Exciting news from First Group!
Vehicles maintained by the Aberdeen company's US subsidiary, First Vehicle Services, play an important part in President Obama's Inauguration festivities.
An inquiry is underway to find out how they became out of gauge.
This from DfT...
The Department for Transport held its second annual Listening to Industry Day on Thursday 22 January.
The purpose of the event was for industry to input to our new approach to development of freight policy, including helping us prioritise future policy and investment decisions.
Jim Fitzpatrick, Minister for Freight and Logistics, said:
“Our focus and our approach is now more on the movement of different freight commodities, than on freight modes.
"That is why I arranged this event, because I want to make sure that the needs and impacts of freight are considered in the Department’s investment, regulatory and policy decisions for the future.”
A source close to DB Schenker said: "I am happy to say we currently have lots of new orders - which must be obeyed without question!".
UPDATE: The Major asks...
If this is their second annual "listening to industry day" what do DafT do for the other 364?
What indeed.
Man congratulates boss on good idea!
This from NCE...
Crossrail executive chairman Doug Oakervee said today that he was 'encouraged' by the idea of an island in the Thames Estuary to replace Heathrow.
Now there is a surprise!
***Boriswatch has the latest details of Estuary Aerodrome - including proposed links into the rail network***
Go-Ahead must still think they are in with a chance on the South Central franchise.
This from the Kent News...
Train company U-turns on carriage cuts
Fat chance, what with their splendid performance on London Midland and all.
At last a spot of honesty from the Department for Transport!
A number of trade titles, including Modern Railways, are running DafT ads for Franchise, Finance and Contract Managers.
But what's this?
Can it be true?
Zero £multi-billion contracts?
Zero Heart of Government?
Zero Major Expansion?
We knew it was bad, but surely it can't be this bad?
This from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust:
The second run of The Peppercorn Pioneer on Sunday 1st February 2009 will now start from Doncaster with 60163 Tornado, picking up at York and running through to Durham.
This change of itinerary is because the Trust has been advised by Network Rail and the British Transport Police that due to significant concerns regarding crowd control at Newcastle Central station on Sunday 1st February.
Just imagine what all those braying Macums and Geordies would do on seeing a brand new shiny Kettle. Within 10 minutes the local scrappies would be inundated with copper piping...
More good news from Europe.
Raedwald has discovered that soon we shall all be Criminals in the eyes of the state, following a decision made by those masters of democracy the EU Council on the 20th January.
The Fact Compiler, ever keen to be ahead of the pack, has therefore taken up Old Holborn's kind invitation to "Insult... the State, Nation or State symbols" on-line.
So below is what our tin-pot Eurocrat friends can do with their tacky duster:
As Patrick McGoohan never tired of saying "I am not a number, I am a free man". At least I used to be...
UPDATE: John H writes...
"Oh come on.
"Get real. Here's a better analysis...
"Link left wing blog to libertarian and retire to safe distance..."
You pays your money you takes your choice.
***Good news for those who want to see the wires go up."
Now this is how Network Rail should select Public Members
Teresa Villiers - get on down !
Another gem from Wednesday's PAC:
"Within two years of the formation of the Rail Service Delivery Directorate in 2005, 30% of the staff had left."
Perhaps the figure would be better if Dr Mitchell had led from the front... and gone first.
Dr Death and the Department for Transport knows exactly which TOC's are in the sh1t.
As this under reported session of Wednesday's Parliamentary Accounts Committee shows.
Dr Mitchell declined to say in public exactly how many are close to the wall, for fear of further damaging share prices, but agreed to disclose the information to the PAC in camera.
However, he did confirm that, according to the Department's internal system for tracking franchise health, "A small number of companies are showing red".
Paradoxically DafT's tracking system was introduced following the collapse of previous East Coast franchise holder GNER.
With DafT having form for accepting ludicrously ambitious franchise bids can it be a surprise that history is in danger of repeating itself?
In Memorium National Express
So, Farewell
Then
National Express.
Famous for running buses
Coaches and
Trains.
You asked DfT for help
But they said
No.
Perhaps because Dr Death
Likes restaurant cars
But not on-board crew.
