London's newest railway opens Thursday

This just in from The Sleeper...

It's not every day a new Overground line opens...

At 10:00 this Thursday the Mayor of London, BoJo the Great, will re-open the extended East London line and travel by special train from Dalston Junction to Shoreditch High Street.

As BoJo will be acompanied by the great and the good of the Metropolis, as well as myriad hacks, the occasion is expected to be marked in some style.

City Hall organisers are optimistic that this can be achieved by tying former mayor Ken Livingstone across the newly laid tracks.

UPDATE: This from a mildly annoyed Mizter T...

It would be rather churlish to tie ex-Mayor Ken to the tracks given that he is the reason the East London Line Extension project actually got off the ground in the first place, along with engineering the transfer of the lines that now make up TfL's London Overground from former operator Silverlink (aka Silverstink - at least when it came to their Metro operation).

One rather doubts Boris even knew where Dalston was until a couple of years ago - he certainly can't pronounce it right, calling it "Dahlston" when it is in fact "Dawlston".

Regardless, this ain't his doing by any measure!

Exciting news from Infrarail - Eye Exclusive

The Eye has been overwhelmed by the volume of exciting news from Infrarail.

Bringing together the great and the good of the infrastructure maintenance and renewal worlds this must attend event starts today at the NEC, Birmingham, and continues until Thursday.

A crack team of industry journalists are attending and Eye is delighted to have received this exclusive picture from the assembled hacks and their photographer.

Whilst not technically within the footprint of the show Eye has been assured that this particular part of the NEC site has been swamped by attendees and exhibitors alike.


For some reason the picture was captioned "Please can we go home now?".

Conservative manifesto: Transport section

This from the Tories manifesto launched today...

Create a modern transport network
A rebalanced economy requires an extensive and reliable infrastructure. but transport has been a low priority for Labour, and the hassle of getting around is bad for business, bad for families and bad for everyone’s quality of life.

A Conservative government will begin work immediately to create a high speed rail line connecting London and Heathrow with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. This is the first step towards achieving our vision of creating a national high speed rail network to join up major cities across England, Scotland and Wales. Stage two will deliver two new lines bringing the north east, Scotland and Wales into the high speed rail network.

Because travel abroad is so important for our economy and for family holidays, we need to improve our airports and reduce the environmental impact of flying. Our goal is to make Heathrow airport better, not bigger. We will stop the third runway and instead link Heathrow directly to our high speed rail network, providing an alternative to thousands of flights. In addition, we will:
• block plans for second runways at Stansted and Gatwick; and,
• reform air Passenger Duty to encourage a switch to fuller and cleaner planes.

To improve life for commuters and encourage people to switch to lower carbon public transport, we will reform our railways to provide a better focus on tackling problems that matter most to passengers, such as overcrowding. We will grant longer, more flexible rail franchises to incentivise private sector investment in improvements like longer trains and better stations.

We support Crossrail and the electrification of the great Western line to South Wales. We will turn the rail regulator into a powerful passenger champion and reform Network Rail to make it more accountable to its customers. and we will introduce a moratorium on building on disused rail lines still in public ownership, so they are available to be re-opened.

Britain has the chance to lead the world in making our transport system greener. So we will introduce incentives for electricity network operators to establish a new national car recharging network, making it much easier for drivers to move to electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. We will support sustainable travel initiatives that work best for local communities by:
• giving the concerns of cyclists much greater priority;
• encouraging partnerships between bus operators and local authorities; and,
• helping people cut down on work-related travel.

We will stop central government funding for new fixed speed cameras, and switch to more effective ways to make our roads safer, including authorising ‘drugalyser’ technology for use in testing for drug-driving. We will make companies that dig up our roads accountable for the congestion they cause and crack down on rogue clampers. Councils will get more powers to get traffic flowing more smoothly.

We will consult on the introduction of a ‘fair fuel Stabiliser’. this would cut fuel duty when oil prices rise, and vice versa. it would ensure families, businesses and the whole British economy are less exposed to volatile oil markets, and that there is a more stable environment for low carbon investment.

Libertarians will be delighted to see an increase in Police stop and search powers proposed by the following:

We will introduce mobile knife scanners on streets and public transport, and extend the length of custodial sentences that can be awarded in a Magistrates’ Court from six to twelve months.

LibDems tomorrow...

UPDATE: This from James MacIntyre blog over at the Staggers...

The Tories say "We support Crossrail [and the electrification of the Great Western Line to South Wales]."

In contrast, the Labour commitment states: "We will complete the new east-west Crossrail line in London adding ten per cent to London transport capacity."

One more hard saving to add to Captain Deltic's spreadsheet?

