NR looks for new Comms Director

With Huggable Higgins now in place NR is looking to fill the other half of the former Coucher Pender combo.

Yesterday's Sunday Times contained an ad for a Network Rail Communications Director (PR monkeys - fill your boots here).

With the infrastructure controller beefing up its spin and lobbying machine no doubt the internal discussions on how to handle the LEK report into Alternative Railway Structures will get a whole lot more animated.

Will NR's Board Room table be able to handle the excitement?

Wifi finally appears on a CrossCountry train

First Arriva CrossCountry wifi enabled set in traffic.

As exclusively revealed by Eye on the 21st January and seen in service on Friday.


With a bowler tip to Is 1A03 out of Chester yet, Bert?

Exciting privatisation news from abroad

Good news from The Zimbabwean...

HARARE - The government is considering opening up the railway network to private players, says State Enterprises and Parastatals Minister Gorden Moyo.

The move could put an end to the National Railway of Zimbabwe (NRZ’s) monopoly as it is drowning in a ballooning $274 million deficit of depleted fleet and recapitalisation costs.

What a marvelous opportunity for Britain, the former colonial power, to give something back.

With the help of DfT, ATOC and NR 'experts' that measly deficit could be trebled in no time.

Ken Livingstone wins European Railway Award

Eye congratulates Ken Livingstone for winning the European Railway Award!

This from some people abroad...

Ken Livingstone and Stefan Haas receive European Railway Award

CER, EIM, and UNIFE presented the European Railway Award 2011 today to former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone for political achievements and to Knorr-Bremse Austria Managing Director Dr Stefan Haas for technical achievements. Since 2007, the European rail sector has honoured outstanding achievements in the development of competitive and environmentally sustainable rail transport. The European Railway Award 2011 attracted more than 500 guests from all over Europe, including high-level politicians and transport stakeholders.

Surely a move designed to gladden the hearts of both the ConDem Government and Mayor BoJo?

Lest it be forgot: CER claims it is the 'Voice of European Railways', UNIFE allegedly represents 'The European Rail Industry', whilst EIM purports to be the voice of 'European Infrastructure Managers'.

On the plus side this sort of political posturing should put paid to European nationalised railways taking over any further UK franchises.

UPDATE: This from Mizter T...

The Fact Compiler fails to mention why Ken got the Euro award.

It was for having the bottle to do something genuinely radical and introduce the congestion charge scheme to London in 2003, which in turn encouraged people out of their cars and onto public transport instead - rather than just talking tough the newt-fancier rather called the cynics' bluff.

BoJo - a man of a great many words but some might say a little less action - has since removed the western extension of the CC zone, but the original central area remains - and the monies accruing therefrom are probably the only thing keeping TfL's finances afloat.

Meanwhile we must bide our time until the 2023 European Coiffurists' Award is given to Boris - for providing the continent's most inspiring Mayoral barnet.

DB masters the skies!

This exciting news from DB's Trade & Press newsletter, just landed...

Deutsche Bahn launches “flying trains” to promote Rail&Fly-offer.

Deutsche Bahn goes up in the air: Two Tuifly Boeing 737-800 have been designed in order to promote DB’s offer Rail&Fly in co-operation with over 90 airlines for rail journeys to and from major airports in Germany and Amsterdam.

The official christening of “DB Air one” in ICE design and “DB Air Two” in DB Regio design took place on 7th February 2011 at Cologne/Bonn airport.

Good news indeed.

Sadly Eye was unable to find a picture of the branded planes so our art department mocked up the following.


Apparently the noise pollution is minimal, till they land.

UPDATE: This, paradoxically, from EastWestDivide...

Am I the only one who find this kneejerk association of Germany = WW2 a bit tiresome?

Tschüß

Peter Fox RIP

Eye understands that Peter Fox, master of the Platform 5 publishing empire, passed away yesterday.

The Fact Compiler adds his condolences to those of many others from across the industry.

Grumpy Old Man - you will be very much missed.

UPDATE: This from Robert at Today's Railways...

It is with great regret that we must inform you of the death of Peter Fox on the afternoon of Tuesday 8th February 2011.

Peter had undergone replacement heart valve surgery in November 2010 and was re-admitted to hospital on Monday 7th February complaining of shortness of breath. Tests revealed that one of his replacement heart valves was not working correctly and a further operation was carried out on Tuesday 8th February to rectify the problem. Sadly, Peter’s heart was already in a very weak state and he never regained consciousness after the operation.

Peter will be sorely missed and our thoughts at this time are with his wife, Doreen, and his children Suzanne, David and Jane and their families.

The details of Peter’s funeral have yet to be finalised. Further information about this will be available from the Platform 5 office shortly.

UPDATE: This from a Mr Tony Miles...

Please add condolences from the rest of the railway press.

Peter held strong opinions and some of us didn't always agree with them - but he always defended his point of view with conviction.

No surprises as another DafT procurement fails

Regular Eye readers will not be surprised to see that yet another DafT procurement exercise has gone tits-up.

This from the Beeb...

Plans to privatise the search and rescue helicopter service have been suspended amid concerns about the bidding process to find a supplier.

Of course DafT has a fine reputation for running cost effective procurement exercises.

Who can forget the abandoned process to procure 202 DMU vehicles, the continuing saga of the InterCity Express Programme (costs currently running at £27m and without a single vehicle ordered!) or the long drawn out saga of the new Thameslink fleet?

No doubt Petrol-head will address his own department's failings before demanding ever greater efficiencies from pained suppliers?

UPDATE: This from Chionanthus Virginicus...

