements that will be put into place, all trains conveying attendees to the Ryder Cup must use Newport station, where all attendees will be security screened prior to onward travel to the venue. They will then be transferred to specifically approved coaches for onward transportation into the Celtic Manor venue. There will be a 2 mile exclusion area around the venue; no pedestrians, private cars or non-approved coaches will be allowed in that area.
No doubt such extreme measures have been designed to protect what remains of the Principality's female virtue.
But what's this?
Arriva Trains Wales, famed for its desire to provide its own services over other operators routes, is apparently less keen to allow Charter operators in on the Ryder Cup action.
The email continues:
No trains, other than timetabled services, will be permitted to call at Severn Tunnel Junction station during this period. (In any case, there would not be enough space in the car park for coaches to wait and pick up, and the coaches will not be permitted into Celtic Manor). Please also note that we will not be in a position to accommodate steam haulage, deal with the disposal of bagged rubbish or provide facilities for the tanking of rolling stock during this period.
Good to see the Welsh rail operator safeguarding its own patch so zealously!
UPDATE: This just in from Pillbox...
You get more people in Cardiff on a Six Nations weekend than will most likely go to the golf (always 100k plus for Wales home matches).
This looks like overkill and going for the lowest common denominator rather than trying to accommodate demand.
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Serco and ClogRail have appointed Ian Bevan as Northern's interim managing director.
Bevan is currently Finance Director.
The new interim Deputy MD will be Steve Butcher, who is currently Northern's Area Director East.
NedSeagoon was unavailable for comment.
What on earth is going on over at London Midland?
Industry jungle drums suggest that Captain Permatan's second worst performing TOC (No1 South Eastern) is busy shedding staff.
Meanwhile, beleagured passengers actually trying to find out how the doomed franchise is operating its piss-poor train services have to negotiate a list of impertinent questions; including a request that they divulge their age and 'gender'.
Quite what that has to do with how trains are running is anyones guess.
Alas - the overactive web-monkey who designed the form has dropped a clanger.
In the Age of Change the options male and female are only appropriate to a question demanding details of a person's 'sex' - as any fule kno.
But a question on Gender must include at least the following options: Straight, Gay, Bi, Harperson or Permatan (below the rank of Captain).
Hopefully at least one p45 will be winging its way to the originator of this distasteful example of politically incorrect passenger profiling.
Now this looks exciting.
The Social Media Train - Weds 10th February 2010 - 6:36pm - 9:41pm - The Penistone Line between Sheffield and Huddersfield
The world's first Social Media Train will depart Sheffield Station at 18:36 on Weds 10th February 2010.
Full details available here.
Eye wonders if there is a hashtag for this and whether passengers will be twittering en-route?
UPDATE: This, via twitter, from @technicalfault...
The hashtag is #smtrain
And I'll be on it.
Remember the YouTube hit United Breaks Guitars?
Now rail users are getting in on the act.
This sorry tale from Jamie Anderson - you can follow the full saga over at Jamie's blog
Don't get mad - get viral!
More exciting news on the proposed East Coast "Eureka" timetable.
Regular readers will recollect that the new SLC2 timetable has provoked howls of indignation from other operators on the route, whose passengers will suffer extended journey times and piss-poor connections so that nationalised operator East Coast can get the timetable Lord Adonis wants.
But never let it be said that the Department doesn't listen to rail users.
DafT has instructed East Coast to undertake the consultation on the proposed timetable for the whole industry - a move, which in the words of one peeved operator, is akin to "giving your squiffy uncle the keys to the drinks cabinet".
No matter.
Obviously entrusting such a task to Passenger Focus, the body which has a statutory responsibility to represent all rail users, is just too risky.
After all they might come up with the wrong answer.
This from PR Week...
The Eurostar Independent Review has appointed Bell Pottinger to help manage the publication of its findings this week.
Just how bad can it be?
Good news for those who hate concrete cows!
This from New Civil Engineer...
Network Rail has received planning permission to build its new eco-friendly national centre in Central Milton Keynes for 3,000 employees.
The 122km² building will be built on the site of a former hockey stadium...
Talk of a 500lb gorilla now appear somewhat conservative.
This from Lobby Fodder...
I thought your readers might be interested in this example of PR puffery gone wrong.
Many Westminster colleagues received an email today from Grand Central celebrating the score it received in the Autumn 2009 Passenger Survey, the results of which were published today.
Unfortunately GC's PR (the soi disant 'veteran' observer. Ed) appears to have suffered a keyboard malfunction, judging from the subject line in this email:
Unless of course this is a new front in the War of SLC2?
Exciting news from Network Rail!
The company hopes to appoint two new non-Exec directors, subject of course to the pliant Members rubber stamping the appointments in July.
So who are these giants of corporate governance?
Why none other than ODA Chief Executive David Higgins and railwayman's railwayman Graham Eccles.
Eccles at least should bring some much needed board focus on the needs of train operators.
But what's this?
Is NR not keen to give the uber-operator too much visibility?
Study these pictures closely, contained in NR's email release announcing the appointments, and see if you can find Mr Eccles amongst the sea of Higgins...
Looks like Network Rail spin machine is already starting to airbrush the Silver Fox out of existence.
UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...
Eye is being a little unfair.
Obviously this is part of NR's determination to become economic and efficient.
If all NR non-Execs were called Higgins it would save a fortune on stationery costs.
UPDATE: This from NR's Internet Rapid Rebuttal Unit...
This is what happens when I don't check releases before they go out.
Rest assured it was put right in minutes of the email going out and the website version is correct.
Of course it's not a surfeit of Higginses we have at Network Rail, but of Eccleses.
Graham, of course, joins his brother Richard who is our head of route planning
UPDATE: This from Driver Potter...
Right, I want to make things clear at the outset that I'm only asking because I don't want to look an idiot later on.
The Missing Eccles isn't the same as The Famous Eccles, is he?
Eye is sure NR's Eccles will be paying a similar amount of attention to times written down on a piece of paper...
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