UKIP manifesto - Transport section

This from the UKIP manifesto launched today...

UKIP believes the British people have a right to a reliable public and private transport system at an acceptable cost. UKIP will invest in a transport network that meets the needs of the British people and Britain’s economy. UKIP will:

• Invest an extra £3 billion p.a. in the UK’s transport infrastructure, using money made available by leaving the EU and saving the £6.4 billion net Britain pays every year in EU membership contributions
• Invest in an enhanced and safer road network, building new bypasses and widening major roads
• Offer a ‘Windfall Return’ on fuel duty above a set world dollar oil price. When this level is reached, government receipts from oil duties will be returned to motorists as fuel tax cuts
• Be fair to motorists by subjecting parking charges and revenue-raising devices, including speed cameras, to greater democratic control
• Repeal EU-generated road directives that
• impose unnecessary and expensive burdens, such as the new Road Transport Directive
• Introduce a ‘Britdisc’ which foreign lorries will have to pay for using major British roads.
• Currently, many of these lorries pay nothing for the wear and tear they cause
• Veto EU attempts to force the UK into accepting EU lorries that are a third longer and a third heavier than currently allowed - up to an unacceptable 60 tonnes
• Invest in three new 200mph plus high-speed rail lines including a new line between London and Newcastle with a spur to Manchester, a London-Bristol-Exeter line and a linking route via Birmingham
• Expand the rail network by re-opening rail lines where there is a proven need
• Improve passenger rail franchises by demanding higher standards of customer satisfaction, and by extending standard franchise terms to up to 20 years to encourage greater investment and stability
• Encourage a major transfer of freight away from road and onto rail and canal
• Invest in better rail and road links to ports
• Oppose a sixth Heathrow Airport terminal and third runway and the expansion of Gatwick and Stansted in favour of a major new Hong Kong-style Thames Estuary airport with motorway connections and a high-speed rail service to London, the UK and the Continent

This of course provided as a special Eye service to the three of you who intend voting for them.

UPDATE: This from Paddy O'Wigwam...

Eye readers may be interested to know that David Campbell Bannerman, UKIP's Deputy Leader and MEP for East of England, was formerly ATOC's head of communications (1997-99).

A platform to oblivion if ever there was one.

UPDATE: This from the Master...

What - you mean to say that bricking up the UK end of the Channel Tunnel isn't a key plank of their platform?

Monkey about on the railway at your peril

This with a bowler tip to the IRRU...

Last week the BBC reported that a Capuchin Monkey had escaped from a Cumbrian wildlife park.

This from yesterday's NR log

*** 12/04/10 13:28 #QRP8227 *** CREATED

12:40 Police Marksman have requested services to be suspended at Askam as they require to shoot a Capuchin ape that is hanging from a tree over the running lines at Askam.

12:55 Police Marksman informs the caution can be lifted as the Capuchin ape has left site

Evidently NR is taking a much firmer line on trespass and vandalism.

Battle of the barriers - Sheffield falls!

This from passenger and pedestrian champion Richard Malins...

Lord Adonis was in Sheffield yesterday.

The Sheffield Central constituency, which includes the station, is a Lib Dem/Labour marginal and the former Labour MP Richard Caborn is standing down.

It is being contested by Paul Scriven, leader of the City Council, for the Lib Dems, and the ticket barrier scheme is a political embarrassment to the Labour candidate as it has become a serious local issue.

Adonis announced that it will not proceed, pending the creation of an alternative pedestrian footbridge route, and EMT has announced that they have been relieved of the franchise obligation.

No shit Sherlock!

Could this volte-face by the Noble Lord be in anyway connected with events on the 6th May?

UPDATE: This from 28481k, via Twitter...

Hurray, so Park Hills regeneration project is saved (for access, for now)!

UPDATE: The Fact Compiler observes...

Apparently no deal has yet been signed with EMT on this.

So campaigners would be advised not to take their foot off DafT's throat yet...

2010 Railway Garden Competition - Halifax

With a bowler tip to Snapper...


Note the tree line seductively hugging the retaining wall immediately below Halifax station.

Labour manifesto - Transport section

This from the Labour Party manifesto launched today...

Rebuilding our transport infrastructure

At the heart of our growth plan is the commitment to a new high-speed rail line, linking North and South. Built in stages, the initial line will link London to Birmingham, Manchester, the East Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds, and then to the North and Scotland.

By running through-trains from day one, cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Liverpool will also be part of the initial network. Journey times will be slashed – those from the West Midlands to London will be as little as 31 minutes. We will consult fully on legislation to take forward our high-speed rail plans within the next Parliament.

