Von Shooter flies into the sunset?

This from Chiltern's Herr Von Shooter...

I am writing to let you know that I have decided to retire from the Chairmanship of Chiltern Railways and DB Regio at the end of December.

By then I shall have had the great privilege of leading Chiltern for nearly 18 years and I will have reached the age of 63.

I have enjoyed every part of my 41 years in the rail industry but especially the opportunity to lead the teams who built Chiltern Railways.

It is always difficult to decide when to move on but, having for the last 3 years also been acting M.D. of Chiltern, I have now handed that role to Rob Brighouse who I appointed earlier in the year. He will lead a very strong team to further successes, the first of which will be the new much faster Chiltern Mainline service between Birmingham and London. We will launch this together.

Meanwhile, I would like to continue to take an active part in the rail industry. In addition I have been asked to be Chairman of the CBI West Midlands Council for 2012 and 2013.

Adrian Shooter, CBE, Chairman of Chiltern Railways

DafT to receive influx of rail experts tomorrow

Good news for those who care about our railways!

According to this afternoons' Lobby briefing: Civil servants have been told that they can bring their children into work tomorrow, if their child's school is closed because of strike action.

The Government estimates that of England's 17,000 schools - including academies - one third would close, one third would be partially open and one third would be open.

Perhaps a first for the Department for Transfer - Great Minster House will actually contain people who like trains!

But Eye fears tears before bedtime, when Mr Kipling refuses to allow anyone else to play with his expensive new trainset.

Railway Garden Competition - London Bridge

Thameslink fleet - Flipflop iDave holds out hope?

Much rejoicing in the East Midlands!

As iDave carries out yet another U turn, this time over Circus Animals, local politicos can already smell blood in their campaign to preserve the UK's last remaining train manufacturing plant.

Regular Eye readers will recollect that last week the Department for Transfer awarded the £2bn contract for new Thameslink trains to Siemens, who will build all 1,500 vehicles in errr... Germany!

Meanwhile, some 3,000 Derby workers employed by unlucky bidder Bombardier face an uncertain future of empty order books and hard times.

Happily, hell hath no fury like a region scorned.

Eye understands that the normally pliant East Midland's business and political communities are furious over this slap in the face, with several leading figures suggesting that the region should now seek to scupper Hammond's pet project - HS2.

HS2, according to Petrol-head, is all about economic benefits.

But with Thameslink decided without reference to local economies, there won't be many left to benefit from HS2. If, and when, it eventually crawls through Derbys' and Nott's'.

Still don't expect miracles. iDave only visits the region for photocalls, whilst Hammond couldn't even be bothered to announce, in person, that over 3,000 skilled UK jobs will vanish overseas.

Warwickshire sets out transport priorities

This from the Birmingham Post...

Conservative-led Warwickshire County Council is set to take its case against HS2 railway plans to the Government...

The county council says it has been working with other councils opposing HS2 along the route, and action groups and HS2 Ltd to “gather data” about HS2.

Would this be the same Warwickshire County Council that is funding opposition to HS2 and at the same time withdrawing support for local bus services after 7pm.

It surely is!

Warwickshire CC’s portfolio holder for transport and highways, Coun Peter Butlin, said the authority was left with little choice but to axe the services once their grant was cut.

“The only way we could balance our budgetary responsibility and keep providing services was to target the areas where there are fewer customers,” he added.

“It’s unpalatable, but it’s a fact of life".

Indeed it is - unpalatable that is.

Lookalike - Thunderball

With a bowler tip to today's Grauniad...

Exciting new Eye competition - Spot the VM

Time for an exciting Eye competition!

Using your skill and judgement see if you can spot the Vice Marshall in this delightful urban setting.


Any suggestion that this post is a gratuitous HS2 puff piece is, of course, completely wide of the mark.

UPDATE: This from Mark (no not that one, the other one)...

Never mind spotting the VM - was there any logic or was it merely Karma that on the side of a bus making the bold proclamation 'yes to Jobs' that the Siemens logo should also appear?

May I suggest 'No to Derby' to be a more suitable slogan on this occasion?

UPDATE: This from Sealink Sam...

Here's another 'Spot the VM' picture for Eye's collection.

It really is him, in 1972, on the new MV Hengist, Folkestone-Boulogne.


Yes, Sealink promotional shots in the 1970s really were this sophisticated.

Railway Garden Competition - Barbican

This from a Dr Strabismus...


I attach a picture of the "Hanging Gardens of Barbican" for consideration in the Railway Gardens section of your highly esteemed e-organ.

