PRballs - Level Crossings & Pelham Bell Pottinger

This exciting news from Pelham Bell Pottinger...

Network Rail - Level Crossing Tragedies

On the back of today’s reports of failures by Network Rail to respond to warnings of tragedies at level crossings, IndigoVision wishes blah, blah, blah...

IndigoVision’s CCTV systems are based on digital IP technology. They are thus blah, blah, blah...

IndigoVision believes that:

a) The installation of proper CCTV equipment blah, blah, blah...

b) If combined with stringent financial penalties, this will act as a blah, blah. blah...

c) It is surely incumbent on Railtrack and other operators to install blah, blah...

Wait a minute!

Railtrack?

Eye salutes IndigoVision's PR agency.

Clearly they have their fingers on the railway industry pulse!

Railway Gardens - Bethnal Green

Railway Gardens - Freightliner at Peterborough

This from the Albatross...

No measurable rain in the Eastern half of the UK for several months has eased the workload of those responsible for vegetation control.

And yet, in spite of this, the bountiful Buddleia is fighting back!

At Freightliner's Nene Valley Depot on platform 3 at Peterborough station it looks like the vegetation has already won!


Rumour has it that two drivers entered the 'depot' a few weeks ago and have not been since...

Moonlighting at Network Rail shocker!

Let's hear it for that doughty fighter after truth and defender of middle England, the loveable Daily Mail!

It would appear that Dacre's minions have discovered that our hard pressed judiciary is having to take up second jobs on the railway to make ends meet!


Eye congratulates the Mail's picture desk on this particular journalistic triumph!

Eye's latest list of Twittering TOCs

This for those not on Twitter.

Eye is maintaining a list of Twittering TOCs.

Remember, to be in the list you must be interactive. Not just broadcast.

Be there or be square!

New submissions always welcome (via Twitter of course - @TheFactCompiler)

That includes you Freighties, Network Rail and Heritage Railways!

Petrol-head declares war on staff costs

Philip Hammond has declared war on industry staff costs!

And quite right too!

At a conference today he said:

"A 21st century rail network needs 21st century employment practices, from the boardroom to the shop floor."

"With fares and levels of taxpayer support already so high, it would be simply irresponsible for us to ignore this issue any longer.

"Addressing inefficient working practices and excessive wage demands will form a key part of the strategy for building a sustainable and affordable railway" added the multi-millionaire Secretary of State.

'Nuff said.

Pointless signs - King's Cross Platform 0

This from John...

I am glad they have provided a useful yellow label on this item at the new Platform 0 at Kings Cross...


...just in case anyone doesn't know what the pretty illuminated numbers are for.

UPDATE: This from Mark...

Sorry, but you're being daft with your clock posting.

That "clock" sign was put there as part of the installation process so that contractors knew what the bracket was for and what wiring it needed.

Knowing what can go wrong with "simple" jobs like this, I think shows evidence of good planning for a change.

So it wasn't a pointless sign at all. There are plenty of these on the railway - but not this one.

First instructs DafT to 'Assume the position!'

Eye salutes the financial genii at the Department for Transport!

These fiscal titans accepted First's heavily backloaded 2006 bid for the Great Western franchise under which the company promised to pay the Treasury £1.13bn over the life of the franchise.

But of course to be on the safe side First also insisted on a break point in the contract, at the point when premia payback became really chunky.

Needless to say First has now exercised this option which leaves the Marsham Street gnomes shy of a cool £826m which First should have paid in the final three years of the franchise.

Regular observers of the railway scene will of course recollect that this is the same franchise whose original service specification was also ballsed up by the Marsham Street Mandarins.

So badly in fact that after a year the DfT, which "doesn't renegotiate franchises" was forced to errr... renegotiate the franchise - begging First to run more trains. In return for saving the departments bacon grateful Civil Serpents brought Cap and Collar arrangements on the franchise forward by two years.

No doubt the resulting shortfall in the Department's budget has already been picked up by the poor bloody taxpayer!

No matter.

In happier news - Theresa's new, exciting and improved Franchising Policy goes from strength to strength.

Why only this Tuesday DafT failed to issue the InterCity West Coast ITT.

With Lin Homer admitting to the Public Accounts Committee on Monday afternoon that there is still no Franchising Policy this one looks like it will run and run (or not).

Perhaps it would be easier, and cheaper, for all concerned if DafT just gave the West Coast franchise to its latest favourite, along with a very large blank cheque?

UPDATE: This from a Concerned Berks and Hants Traveller...

Will DafT now insist on a de-naming ceremony for FGW HST Sir Moir Lockhead OBE before 2013?