High-speed rail is not just about faster journey times. It will free up capacity on existing intercity rail lines, enabling more rail freight, commuter and local services. We will press ahead with a major investment programme in existing rail services, hugely improving commuter services into and through London, and electrifying new rail-lines including the Great Western Main Line from London to South Wales.

We will complete the new east-west Crossrail line in London adding ten per cent to London transport capacity. Rail passenger numbers have increased by 40 per cent in the last ten years and punctuality and quality of service are improving steadily.

We will encourage more people to switch to rail with an enforceable right to the cheapest fare, while trebling the number of secure cycle storage spaces at rail stations. We will welcome rail franchise bids from not-for-profit, mutual or co-operative franchise enterprises and will look to remove unfair barriers that prevent such bids benefiting passengers and taxpayers.

Tackling road congestion is a key Labour priority. We will extend hard-shoulder running on motorways, alongside targeted motorway widening including on the M25. Too much disruption is caused by local road works: we will increase tenfold the penalties on utilities who allow work to overrun. We rule out the introduction of national road pricing in the next Parliament.

Heathrow is Britain’s international hub airport, already operating at full capacity, and supporting millions of jobs, businesses and citizens who depend upon it. We support a third runway at Heathrow, subject to strict conditions on environmental impact and flight numbers, but we will not allow additional runways to proceed at any other airport in the next Parliament.

Through our investment, Labour has put Britain at the forefront of electric and low carbon vehicle manufacturing. To promote the rapid take-up of electric and low-carbon cars, we will ensure there are 100,000 electric vehicle charging points by the end of the next Parliament.

Tories and LibDems manifestos to be published tomorrow and Wednesday respectively.

UPDATE: This from Billy Connections...

The Labour Manifesto says:

"We will encourage more people to switch to rail with an enforceable right to the cheapest fare..."

Er - so there will only be one fare for every journey then?

The end of any quotas?

Every passenger doing the same journey will have paid the same fare?

That'll make for some interesting renegotiation of franchises won't it?

Sounds a bit like the stuff those Open Access chappies do - surely the Labour Party hasn't suddenly decided it is in favour of free market competition after all?

Or did this come about after they tried to book a load of seats for their trip to the West Midlands today at the last minute and found they couldn't get any of the Advance Purchase bargains?

I presume they'll level the playing field by applying the same rule to the internal airline services - would be good to see everyone having "an enforceable right to the cheapest fare" on FlyBe, EasyJet and RyanAir....

UPDATE: This from Leo Pink...

So, no mention of Thameslink in a parliamentary term which runs to mid 2015. Although it may be implied.

And no mention of the McNulty review of value for money review.

And no mention of how it's all going to be paid for.

As for 'We will welcome rail franchise bids from not-for-profit, mutual or co-operative franchise enterprises'...

So can we expect to see not-for profit Network Rail taking on the Co-Op?

UPDATE: This, surprisingly, from Daisy Daisy...

Trebling cycle storage is all very well, but will this include provision for tandems and tricycles?

Eye detects the hand of the Noble Lord - expect paroxysms of delight from Wolmar...

UPDATE: This from 70s trio the Goodies...

Ecky thump!

Will there be provision for comedy tridems with more than two seats/pedals?

UPDATE: This Lookalike from Henry Macrory, via Twitter


Okay, he's the Tories head of press - but it is funny.

UPDATE: This from Sir Humphrey Beeching...

Is it not a licence condition that TOCs must offer passengers the cheapest fare?

So is the Labour Party now suggesting that Train Operating Companies (including state owned East Coast) are in breach of their licence conditions?

UPDATE: This from ATOC's response to the Labour Party manifesto....

“Train companies are already under an obligation to give customers full and impartial advice about tickets.”

Which party has the bigger commitment to rail?

Gordon using the train to campaign whilst Cameron uses the plane.

Go figure.

UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...

If Gordon is being prudent no doubt he is using an All Line Rover.

Presumably ATOC will now put the price up in May.

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

Cabinet ministers all on train to Birmingham for the manifesto launch. In second class, apparently.

General Election 2010 - policy briefings

There is a useful Election briefing on the rail policies of the main political parties over at the Norton Rose website.

Lawyers giving something for nothing - shurely shome mishtake - allegedly.

2010 Railway Garden Competition

How the media works...

This from The Journal...

IN PREPARATION for my meeting with Heidi Mottram, I searched on some railway industry internet forums to see what those in the sector thought of the woman who, until recently, headed Northern Rail, the provider of local rail services across the North.

I soon found an article on the “gossip” website Railway Eye, instructively headed: “Northumbrian Water’s gain, the railway’s loss.”...

