UPDATE: This from Mata Hari...
Congratulation to Eye on catching an industrial 'espioneure' in the act. Mr Prefect is clearly photographing the yaw damper, no doubt with the aim of selling the British design to some foreign power experiencing ride stability problems.
He should be apprehended and shot at dawn.
UPDATE: This from a Mr Malins...
Not a hitchhiker more a HitachiHiker?
Exciting news from First Group's Sir Moir Lockhead.
The DfT's favourite operator is determined to show how, in the Age of Austerity, it is possible to get more train fleet for your pennies.
Here Sir Moir receives the first of his new Value for Money trains from Man with Beard.
First strenuously denied that the challenging dimension of the new vehicles would cause overcrowding problems.
University of Aberdeen computer modelling has shown the new fleet will comfortably meet demand for rail travel after January's fare increases.
Tom Harris may not have a Shadow ministerial role but he is still more than able to expose nonsense from the Government front bench.
This extraordinary written response to a Harris PQ given in the House yesterday:
Tom Harris (Glasgow South, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are for use of Pendolino rolling stock for service on the East Coast Main Line; and what assumptions were made about the availability of rolling stock when the East Coast Main Line 2011 timetable was being prepared.
Theresa Villiers (Minister of State (Rail and Aviation), Transport; Chipping Barnet, Conservative)
We are aware of discussions that Directly Operated Railways have had about the use of a new Pendolino set on the east coast main line. This is an operational matter for Directly Operated Railways.
Additional rolling stock is not required for the operation of the May 2011 east coast timetable, which has been developed on the assumption that it will be operated using the existing east coast fleet.
So Villiers and her officials are claiming that the discussions about commissioning a new Pendolino on the East Coast Main Line was all Rail Barbie's idea and her's alone?
Eye does not believe this for one moment.
It is inconceivable that these discussions could have taken place without support from the highest level within DfT - after all Marsham Street is paying for the new trains.
How quickly the Saviour of the Jammy Dodger has become complicit in DafT's machinations!
Eye has been sent this Customer Service training video from an unnamed TOC.
Sadly it appears to promote a form of behaviour that is strictly against the law.
Perhaps you can spot where it is at fault?
That is correct.
The Man-with-no-name appears to be smoking.
Oh dear.
It would appear that DafT's running dogs have been instructed to savage all those expressing views at variance with the wisdom that emanates from Marsham Street.
Amidst the news of scarecrows, flower gardens and coffee mornings this rather caustic comment appears in the October edition of ACoRP's Train on Line:
In the same issue [of New Transit] Richard Malins opines from his planet, wherever it is, that the benefits of gating are mythical...
The piece continues...
There’s a particularly interesting article by Adrian Wheatley [in Railway Strategies] on what stations should offer (including ‘live’ rather than recorded announcements and restricting access to non-travellers – are you reading this Mr Malins?)
Perhaps a little strong?
No matter.
Good to know that ACoRP has added revenue protection modelling to its current skillset of weeding, dusting and hanging bunting.
UPDATE: This from a Mr Malins of that Ilk!
Perhaps you could illustrate the news in your organ that I am being savaged by the DfT's running dogs with this picture, which was used to demonstrate the alleged benefits of ticket barriers in said letter to "Transit", and comes to us courtesy of Passenger Focus.
That letter went on to point out that these benefits are to be brought to East Coast passengers at King's Cross, a scheme piloted by Rail Barbie (self confessed no less) and, she tells me, to be installed on Platforms 0 - 5 by February 2011.
Sadly I am not a subscriber to ACoRP so I don't know what I am actually accused of in Train on Line, but I don't imagine, even in DfT's wildest dreams, that many stations they sponsor will get gated.
Telegrammed by Sir Joseph Chamberlain
Much unease in the West Midlands over Virgin's current Euston - Birmingham - Wolverhapton service.
A Virgin advert in the Conservative Party Conference brochure claimed an average journey time of just over two hours for the journey between the Capital and the Second City.
Perhaps a tad embarrassing as the usual journey time is actually 81 minutes - a time already considered pisspoor by many of the region's great and good as it is only eight minutes faster than the service was 30 years ago.
Of course Virgin's PR boo-boo did little to reasure the local business community who are already feeling unloved.
The very same week that Virgin was unsuccesfully schmoozing the Tories for a franchise extension the TOC also sent a General Manager to sooth Business Leaders at the influential West Midlands Business Transport Group.
Sadly he declined to give a presentation, and struggled to list even three items on the route that had improved under Virgin's watch. The refusal to engage in meaningful discussion left many seething, with a consensus quickly emerging that the time could better have been spent on the Golf Course!
This apparent disspassion towards the West Midlands seems in marked contrast to Beardie Rail's successful relationship with business travellers in the North West
Indeed, some Virgin-endorsed posters promoting Warrington as a business destination, just 1h40 from Euston, have caused a significant sense-of-humour failure in Wolverhampton. Aggrieved Blackcountry businessfolk were horrified to learn that the journey from Wolverhampton to London (126 miles) actually takes nine minutes longer than the journey from Warrington to London (180 miles)!
