***Driver Potter has the full list of names to be applied to Freightliner Cl70s***
UPDATE: This from TonyVeitchUK via Twitter...
Tell Potter Debbie Harry doesn't qualify... American interloper... oh, I get it.
This from The Vice Marshall...
I have just travelled from Crewe to Euston, arriving 12 minutes late on a non-tilting Pendolino, running at conventional speeds through all the curves, but which was able to go up to 125 mph where permitted.
The train originated at Manchester Piccadilly (departing on time according to NRES) and called at Stockport, Wilmslow and Crewe.
Its overall journey time, with these three stops, was therefore 2hr 21min.
Twenty years ago there was a Manchester Pullman routed via Crewe, with stops at Stockport, Wilmslow and Crewe.
The train comprised load 13 (450 tons) and was hauled by a class 87 or 90 loco, maximum speed 110 mph.
The PSRs on the curves were much the same as today’s, but the permitted speed over ‘the brine, between Wilmslow and Crewe, was lower then than it is today, and all trains were limited to 80 mph through Rugby (cf 125 mph today).
Despite its heavier weight, lower traction power and lower PSRs, I recall that the Pullman via Crewe was timed to complete the journey in 2hr 23min!
Just two minutes more than that achieved today by a nine-car non-tilting Pendolino with a top speed on the straight and level of 125mph.
Plus ça change.
And all at a cost of West Coast Route Modernisation of just under £10 billion*!
*equivalent to 99,800 return journeys between Newquay and Kyle of Lochalsh with Arriva Cross Country. Ed
This will be a real treat!
According to the Evening Standard...
The general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will be a guest panellist on the popular BBC programme (HIGNFY) this Friday.
Canny Bob's no fool.
His appearance on the show will take place when most of his regular sparring partners will be attending the industry's annual do in support of charity the Railway Children!
iPlayer will take a hammering on Saturday.
This just in from Bacon Butty...
Is the Fact Compiler now in the pay of First Group?
Only we saw a lot of interesting snippets about NXEC but at least they ran a full service until their final hour (100% PPM on the last day, Ed).
FCC "Thameslink" on the other hand have been half a timetable short of a full service for well over a week now (since Thurs 12th), blaming lack of Drivers.
DafT has also been very quiet about the shambles.
The Fact Compiler can only apologise for his lack of invective about FuCC.
Truth be told he had been somewhat busy re-reading Sir Moir's lovely book:
Perhaps Dr Mike Mitchell, Director of National Networks at the DfT and a former First Group Business Development Director, has been similarly engaged?
UPDATE: This from Billy Connections...
I think you're being a little unfair on Dr Mike.
It is well known that he takes a close personal interest in the performance of First franchises.
Why only a week or so ago he was overheard using the first person plural when referring to First Great Western.
Obviously old habits die hard.
Spotted Friday...
...with a bowler tip to the Wicked Weaver.
UPDATE: This just in from Maks T...
Merely wishing to point out your latest entry is incorrectly labelled.
It is in fact an XC Vomit, as evidenced by the embroidery of the "it's not really Arriva" Cross Country on the anti-massacre, and the doors.
UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...
Wait a minute, isn't that Andy Cooper peeking out from between the seats?
UPDATE: This from Alan (The Vice) Marshall himself...
That picture is definitely taken on an Arriva CrossCountry Voyager.
Apart from the pink XC in the anti-massacre, the menu card in the right foreground is a give-away.
Virgin anti-massacres are blue and white.
I can confirm this, as I am travelling in one now and using their t-mobile Internet service (something else Arriva do not offer) to view your web site and send this email!
You and Yours on BBC Radio 4 today promises an interview with "the woman who has taken over the East Coast Main Line".
As Eye is unsure whether this refers to Elaine Holt or Karen Boswell he will be listening in.
Tune in at 12:00.
UPDATE: Elaine Holt confirms on-air that there are "no plans to take on any more franchises".
Looks like the Noble Lord's Cross Default threat has been relegated to the pi$$ and wind department.
UPDATE: This from a pedantic Chionanthus virginicus...
I don't wish to be pedantic but Ms Holt actually said
"...there are no plans from my perspective to take in any more train companies..." .
Perhaps there may be others who do have plans...???
It's jolly easy to be clever with Listen Again! Eye stands corrected.
This from Rail-news.com...
Go! Co-operative www.go-now.coop, is gathering momentum in its aim to become the UK’s first co-operatively-owned Train Operating Company (TOC), and has appointed three new board members to take the organisation forward to operational stage.
Apparently the first route proposed "will enhance cross country connections in Somerset and Wiltshire".
Alas, as yet, there is no record of a track access application from the company on the ORR website.
Very strange.
UPDATE: This from Alex Lawrie, a Director of Go! Co-op...
Thanks for taking an interest - but as I'm sure you know, there is a lot of work to do before we are able to put in a track access application.
We need to get some credible demand forecasts, check the capacity on the the route, and form innumerable partnerships in order to satisfy the necessary requirements for railway operations.
I wouldn't want to raise expectations too high - but we have now cut our shortlist of possible routes to two, and the support of our founder members is enabling us to commission the detailed work they require.
We also have other public transport projects that we are pursuing in parallel.
Watch this space...
Via Twitter...
On 815, St Pancras- Nottingham. Cabinet is meeting there, 2pm. Using time before to continue my Bus tour (once off the train, smart alecs!)
At least Sadiq has a sense of humour.
Exciting news from Upside-down Land
This courtesy of Cocky in the Colonies...
