East Coast - New Ops Director named

The management changes at state owned East Coast, that Eye alluded to on Friday, have now been announced.

This press release issued today:

MANAGEMENT CHANGES AT EAST COAST

Danny Williams has been promoted to the role of Operations Director at East Coast.

Mike Hogg, who has until now been responsible for Operations, has stepped down from his position and will be leaving the company.

Karen Boswell, Managing Director of East Coast, commented:

“I want to pay tribute to Mike Hogg for his dedication to the role over many years. His operational judgment has never been in question at East Coast, and his knowledge and experience within our industry is highly respected.

“But the move comes as a result of our determination to make a significant step change in performance improvement – an area which has been challenging for our business over the last nine months. Working closely with Network Rail and other industry partners, I expect Danny Williams to tackle this challenge with renewed vigour.”

Michael Holden, Non-Executive Director of Directly Operated Railways, the parent company of East Coast, will work closely with Danny Williams during an interim period and will provide advice on the implementation of specific initiatives designed to achieve sustained improvement in operational performance at East Coast. Michael Holden has had a long and successful career in railway operational management since joining British Rail in 1978, including four years as Regional Director for the Southern Region of Railtrack, and then Network Rail. In 2003 he set up South Eastern Trains and was its Managing Director until it was re-franchised in 2006. Today, he specialises in providing strategic advice to the rail industry.

Before joining East Coast earlier this year, Danny Williams was Head of Trains Service for First Capital Connect (FCC). Here, he was instrumental in improving FCCs Thameslink train Public Performance Measure to 90% (Modified Moving Average) via a cross-functional ‘Destination 90’ initiative.

He led a driver management team that was responsible for the day to day operation of eight train-crew depots across the FCC business, and his extensive operational responsibilities also included safety line management, and the management of three control offices. Most recently he was Head of Customer Service Delivery for FCC, with 78 stations, and occupational safety also under his remit. Danny (36) has worked in the rail industry for 19 years, and in 2009 he was nominated ‘Young Professional of the Year’ at the Rail Business Awards.

Danny Williams and Michael Holden will take up their new positions with immediate effect.

ENDS

UPDATE: This from Steve Strong...

I note that Ms Boswell says that Mr Hogg's "operational judgment has never been in question".

Perhaps this explains why East Coast have decided they need to replace him with two people - at the taxpayers expense of course.

If double-manning is good enough for management then can it be long before Aslef demand a return to similar practices on East Coast footplates?

UPDATE: This from Mallard...

With East Coast performance languishing at the bottom of the PPM table isn't it about time that the government acted against this failing TOC?

I suggest that East Coast is immediately stripped of the franchise and that its operation is handed over to Directly Operated Railways which was set up for this very purpose.

Only in state owned hands can the franchise return to its former glory! (Is this right? Ed)

ATOC - sound theology, poor proof reading

Good to see ATOC is gearing up for the visit of the Holy Father.

This via @NationalFailEnq, via Twitter...



How clever of NRES to alight on one of the three theological virtues.

The other two being faith and charity, or for our ATOC readers: aith and harity.

Battle of the Barriers turns nasty in Sheffield

This from the Sheffield Star...

THE long-running battle over Sheffield station bridge came to a head when managers were forced to call in police to help them deal with residents who insisted on their "right" to use the station as a route into the city centre.

Staff and British Transport Police officers handed out 45 cautions in a single night as the row reached boiling point.

45 cautions - these are local residents trying to move about their city not football hooligans!

As the demand to gate the station is coming from the DfT let us hope that the rumoured 600 job cuts at the Department will include the genius behind this particular scheme.

Meanwhile Eye will watch with interest whether Deputy PM Cleggy, a local MP, can bring some sanity to bear on this matter.

Although there is little point in holding your breath.

After all, denying access by socially disadvantaged residents of Norfolk Park and Park Hill to the bright lights of Sheffield city centre is probably perfectly aligned with ConDem social policy.

Pointless signs - York station subway

Westminster Friends - Robert Halfon MP, Harlow

Robert Halfon, the MP for Harlow, has posted the following on his blog:

Preventing suicides on the Railways.

Good effort.

Poetry Korner - lines on the departure of Dr Death

This just in from Clarence Spad, Life President, Young Railway Poets Society, Platform 5 Reading Station (the interesting end)

So farewell then Dr Mitchell.
Or may I call you Mad Mike?

It is hard to know where to start the eulogies,
So much progress was made on your watch.
Like the ever morphing Intercity Excess Programme,.
Or the way you brought the rapacious ROSCOs to heel.
And while we are talking of rolling stock,
And talking about them is the nearest we get to new trains,
There is the triumph of the HLOS 1300 vehlcies.
Not to mention the Thameslink fleet procurement
(which is supposed to be all over by Christmas).

You were resolute on Network Rail.
Never deviating from the view that it was a private company.
And nothing to do with DfT,
Even when Lord Whatsisface thought he ran the railways.

