Parking charges parked?

Station car parking charges are unregulated and therefore provide a highly lucrative revenue stream for increasingly cash strapped TOCs.

Normally station users have to bend over and assume the position, whilst avaracious TOCs hoover cash from their glove boxes.

But what's this?

The plucky residents of Liskeard are challenging greedy First Great Western, convinced that free usage of the station car park was guarenteed in perpatuity!

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the case expect DafT to impose the charges, or threaten a reduction in the stopping pattern, if Liskeard council doesn't kowtow.

Lookalike lll

Oh no it's not!

When is a franchise commitment not a franchise commitment?

When DafT says so, silly!

Bowler tip to Rail Manager on Line for these gems:

This from DafT on the 14th August 2007:
"NXEC will provide a full restaurant service on 87 train services Monday to Friday with an improved range of full meals".

This from DafT on 6th January 2009:
"Catering is not covered by the franchise agreement with National Express East Coast and is a matter for the train operating company".

DafT - making it up as they go along.

PR News

As any fule kno a good PR man has to be up to date and ahead of the curve.

But what's this?

A quick visit to the website of soi disant "veteran observer" Rupert Brennan Brown reveals the following:


A date fixed at the 29th April

A picture of said veteran with a non-extant Mayor

and a photo of the late Madam Chairman of the Transport Select Committee, who has been enjoying her reward in heaven for some time.

Good to see this particular spinner has his finger on the pulse!

Lookalike ll

Lookalike

First seeks return of Broad Gauge

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.

Orders up

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.

Fantasy island II

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!

Fantasy island

***Boriswatch has the latest details of Estuary Aerodrome - including proposed links into the rail network***

Fall-Behind capitulates

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.

OFFICIAL: Daft does nothing

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?

Tornado avoids scrapmen

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...

Resistance is useless

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.

Official - Great Western is... a railway

***Good news for those who want to see the wires go up."

Portion working

The Fact Compiler has received the following amusing anecdote from a reader:

En route to Wirksworth a colleague catches an EMT service from Luton. Being late in the day, he seeks refreshment from the buffet. On offer is "Soup and a baguette".

Passenger: "Soup please".

Steward: "Sorry sir, we can't sell you the soup this evening"

Passenger: "Why not?"

Steward: "We're out of baguettes."

The Fact Compiler doesn't know whether to compliment EMT staff on their honesty or cry.

Obama says...

Now this is how Network Rail should select Public Members



Teresa Villiers - get on down !

Spotting tomorrow's Executives

Driver Potter knows which side his bread is buttered on!

His latest post offers some splendid shots of 3417 on the main with 73109 "in assistance".

Reproduced below is the YouTube clip of the sparks monster in operation.

Notice how Driver Potter allows a PA announcement, giving the SWT website address, to set the scene.

A management role beckons we feel!

What a great boss

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.

Camera unobscura

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?