Can we hope that a decision not to replace Sea King helicopters with foreign ones (Sikorsky) via the aborted search & rescue privatisation, will be followed by a decision to support UK jobs at the last remaining UK helicopter plant - AgustaWestland at Yeovil (Lib-Dem) ?

And will the same principle to protect UK jobs also apply to IEP?

"Chopper" Hammond to the rescue?

Pointless signs - Didcot Parkway

This from Concerned of Caversham...

Spotted at Didcot Parkway station:


Is this a cunning ruse to ensure that any fire does full justice to delightful Didcot?

Network Rail - old habits die hard...

This from a Resident of Grub Street...

Despite last week's arrival of 'Huggable Higgins' NR still appears unable to shake off the ghost of its former Chief Exec.

This from Network Rail's media website today...


Perhaps updates to this site are still pend'ing approval?

Pointless signs - Croxley Green

Love-in on the East Coast?

This from King Henry...

Exciting news from the country's two remaining Open Access Operators.

According to the National Rail website...

Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th February:
Grand Central Trains Sunderland service and First Hull Trains will combine and run in unison between London Kings Cross and Doncaster.

Can the nuptials be long delayed ?

Pointless signs - Hamilton Square, Merseyrail

UPDATE: This from Rudi at Merseyrail...

Not quite as pointless as you might think at first glance; it marks the area on the platform where trains stop when they are made up of 3 cars.

Passengers tend to congregate at the point where the entrances are rather than where the 3 car train stops (because of the position of the signal) and then need to scamper along causing a slight delay in departure and obviously, panicky passengers running to make sure they don't miss it.

With 16 trains per hour round our loop on the Wirral Line, even 10 seconds delay is important so that's why the sign is there, in fact it was put there at the request of various user groups...

The problem doesn't occur when it's a 6 car train by the way which more or less covers the entire length of the platform so need to for anyone to scamper wherever you're standing!

Pointless signs - Oxford

This from Globetrotter...

On a recent visit to Oxford, I spotted this gem in the middle of the station approach.


Apart from the fact that would-be passengers had presumably already taken their life into their hands getting from the city centre in the first place, the sign is conveniently positioned on the central island between two crossings, so everyone would have had to cross part-way before being admonished with the blindingly obvious.

Presumably more health n safety RCE-covering?

Rail privatisation has failed - Official (again)

Oh how we laughed!

The last time the current lot were in power we were assured that Nationalised industries were woefully inefficient at running railways and that what was required was the sharp suits and shouty braces of the private sector.

And lo, so it came to pass, the railways were flogged off and costs trebled (shurely the tax payer achieved better value for money? Ed)

So what are we to make of this information briefed to most of the Sunday papers?

Deutsche Bahn, Renfe, Albellio and Trenitalia are interested in bidding for the InterCity West Coast franchise.

DafT - have you no shame?

Perhaps Cameron, Petrol-head or Cruella might care to apologise, on behalf of the "back to basics" adulterer Major, for having got it so terribly, terribly wrong?

Pointless signs - Euston

UPDATE: This from Mike...

That's just pathetic, especially since there's an official sign!

This may interest you, a website that shows all the different rail signs, including the 5-10 different HST Stopping markers.

UPDATE: This from a Mr Chris Milner...

Actually, the sign does have a point, as the yellow NMT visits these platforms at Euston, and is the only HST regularly active on the WCML.

UPDATE: This from @Gav678, via Twitter...

Your pointless sign at Euston is most certainly not useless for the NMT.

Virgin cracks joke in advance of Franchise bid!

This side splitter from the Birmingham Post...

Virgin Trains has vowed to fill the high-quality customer service void left by the collapse of the Wrexham & Shropshire railway company.

Stop it Beardie, you're killing me!

First for exemplary customer service

This from the Pirate of Penzance...

It's been all action on the 12:06 Paddington to Penzance today ...

A gentleman got on at Reading and after having his ticket checked was told that it was not valid.

The man explained to the customer service executive that his connection was late getting into Reading. The CSA then advised him that he'd be getting a fine, and asked for his details and a signature. The man gave his address but refused to sign. A small polite argument followed where a few people nearby got involved, one calling the CSA a jobsworth.

When the train arrived at Exeter, an officer of the BTP came on board carrying instructions to arrest three abusive passengers. When the officer was appraised by other passengers around of the situation, he told the CSA to leave or be reported for wasting police time. The passenger was allowed to continue.

Incidentally, the ticket he was travelling on had been issued free to him by FGW as compensation for a previous two hour delay.

Is there any chance that 'being reasonable' could be included as a module in First Great Western's training programme?

EMT - Off with their heads!

This from a Mr PMB...

One wonders if defacing an image of the Monarch is still considered to be an act of treason?


If so, the marketing luvvies at EMT might be in a spot of bother, as they have made a rather unflattering modification to Her Majesty on this poster.

NR restructuring shocker!

Shocking news from Network Rail!

M&C will become East Midlands route with Martin Frobisher, currently route infrastructure maintenance director M&C, taking up the role of route director, East Midlands . A replacement for Martin as the route infrastructure maintenance director will be appointed shortly.

Dear God - putting someone who understands maintenance in charge of a Route. Madness!

It'll never catch on.

UPDATE: This from NR's Internet Rapid Rebuttal Unit...

Martin will not be our first route director with a background in maintenance.

Our route director for LNE, Richard Lungmuss used to be Scottish maintenance director.

Is there no end to this lunacy! Bring back the accountants says Eye. They know how to run a railway! (Shurely shome mishtake. Ed)

Pointless signs - York

This from A Conductor...

I saw this pointless sign at York station yesterday.


Please note the lack of spell checking, but it's also worth noting that the aforementioned lift was working fine.