Perhaps the final straw was to discover that the fleet-of-foot can change trains at Stafford, and reach Wolverhampton in just 1h32 minutes, saving eight minutes on the direct service.
Perhaps Virgin has relied too long on the reputation Brummies have for being slow on the uptake?
Sadly, they can do so no more.
The powerful West Midlands Business Transport Group, led by Birmingham Chamber's eminance grise Jerry Blackett, has had enough of the nonsense, and is determined to see the Midlands get a fair share of goodies in any future franchise:
"A future franchisee would have an impact on the economic well-being of the Midlands, and we would wish to see a policy of active engagement with business.
"Based on discussions with prospective franchisees, Birmingham Chamber Group will also provide a view to the UK Department for Transport on the alignment of the potential franchisee with the perceived needs of business."
So, with an 'end of term report' due to land on Petrol-head's desk expect the award of the West Coast franchise to become increasingly politically charged.
UPDATE: This from the Shunter...
I had assumed that the McNulty Value for Money review had put paid to Virgin's franchise extension negotiations.
After all DfT were taken to the cleaners twice before by Beardie Rail.
So presumably, for the good of the exchequer, Marsham Street was forbidden to have another go.
This from Puffing Billy...
Good news for those interested in railway catering.
There was much disappointment last month when East Coast cancelled, at short notice, the launch of its new catering offer.
Happily it would appear that the state owned TOC has found a new venue to unveil it's exciting plans for the future - no less a location than the opulent Stafford Hotel in the exclusive St James area of London.
As well as offering trade hacks the chance to meet with Rail Barbie and Karen Boswell over a 'special meal', tonight's invitees have also been promised a tour of the hotel's unrivalled wine cellar and, as an added bonus, a 'special guest' appearance by a senior figure from Network Rail!
In these austere times it is comforting to know that the public sector can still put on a good show.
Perhaps Sir Philip Green should call by to see such efficiency in action?
UPDATE: This from one of Eye's spies at last night's dinner...
It would appear that Ms Holt is one of Eye's growing band of devotees.
She began last night's festivities by introducing herself as 'Rail Barbie'...
Good effort.
Much excitement in Westminster this weekend following the news that Eddie the Eagle's sister has been appointed Shadow Transport Secretary.
Eddie, who was sadly unavailable for comment, said "My sister knows shedloads about transport, she even caught a bus once".
Maria Von Trapp is also famous for having a twin sister not called Maria and playing chess (according to an uncorroborated citation on Wikipedia) .
In slightly less depressing news the following also received junior shadow transport posts:
Jim Fitzpatrick MP
Andrew Gwynne MP
John Woodcock MP
Jim Fitzpatrick has some good indepth knowledge of Crossrail. Andrew Gwynne appears vaguely pro-railway and John Woodcock is MP for Furness... errr... where they once built locos and stuff a long time ago (will this do?).
Eye fears that any debate on transport cuts following the announcement of the CSR will be a pretty one-sided affair.
UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...
Aren't you missing something much more important about the Shadow ministerial appointments?
It seems that Tom Harris' blog has been saved for the nation!
UPDATE: Eye has been taken to task by both @BorisWatch and @TransportB...
Apparently it is official: Maria Sharapova likes chess, it says so here and here.
Perhaps more importantly, for the railway, Ms Eagle also says:
"I don't think you can do a proper operational ministerial job, which is about providing a function of the state, without going and having a proper look"
So. Farewell Lord Adonis! But your Pilgrimage of Grice lives on!
It's been a long time since a senior industry figure has publicly said that the 'Emperor has no clothes'.
So when one does it twice within the space of a month it is worthy of special mention.
Regular Eye readers may recollect that on the 23rd September a certain Mr Richard Clifton, of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority, poured scorn on DB's claims that 'safety bureaucracy' would prevent ICE3s running through the tunnel.
Just three weeks later our brave fighter-for-truth is at it again!
This time exposing high level nonsense from the Frenchies, claiming Chunnel safety concerns, after Eurostar threatened to buy German trains.
According to the Pink 'Un:
Richard Clifton, head of the UK delegation to the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority, said no party had raised serious concerns during a consultation launched in July last year about allowing trains with distributed power – motors distributed throughout the train – use the tunnel.
Richard Clifton - good effort.
Telegrammed by Our International Correspondent
What a difference a day makes if you are Virgin Rail.
Last night the self-styled Big Red was lauded, somewhat improbably by the RSPCA, for the excellence of its animal breakfasts, which at least makes a change from the more self-serving of the industry award schemes.
Unfortunately every dog has its day and this morning the Saviour of the Jammy Dodger kicked Beardie Rail out of the franchise extension balloon.
This from the Pink 'Un:
"We won’t be accepting Virgin’s proposal for an extension. We think it’s important to open franchises to competition and we’re likely to get better value for taxpayers and the government,” said Transport Minister Theresa Villiers.