I thought you may be amused by this proposal that has been suggested to relieve Sydney's public transport problems.
Called Waverail it seems to operate on the following principles (click on the image to see the animated version)...
Some obvious questions appear to have been overlooked:
If you get on at one station and want to get off at the next, how are you supposed to get from one end of the train to the other in time?
How are you supposed to read your free newspaper in the morning when you have to keep moving forward to avoid being left behind?
A splendid effort none the less and one that will no doubt attract the interest of transport planners in our own dear DfT.
UPDATE: This from @sharpsharp via Twitter...
Walking down the train to get off is one thing. Walking up the train to stay on will be more of a problem. #WaveRail
Lady Who-wot appointed to post of High Representative
She rose without trace.
The Fact Compiler has received a piece of PR puffery from Grand Central.
Their PR, the soi disant 'veteran observer', witters...
Charles Belcher joins Grand Central... he has been Managing Director of a number of Train Operating Companies...
Indeed.
So now there's three former TOC MD's at the open access operator (Messrs Clift, Worrell and now Belcher).
If they get a couple more they could have a train each!
Is there a collective noun for such a proliferation?
Telegrammed by the Archer
Not content with a top ten hit in Tuesday’s mini pilgrimage, Virgin ticketing staff at Preston station will join colleagues from another four stations tomorrow and go on strike.
Preston clearly has the #1 spot in mind and the other four stations are presumably keen to take a slice of the (as yet un-funded) £50m pie.
At this rate Virgin will end up with nine of the top ten worst stations, a remarkable achievement, well worthy of the £45m investment prize.
And not before time, given the chronic under investment on WCML infrastructure over the last few years. (shome mishtake shurley. Ed)
UPDATE: This from BBCbusiness via Twitter...
A planned strike by Virgin Trains booking office staff at five mainline stations on Friday is called off after a legal challenge by the company.
Via Twitter...
At Kings Cross about to catch train to Darlington as part of my Bus tour. Please do visit DfT website if you have ideas where I should go..
Eye hopes Sadiq makes it to Darlington safely for the next stage of his Pilgrimage of Grimace.
It might make up for the no show at the recent UK Bus Awards...
Telegrammed by our man at 222 Marylebone Road
Exciting news from Labour Party HQ in Victoria Street!
Eye understands that following the success of Transport secretary Lord Adonis' whirlwind one-day whistle stop tour of England's 10 worst stations in Labour constituencies, the party's Election 'Grid' now includes the following:
Andy Burnam, Secretary of State for Health to visit the top 10 hospitals in Labour constituencies with the worst post operation fatality rate (Mode: Air Ambulance).
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to visit the top 10 schools in Labour constituencies with the worst GCSE results (Mode: First Yellow school buses).
Baron Mandelson of Foy in the county of Herefordshire and Hartlepool in the county of Durham, First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills, Minister of Information, Lord President of the Council (cont. p94) to visit the top 10 car factories in Labour constituencies making the most unreliable/any cars (Mode: Ministerial Jag)
With friends like these...
Oh dear!
Peter Lilley, the MP for Harpenden, has upset the brothers by criticising FCC ‘militants taking coordinated action to prevent trains running’.
Arkwright Road's finest don't pull any punches!
The union is pleased that Peter Lilley is not having to suffer like his constituents. This is because in 2007/08 he claimed the full Parliamentary £23,083 ‘second homes’ allowance – which is understandable as otherwise the train journey from his constituency is either a whopping 27 minutes from Harpenden to London or a massive 34 minutes from Hitchen. A rail season ticket would have cost the taxpayer £3,640.
There's more...
Or maybe (Lilley)... just doesn’t like trains. Last year he claimed £2,353 in car mileage. But at least we know Peter drove on sensible routes, as he claimed £109.94 for a Tom-Tom sat nav - with western Europe included.
Ouch!
But you know, they sort of have a point...
Telegrammed by Lobby Fodder
So Guido's not convinced about yesterday's Pilgrimage of Grice, detecting the sulpherous whiff of Porkbarrel politics.
This interesting list from Guido's blog:
Of course yesterday's jolly round the network had little to do with the top ten worst stations and rather more to do with what could be reached in a day's travel from London.
- Manchester Victoria – Tony Lloyd LAB
- Clapham Junction – Martin Linton LAB
- Barking – Margaret Hodge LAB
- Warrington Bank Quay – Helen Southworth LAB
- Preston – Mark Hendrick LAB
- Wigan North Western – Neil Turner LAB
- Luton - Margaret Moran LAB
- Liverpool Central – Louise Ellman LAB
- Stockport – Ann Coffey LAB
- Crewe – Edward Timpson CON
Poor old DafT really haven't got their heads round Social Media yet.
The following two twitter posts have just emerged from slumbering Marsham Street.
Almost 12 hours after Lord Adonis started blogging his Pilgrimage of Grice.
The Noble Lord reveals the following on his blog...
I've just been speaking on the train to rail journalists Roger Ford and Phil Haig - who know the rail industry backwards.
Can it be long before Captain Deltic's 'InterCity Manifesto' receives the Adonis Imprimatur?
Lord Adonis must be rejoicing that he is no longer in the Department for Education and Skills.
The LibDems are claiming that civil servants in the education sector have spent £10 million on first class rail fares over the last three years.
According to the website of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, shameless Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Diana Johnson MP claimed that education officials needed to travel first class to ensure they have enough peace and quiet to work during their journey.
Indeed.
Eye is uncertain if the peace and quiet is achieved by travelling first class or by not having to teach in the four schools that the £10m would have built.
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