"Making travel simpler"
That was your Catchphrase.
It will be now.
With apologies to E J Thribb
A reader writes...
No student of Britain's railways in the 21st century should miss this gem published yesterday on the ORR website.
It's only 21 pages, so won't take much time to read.
However, comprehending it will take considerably longer.
UPDATE: This from someone, evidently with time on their hands...
My Dear Fact Compiler
It is not so opaque as to be beyond comprehension, although the basis of Beardie Rail's argument probably is.
This document has come about because Virgin based their Moderation of Competition argument without reference to the Railways Act 2005.
Therefore, much time and money has been less than helpfully expended on legal fees in an attempt to define when a train "calls" at a station.
As an aside the 1000 or so front line rail staff awaiting their P45s from Bowker, Ludeman and Souter can draw comfort from the professionalism and added value being delivered to the railway by these £300+ per hour comedians.
To go over the main points
5. informs us that Beardie Rail's Moderation of Competition (MOC) applies to Kenny O - MK flows, even though only XC have ever used it and since 13 December no longer do so at all. A Ghost Bus has been deployed instead.
27. NR says that a train arriving at or departing a terminus station does not "call" there.
33. As does the surviving bit of Beardie Rail, which has never run a train to Kenny O, but is still scared of potential revenue extraction...
44. ORR says this is bollocks.
52 Tells us how the Railways Act 2005 defines a call, the wording of which which accords with ORR.
55 tells us that The Regulator likes cross London services and wishes to protect them, then appears to argue that in the light of 44 above, a train TO Clapham Junction falls under the purview of the protection afforded trains projected beyond Clapham Junc onto WCML.
83 confirms that the Southern service to MK via Kenny O is a franchise commitment.
85. ORR shows us it can spell Kensington. Thank Goodness.
and in 90, ORR tells all concerned to get on with it.
So now someone with dirty hands and an orange jacket can try gauging a Class 375 into the new platforms at MK.
Hurrah!
Lets hope it fits.
I hope this is helpful. My account will be with you shortly.
Many thanks for taking the time to explain this Mr Rumpole
Somebody, somewhere, is not telling the truth.
The consensus amongst the transport hacks (Grauniad, Independent & Times) is that the owner groups told Geoff Hoon that they needed additional financial support or there was a risk of service cuts.
However, according to a 'DfT Spokesman' today:
"No train operating company has approached us for service cuts or additional financial support. This issue was not raised in the meeting with Geoff Hoon yesterday."
Who is doing the spinning? Railway Eye would be grateful for guidance.
Telegrammed by our International Correspondent
The National Railway Museum has its begging bowl out again.
According to the NRM the cost of the Flying Scotsman overhaul has risen as a result of unforeseen problems, including increased prices for raw materials.
The markets appear to disagree about steel prices...
...and aluminium...
...and non-ferrous...
but you'd have to ask Mystic Wolmar about spot prices for unobtainium.
Rail hack Chris Randall writes...
"Thought you might be interested to see a piece in last November’s Rail Professional, in which I predicted that DafT would be forced into an embarrassing policy U-turn if TOCs turned up en-masse at Marsham Street with begging bowls in hand.
"Following yesterday’s showdown between Buff Hoon and the increasingly panicky owner groups it appears it’s just a matter of time before DafT is forced to cave in to their demands and hand over billions more taxpayer pounds to keep franchises from going under.
"So much for franchises being non-negotiable!
"All of which brings to mind the all-singing, all-dancing launch of National Express East Coast in December 2007 when I had the temerity to ask National Express boss Richard Bowker if the TOC was prepared for an economic slump.
"The former SRA boss looked at me as if to say, ‘what sort of fool would ask such a bloody daft question’ and smugly insisted that NX had done all its sums and nothing could blow it of course.
"Funnily enough, I think Christopher Garnett said something very similar when he bid £1.3bn for the East Coast!"
This from the Daily Telegraph...
They include Brian Souter, chief executive, who pledged 24m shares worth £28.7m.
With environmental pressure to end the curse of plastic bags perhaps Souter has used the cash to corner the market?
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