Soon into our meeting, I tell Mottram about the glowing praise in the article.

She’s read it.

Just fancy that!

Railway cost creep explained

This from the BBC...

A £1.3m project to replace an ageing footbridge at a Teesside rail station has been confirmed by council bosses.

Anyone care to calculate the cost per step?

Thameslink 4000 start date - Shocker

Telegrammed by Ithuriel
Spot the deliberate mistake...

This from Network Rail's resource library:


The next generation of 12-car trains will begin operating in 2012, with a full fleet in service across the Thameslink route by 2015.

Operating in 2012?

Shome mishtake shurely.

Especially since NR doesn't know when London Bridge will be completed.

Lies, damned lies and ATOC statistics

This from Herr Dr Kalculus...

On April Fool's Day Michael Roberts titillated an early morning audience on Radio 5 with the 'fact' that railways were a mere 1% of total government service spending (or as he put it "a penny in the pound") .

If ATOC were important enough they would be expecting a letter any moment now from Sir Michael Scholar, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, for misusing government statistics.

On the basis that total government support to the railways is £5bn (ORR's figures only go up to 2008/9 when it is recorded as £5.2bn in National Rail Trends) this seems to indicate that £500bn of the government budget goes on services.
This is certainly an imaginative way of looking at the figures

The respected website www.ukpublicspending.co.uk shows that total central Government expenditure for 2010 is £488.5bn but that includes £247bn of interest payments as well as expenditure on pensions, defence and welfare - hardly services in the way that Michael means.

Also if capital spending on schools etc, paying for running government, such as HMRC, and such mysterious figures as £12bn of accounting adjustments are excluded the amount spent on services in its widest sense, probably does not exceed £200bn.

On this basis ATOC has got its figures completely wrong.

But to help them out a little, if local authority spending on services of some £100-110bn is included the variation is not quite so bad but still a long way adrift.

Almost certainly the Radio 5 audience didn't give a toss when this statistic was produced but it's not going to help the industry if it receives wider exposure and can easily be countered by those who do not mean us well by pointing out thar overall government support has risen from £1.4bn to £5.2bn in a decade.

An increase that is probably the biggest rise in any category of spend across Whitehall.

First for saving shoe leather...

This from Paul Robertson...

I thought you'd be amused by this view of a First Capital Connect 365 whose driver obeyed very strictly the instruction to draw up close to the stop marker on platform 11 at King's Cross last Thursday.


Good to see FuCC reducing interchange times with the Tube.

Be not afraid gentle reader!

In response to numerous concerned emails (for which many thanks)...

The Fact Compiler is on his hols.

Normal invective will resume next week...

BREAKING NEWS: RMT Strike

Twitter sources reporting Network Rail gets court injunction to prevent RMT strike

More to follow...

UPDATE: This from Network Rail...

Network Rail head of operations and customer service, Robin Gisby said:

"The signallers strike is off and train services next week will run as normal. This is good news for the millions of passengers who rely on us every day, and for our freight users and for the country as a whole.

"A dispute with the unions remains however, and we have a responsibility to our people to continue talking to the unions to find a settlement that works for us all."

UPDATE: This from the Archer...

Signallers can’t strike, maintenance staff still can!

UPDATE: This from @swlines...

Read between the lines "Services will be normal until something fails and then there will be no service until strike over."

UPDATE: This from Channel 4 News...

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, said: "This judgment is an attack on the whole trade union movement and twists the anti-union laws even further in favour of the bosses.

"Workers fighting for the principle of a safe railway have had the whole weight of the law thrown against them. Our executive will meet this evening with a recommendation for a re-ballot."

March visitors

In March Railway Eye received 32,001 visits from 8,552 unique visitors.

According to Google Analytics you viewed 43,223 splenetic utterances in total.

Thank you.

ATOC claims 99% of railway spend is waste!

This from the Archer...

Further to Eye's earlier piece on RAIL's expose of the doomed nature of railway financing, did anyone else hear Michael Roberts of ATOC on Radio 5 this morning?

He rolled out the following amazing statistic:

"For every pound that is spent on services by the government just one penny is spent on running the railways."

To Listen Again click here and go to 1:51.51 into the programme.

The canny journalist obviously wasn’t going to be caught out by what he must have thought was an All Fools' day wind-up.

If only this were so!

UPDATE: This just in from @EdwardWelsh, not via Twitter...

I am delighted to see that it wasn't just Michael and I who were up at the crack of dawn this morning.

I am confused, however, why you think that "services" applies only to train services?

When talking to a national audience, I think you can safely assume that they would know he was referring to all government services and not just train services.

Happy All Fools' Day.