You kept the TOCs under a tight rein too.
Resolutely rejecting Virgin's attempts to extend their franchise.
And stripped National Express of the East Coast route,
after they had told you they were handing back the keys...
And you showed Brian Souter what he could do with his cap & collar clauses in the SWT franchise agreement.

But now it seems that you have been uncollared and caped.

With ardent acknowledgments to EJ Thribb of Private Eye.

Railway Garden Competition - Newport

This from 87027...

During a stroll around the incomplete new Newport station this morning I decided to take in the old subway, on the basis that it won't be open to the public for much longer.

This is a shame, since it means that the public will no longer be able to enjoy the attractive collection of ferns which are growing out of the wall under the station through lines.

It's always good to see nature surviving, even directly beneath hourly heavy freight trains in places where the sun don't shine.

Crow-bar and ConDems both in la-la land

So the brothers at the TUC annual conference plan industrial action to prevent cuts in public spending.

This nonsense from Crow-bar Bob today:

"The TUC has to be the launch-pad for the fight back against the coalition Government's decision to unleash all out class warfare through their unprecedented attack on our communities, public services, welfare state and transport system. Our defence must be built on generalised strike action and community resistance in the biggest public mobilisation since the anti-poll tax movement."

Meanwhile the ConDems are busy making soothing noises about wanting to "work with the unions".

Ah such innocence!

Perhaps Petrol-head should have a word with LUL management so he can explain to his government colleagues precisely how you work with Crow-bar and his ilk when they decide to undertake politically motivated strike action.

Errr... you don't and you can't and you won't!

Vulture Spikes - Manchester Piccadilly CCTV

Vulture Spikes - York station clock

Time for an exciting new Railway Eye feature.

This from a Mr Swift...

Just look at the recently restored York vintage clock proudly sitting above the passenger footbridge in the magnificent York station.






One wonders if our Victorian Engineers envisaged the use of 8 inch long Vulture Spikes !

UPDATE: This from AlanG...

I am a bit puzzled that there is a small clock built into the large clock, showing the time 40 minutes ago.

Is that the time that the an Arriva XC train with WiFi should have arrived?

Oops sorry need a 2009 calendar for that :)

UPDATE: This from King Henry...

I wonder whether Vulture Spikes need, and have received, planning permission?

York Station is after all a Grade 2* Listed building and the slightest alteration has to be put to the City Council (which recently won an appeal to have Starbucks banished from the entrance hall).

Perhaps we should he told?

Railway Garden Competition - Wrexham General

Potter unveils early Christmas wish list

This from Driver Potter...

Dear Father Christmas

I have been a very good driver this year.

Every work night I am in bed at some point, and I have cleaned my teeth and cleaned my boots (using the same brush - I'm learning to economise as well) and my trains sometimes turn up on time.

For my Christmas present this year I would like either a Casio electric keyboard or a bloody great electric loco.

If your sack isn't big enough to hold them both, could you combine them in one handy package?



The snow would also be greatly appreciated.

East Coast celebrates record breaking turnover

Is state owned East Coast becoming the rail equivalent of the Marie Celeste?

The company has only been nationalised for ten months and in that time there have been a flurry of departures through East Coast's revolving doors.

First there was the Engineering Director, gone!

Then the Commercial Director, gone!

Then the Head of Safety, gone!

Then the Director of Communications, gone!

And latest to join the exulted list is the Customer Services Director, now gone!

An impressive turnover of senior staff in such a short time to be sure.

What's more it would appear that the Operations Director is now "not returning calls"...

Can it be long before the Captain is obliged to go down with the ship?

UPDATE: This from our international correspondent...

Is the East Coast's slimmed down management due to natural wastage, or was it the prospect of the 'Barbie-lino' that caused the rush to the lifeboats?

The Engineering Director would have had to maintain a train for which all the spares and manuals are held by Virgin West Coast.

The Commercial Director would have had to explain why the train was financially underperforming every other service on the route, because the high speed dash to Scotland is deprived of intermediate revenue and would have to compete head to head with Easyjet, which effectively caps the fare at low cost airline levels.

Head of Safety would have had to sign the Get our of Jail Card for introducing a one off into an otherwise simple cohesive fleet (no doubt with memories of how unstraightforward the hired-in NoL Eurostar sets were).

The Director of Communications would find himself justifying an East Coast Pendolino to Captain Deltic, whose derision for the whole thing shines out of his latest column like a lump of Polonium. Just dishing out the usual mix of free tickets and platitudes may not be enough.

The Customer Services Director would have had to deal with all the public correspondence (why do you make us travel in such a rattly train? What is that terrible pong coming from the loo? etc...).

And it cannot be a surprise that the Operations Director is, ahem, unavailable...since he would have to actually run the bloody thing...

UPDATE: This from Mallard...

You may be amused to know that East Coast have now banned access to Railway Eye from its IT network for being 'inappropriate'!

The railway equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and shouting "La la la la la - I can't hear you!"

Arriva Cross Country spanked for lack of WiFi

So. DfT has fined Arriva Cross Country for failing to install on train WiFi in breach of its franchise agreement.