Perhaps this sad occasion might be the final opportunity to obtain a remaindered copy of Sir Moir's Lovely Book?

Sadly Eye understands that Slugger O'Toole doesn't go in for such vapid PR stunts.

UPDATE: This from Sir Humphrey Beeching...

Over an agreeable luncheon at Raoul's today an erstwhile colleague and I discussed the apparent delay in the publication of the Invitation to Tender for the InterCity West Coast franchise.

Over several glasses of a rather spicey white Burgundy we both agreed that the new Permanent Secretary in my former department is well and truly master of her brief.

Having commissioned Sir Roy McNulty to review industy costs it would be precipitous to announce a Franchising Policy before his findings are published next week.

As my First Division chum quipped "Why have a dog and then bark yourself?".

NR goes secret squirrel on cable theives

With cable theft causing over 6,000 hours worth of delay to passengers last year NR is upping its game.

The Beeb today has a report showing a range of secret squirrel cameras being used by the infrastructure controller and the BTP to catch the rob-dogs in action.


Of course the timing of today's launch of the anti-cable theft campaign is interesting.

Eye wonders if NR has been taking guidance from the Torygraph on secret recordings?

UPDATE: Another satisfied Eye reader writes...

Sir,

It ill behoves you to criticise others for their slips of the pen when your ignorance of the rule 'I' before 'E' except after 'C' has been displayed on your apology for a blog throughout today.

That no one has seen fit to correct this solipsism confirms my views than no one reads you and those that do reflect the poor quality of education which in my experience is the hallmark of the railway industry and its so called trade publications.

R Slicker

A hot weekend for Eye's favourite spinner...

Good to see a PR at the top of his game!

Eye favourite the soi disant 'veteran' observer managed to sink in the mire of the twitterverse this weekend.

Bluster-Brown, for it was he, was left floundering as the hashtag #trainonfire lit up Sunday's internet, at one point being viewed by 22,500 'tweeps'.

And where in this alleged conflagration was the great spin surgeon?

Left forlornly punting emails to a twitter based Guardian hack...


Happily no fire, no story.

No matter!

Eye advises all TOCs (with the following noble exceptions who Actually Do Twitter)....

"Get with the program, get a corporate Twitter account, get your team on-line and engage".

'Nuff said.

A busy week for the Public Accounts Committee...

This from the PAC page on Parliament.uk...



Watchable live and on-line at www.parliament.uk

And all, unbelievably, without the benefit of the Alternative Vote!

Jennifer's Dairy - Mr Towell's train

Jennifer writes (with apologies to the Tatler and H&Q)...

The NRM arranged an excursion train on the 5th May for a Mr Raymond 'Ray' Towell, a long time servant of the railway.

Mr Towell retired on the 28th April from his most recent incarnation, at the National Railway Museum, where he provided 25 years service.

Renowned charter operator West Coast Railways laid on a special Pullman luncheon train for Mr Towell and his friends, hauled by two class 37s, which toured the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Amongst the guests were NRM supremo Steve Davies and RAIL editor Nigel Harris (pictured) who helped 'Ray' to mark the occasion in some style.


Mr Towell said 'I'll be back, Matey!".

Matey!

Mansfield Grauniad lives up to its reputation

Thank God the Grauniad isn't a paper of record!

This from the galley slaves in King's Place (oddly enough also the home of Network Rail)...


"190 moments that made the Guardian"?

Best make that 191!

DfT exports expertise overseas?

This headline from the Railway Gazette...

Lombardia regional operator Trenord launched with €250m train tender

€250m for a tender. Eye dreads to think how much the loco will cost.

Perhaps Trenord has been taking lessons in value for money procurement from DafT's IEP team?

Posh graffito - Carlisle

This from Fellrunner...

As the Settle-Carlisle line enters Carlisle, in splendid isolation among the former Durran Hill yard's tree growth, there is a fence made of wooden sleepers.

Some years ago a sentimentalist applied the prosaic word 'Bollox', which neatly sums up the scene.

Our On-Train Guides (we aim to have a volunteer guide on six trains a day) regularly point this out to visiting groups and there is shared amusement and regret about this lazy text-speak abbreviation.

Trouble is, the white paint is fading and this small detail of S&C history is now at risk.

I wonder if the new caring Network Rail could be persuaded to freshen up this significant piece of historic railway graffito?

RMT puts on a show for major rail event

This from the Archer...