Whilst DafT plans to refranchise the West Coast route just before the Olympics (Doh!) there is still radio silence on when its own toy trainset - the failing Barbie Rail - will be returned to the market.
With the nationalised East Coast operator languishing at the bottom of the performance tables Eye would have thought that resolving this particular ownership issue was slightly more pressing.
Then again - perhaps not.
With Virgin West Coast bleeding time and effort to retain the franchise there will be an inevitable impact on the TOC's performance. Happily for Marsham Street this should make East Coast's dire efforts look almost credible.
Meanwhile, there is at least one piece of genuine good news.
With both AngloScottish routes turned into basket cases the clamour for an early start to HS2 will become deafening.
This from George Bradshaw...
Oh dear, oh dear. Network Rail has recently been bolloxed by the ORR for getting the May timetables wrong.
Now full timetables have been uploaded for Christmas Day, when a lot of trains seem to be running -- just like the early 1960s!
Can this be right?
This from a Captain Nolan...
I grabbed this screenshot after booking tickets on East Coast's site yesterday:
It was nice to see the both NXEC and East Coast have ensured that the money spent on re-branding the booking system has resulted in a thorough job being done.
This video from Eurostar - note the absence of broom cupboards.
And here the details of the announcement:
Eurostar International, the high-speed passenger train operator between the UK and mainland Europe has today announced a £700 million investment in its fleet.
The investment includes:
Why is there a train in Hyde Park Today?
Last night, Eurostar placed one of the new e320s in Kensington Gardens, by the Albert Memorial, for one day only, opposite the Royal Albert Hall next to the Albert Memorial.
Prize draws for London-Paris tickets via Twitter
To highlight today’s announcement and the e320 being in Kensington Gardens, by the Albert Memorial, everyone who uses the hashtag #neweurostartrains on Twitter today will be entered into a prize draw, for one of five pairs of return tickets from London to Paris.
This from the soi disant 'veteran' observer...
Eight days on a mountain versus a lifetime on the streets
As you read this an intrepid group of 25 railway men and women are beginning their ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for the Railway Children.
All those participating have paid for the cost of this trip themselves so any sponsorship money they raise will go direct to the charity.
The climbers are:
Tim Brawn, Robbie Burns, Dan Cole, Dyan Crowther, Samantha Davis, Jerry England, David and Jo Franks, Steve Frost, Peter Hobbs, Michael Holden, Sarah Kendall, Arthur Leithley, Arith Liyanage, Sean Maserson, Richard Molloy, Darran Moss, Mac Motraghi, Adam O'Connor, Alan Ross, Anthony Smith, David Taylor, James Vickers, Paul Watson and Mark Wilson.
Many of you will already have sponsored the individuals undertaking this arduous hike.
If you haven't made a donation yet and would still like to there is a Virgin Money Giving page where you can sponsor all the participants as a group.
Thank you.
Please consider doing so - it's for a very worthwhile cause. Donations can be made here.
Strange - the words 'late' and 'missing' appear not to the there.
UPDATE: This from Chionanthus virginicus...
Perhaps the word above the "C" of spacious says it all... "nothing".
UPDATE: This from Sim Harris...
One more point of interest: why does TIE persist in describing its growing but sadly jobless collection of rolling stock as Tram Vehicles?
Tautology rules OK in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle!
So.
Petrol-head has decided on a 'Y' route for HS2.
By creating a junction just north of Birmingham both Lancashire and Yorkshire will now be served
Sadly not everyone at yesterday's conference welcomed the announcement.
But a more charming set of protesters you could not have wished to meet.
Oh dear!
Wolmar hasn't been having a good Tory party conference.
The star of stage, screen and amazon book-store was invited to sit as honoured guest on the panel at ATOC's fringe event last night.
The TOC lobby group had even been kind enough to provide a train ticket to get the great man to Brum.
Imagine Wolmar's chagrin when the gripper on his Virgin train pointed out it was valid London Midland only!
Eye is unsure whether this was an example of ATOC penny pinching or second thoughts in the Bernard Street bunker - perhaps they hoped the great man would miss the event by travelling on an oh-so-slow train
Meanwhile Wolmar's continues to woo the new members of the ConDem ministerial transport team.
Although judging by this tweet, sent from Bombardier's fringe event, not that succesfully!
Saw Ms Villiers at Con conf. She is v cross at me for being so hard on Norman re Cycling England's demise. I said it was 6 years work wasted.
What a picture that would have made - Wolmar being savaged by the Saviour of the Jammy Dodger!
This from TfL...
Ian Brown, Managing Director, London Rail
Ian Brown, who has led London Rail with such great distinction over the last 10 years, has decided to retire from Transport for London.
In a career spanning over 40 years, Ian has made an outstanding contribution to public transport and the rail industry, and I know that he fully intends to remain active in the industry for many years to come.
In the meantime, I would like to acknowledge just some of the radical improvements delivered for passengers under Ian’s leadership:
Posts
All Comments