TfL destined to repeat past mistakes?

This from Our International Correspondent...

No-one can accuse Transport for London of being obsessed with its own history (despite being trapped in ancient infrastructure).

This from a call to the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden yesterday afternoon ---

Hello, can I speak to one of the curatorial team please?

No, sorry, they only work on Mondays and Thursdays. Please call back.

MThO curators? Broken Britain indeed!

Railway Garden Competition - London Bridge

Transport Select Committee does Social Media!

Louise Ellman, the Chair of the Transport Select Committee, has taken to YouTube to promote an inquiry into High Speed 2



Evidence is being taken from 10:15 this morning - details here.

The Fact Compiler deeply approves of this use of new technology and not a broom cupboard in sight.

UPDATE: This from the Transport Select Committee...

The Committee has agreed to publish an independent review of the Government’s case for a High Speed Rail programme that was commissioned from an independent consultancy (Oxera).

The review is available on the Transport Committee's website High Speed Rail inquiry page.

Network Rail posts first experts overseas

This from Network Rail...

Who’s tougher? The Army, Air Force or Navy? In fact, it’s Network Rail. So proved our apprentices in the annual Junior Leaders Field Gun Competition, held at HMS Collingwood in Gosport, Hampshire.

In the ultimate battle of strength, endurance, speed, accuracy and team work, Network Rail apprentices forced the armed services to surrender. Fending off the strength of all three military services, our apprentices claimed victory for the third year running.

Good news indeed.

Especially for our hard pressed Armed Forces.

For Eye understands that the Royal Navy were most insistent on buying drinks for the victorious team.

Having taken the Queen's shilling, NR's bravest were last seen being bundled onto a flight to Afghanistan!

Pointless signs - Paddington Gap

The Fact Compiler is unsure whether the following actually happened, but as Eye has received images from two different sources supposes it must have!



Is anyone able to confirm that this marvelous existential statement was indeed seen on the Western?

UPDATE: This from the Globetrotter...

Whilst I cannot verify the Paddington art installation, I can confirm that something similar certainly happened at my local station back in the NSE era.

Supplied with suitable stencils for 'Mind the Gap/Step', the local painters managed to produce 'Step the Gap Mind'.

And if I recall rightly one of the words was upside-down to boot.

Department for Transport to be renamed - Official

Exciting news from the Department for Transport!

Following the success of the Marsham Street Mandarins in awarding the IEP and Thameslink rolling stock contracts, as well as sanctioning the move of East Coast's call centre to India, the Government has decreed that the DfT is to be renamed in line with its new corporate objectives.

From henceforth the DfT will be known as the Department for Transfer and it will be expected to transfer 100% of all UK rail jobs, rolling stock orders and franchises overseas.

Cowardly Custard was unavailable for comment as he is auditioning for the role of McCavity's Cat.

Surrender monkeys stifle Chunnel competition?

This from Lloyds Loading List...

Attempts by three French Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to gain exemption from European railway law for services through the Channel Tunnel have been met with fury from the UK Rail Freight Group (RFG), which claims the move could shut out competitors....

The RFG said proposed amendments to the First Railway Package Recast would “exempt Eurotunnel from all the requirements of liberalisation, including fair and open access, interoperability and equitable charging”.

Good to see the Frenchies remain committed to the ideal of a free market Europe.

Pointless signs - EMT Passenger Charter

EMT launches personal Sleepers - Shocker

Apparently those naughty Top Gear boys have been filming on the Great Central Railway!

This from the Leicester Mercury...


To avoid palpitations, members of the 'Elf 'n' Safety taliban do not need to tune in.

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

I can say from personal experience that Mr Clarkson takes his railway health and safety very seriously.

Here is a picture from 2006 where Top Gear pointed out the foolishness of car drivers trying to better trains at level crossings.


Note Clarkson wearing not just one but two hard-hats and accompanied by ahem, me.

Network Rail Projects goes back to the future

Eye notices with interest that Network Rail is opening up to 'contestability'.

This from the FT:

Under the plans, Network Rail’s project planning unit will be turned into a separate business and forced to compete with outside bidders to design and manage engineering projects in the UK. It will also be encouraged to pitch for similar work outside Britain, possibly in fast-developing rail markets, such as the United Arab Emirates.

Interesting too that NR's Simon Kirby hopes that his Directorate will be able to offer NR's accumulated wisdom worldwide.

An idea that will resonate with those who recall the value of BR and LT's former international consultancy arms.

Pointless signs - Warwick

Pointless signs - Paddington