Regular readers will be aware that Eye has often called for Arriva Cross Country to meet this particular commitment.

Finally, according to Monday's Daily Telegraph, the DfT has decided to act:

CrossCountry, which runs trains from Cornwall to north- east Scotland, has been fined for failing to provide WiFi.

And about time too.

Meanwhile what news on penalties for its other missing franchise promises, which were previously lauded on the Arriva XC website:

Introduction of five High Speed Train (HST) sets each with eight state-of-the-art refurbished coaches (total of 550 seats per set), providing longer trains with more seats and luggage space on the major North East-South West route... (Only two are in use every weekday and all sets are one TSO short).

High quality service on board:

• seat reservations within 10 minutes of a train arriving at a station (nope)
  
• introduction of at-seat catering, reflecting customer preferences (trolley usually stuck at the rear of standard class)
• Wi-Fi access for all seats on all HSTs and Voyagers, and improved mobile phone reception on Voyagers (mobile phone reception still dreadful)
  
• hot plated food available to First Class passengers (soggy cardboard is not a plate)
  
• three members of staff providing on board service on long distance trains (you're having a laugh)
  

Will DfT's new found boldness at enforcing franchise commitments stretch to enforcing penalties for the non-delivery of these as well?

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

Think 3 members of staff is met! Trolley, TM and FC host!

UPDATE: This from The Major...

I'm confused.

Far be it from me to doubt the Telegraph but the story appears to differ from the headline and gives no tangible evidence of the DfT fining Arriva XC.

It does have the DfT saying that it's taken action against XC but this could be a stiff letter rather than a fine.

Furthermore it notes that XC's deadline is September 30.

I'm sure XC deserve a fine but to levy it before the deadline is a little 'previous' particularly as my latest RAIL magazine (read in public placed within one's regimental journal) suggests that XC has yet to agree this deadline (hardly surprising I suppose).

And what is this wifi of which you speak?

I struggled for years with Button A and Button B...

UPDATE: This from Tony Miles...

Eye readers might be interested in this statement issued by the DfT last week:

"CrossCountry has been paying a Committed Obligation Payment Adjustment since the start of the year relating to WiFi. CrossCountry will continue to pay this until the obligation is satisfactorily completed."

Notes to readers - a COPA is affectively a fine, and is payed EVERY four weeks until the DfT is satisfied the TOC has met its contractual obligations.

In the documents released under the FOI request the DfT also assumes XC won't meet its obligations by September 30th.

Hitachi smooths over rough ride problems

This from Pooh Bah...

In Hitachi's latest advertisement, Charles Horton Southeastern MD describes the Class 395 as the smoothest new train launch in his 25 years in the railways.

His customers, being shaken and stirred, might question the use of that particular adjective.

Royal Mail uses kettles to show off new technology

This is cool.

It combines new technology, kettles and Bernard Cribbins!

Can it get any better?



Well of course it can, if you don't do new technology.

So for those that don't here is a picture of one of Royal Mail's recently launched stamps celebrating kettles.



Nice!

Now Royal Mail, as Eye has given you a gratuitous puff piece perhaps time to reintroduce TPOs?

Pointless signs - Signal maintenance instructions

This from D0260...

The sign inside the 'cage' used for maintenance of signals:



Do signalling technicians really need to be told this, when they are trusted to work on safety critical equipment?

Mediaballs - Telegraph displays taste and tact

This with a bowler tip to @Pubby, via Twitter...

Rather a stupid photo considering the story!



Eye salutes the Torygraph's Picture Desk.

The New Politics: An end to spin! - Official

Telegrammed by The Velopodist
Eye readers might be interested in this email issued by the Department for Transport press office today.

The email reads:

Some of your will have seen the release that Network Rail have out today on ‘Investing to Build Britain’s Economy’. In case any of you are writing something on this, please see a quote below from the Transport Secretary for your use.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said,

“The financial crisis which we have inherited means that difficult decisions will have to be made on the future of spending across Government, including on our transport system.

“However, we are clear that we will not make the mistakes of the past and protect current spending at the cost of cutting back investment on transport infrastructure that is vital to our economic future.

“That is why I was pleased that the Chancellor announced in the budget that he would prioritise spending that would boost our economy. During this difficult spending review period I will do everything I can to persuade my colleagues that investing in transport infrastructure is a sound investment for the future.

“But if we are to win this argument it is imperative that every pound we invest is well spent. This week’s ORR report states that we have the most expensive railways in Europe. Network Rail needs to become much more efficient so that taxpayers get the best possible return for their investment.”

So Petrol-head Hammond quotes the ORR as saying Britain has Europe's most expensive railways.

Hmmm, perhaps un petit economic avec le verite?

What the ORR actually said was that Network Rail's costs were 40 per cent higher than those of the four most efficient network operators in Europe.

It's hard to believe that, for example, the non-standard Irish railways don't have higher infrastructure costs.

The DfT say they don't want to change the statement.

Hard to see why they would, really. It's not as if it matters whether what a cabinet minister says is true or not, does it?

Pointless signs - Kidderminster Town