RMT announce the following strike dates over the alleged unfair dismissal of two of its members by London Underground:

• 21:01 16 May - 11:59 17 May
• 12:00 18 May - 11:59 19 May
• 12:00 - 2100 20 May
• 21:02 13 June - 11:59 14 June
• 12:00 15 June - 11:59 16 June
• 12:00 - 21:00 17 June

Eye’s readers may wish to look into alternative transport arrangements for this year’s Railtex event at Earls Court (14-16 June).

Crow Bar Bob on AV - That's the way to do it

Exciting news from Crow Bar Bob!

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said

“With forecasters today showing that half a million more jobs are on the block, and yet more evidence that families will be up to a thousand pounds a year worse off under the ConDems, it is no surprise that Cameron and Clegg want to distract attention with their pathetic AV Punch and Judy show."

But what's this?

Apparently Consistency Crow can't walk past a Punch and Judy show without wanting to join in!

Crocodile Crow continues...

“RMT, which supports proper proportional representation rather than this shoddy Clegg-inspired stitch up, is calling for a no vote in Thursday’s referendum and as far as we are concerned... (cont' p94)".

Just fancy that!

Network Rail appoints first two route MDs

This from Network Rail...

DEVOLUTION TODAY FOR SCOTLAND AND WESSEX ROUTES AS NETWORK RAIL ANNOUNCES MORE CHANGES

Network Rail's devolved route structure went live today in Scotland and Wessex. David Simpson (Scotland) and Richard O’Brien (Wessex) have been confirmed as the new route managing directors following the completion of the assessment process and safety validation.

Work continues to help the next three routes (Wales, Kent/HS1 and London North Western) get ready for go-live by October 2011.

Also today Network Rail outlined a timetable for further intended changes linked to changing its route structures:

• A new function will be created in June 2011. Called network operations, it will be led by Robin Gisby – currently director of operations and customer services. This will completely replace operations and customer services; all teams from that function will work in network operations

• A new position of freight director will be created in network operations

• In October 2011, at the same time as the next routes go live, the director, infrastructure maintenance and the balance of his team, join network operations

The remaining routes will all go live no later than March 2012

Commenting on the planned changes to both operations and maintenance, Mr Gisby said: “We have to make sure that we support the changes and opportunities that will emerge in our devolved routes with a centre that is able to match the pace of delivery they will demand. With maintenance and operations working so closely in our new route structure to meet our customer needs, it makes a lot of sense to do the same centrally.”

Note to editors

A route is a geographical operational unit. At the moment the country has nine of these (with a tenth one to be created in Wales) with a route director managing the day to day operation of the railway there

Network Rail's Wessex route matches the lines operated by South West Trains out of Waterloo covering parts of south west London, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and Dorset

These changes will devolve more power, responsibility and accountability onto the new business units which include transferring responsibility from the centre to the new role of route managing director, including:

• safety
• all customer service matters
• asset management outputs and spend
• operations
• planning and delivering maintenance
• delivery of some renewals and enhancements.

The devolved businesses will be empowered to innovate within a framework which maintains the company’s focus on making the most of network benefits, minimising whole-life costs, and providing a seamless service for all customers and rail users.

- ENDS -

UPDATE: Additional biographical details for David Simpson, Route Director (and designate MD) for Scotland:

David Simpson was originally from Blantyre, Lanarkshire, grew up in South Dorset and currently lives in South Ayrshire

He studied a Bachelor of Science in Transport Planning and Operation and Aston University in Birmingham

He was accepted into British Rail’s graduate scheme in 1986, which led to operational management roles in South-East England, including in performance and freight, where he helped to maintain a high quality of delivery to the customer during privatisation

That led to work in Railtrack restructuring signallers

He then left Railtrack to work with two freight companies: Mainline Freight then EWS

He returned to Railtrack East Anglia in 1998, moving to commercial roles, eg Route Business Manager for West Anglia, in which role he was part of the new focus on meeting customer needs on a route-by-route basis

Following Network Rail’s creation, he went to the Midlands in 2002 as General Manager of West Coast Main Line (South). In this role he was heavily involved in route modernisation work and the introduction of Pendolino “tilt trains” to the line

In October 2005 he was appointed route director of Scotland, in which capacity he has significantly improved performance in Scotland through much closer work with maintenance teams and First Scotrail

Eye is awaiting biographical details on the Wessex designate MD Richard O'Brien.

UPDATE: Additional biographical details for Richard O'Brien route director (and MD designate) for Wessex:

Richard O'Brien MIRO is currently Network Rail Route Director for Wessex and has been appointed Network Rail's route managing director for Wessex.

Richard is a qualified Civil Engineer and has worked both here in the UK and in Africa.

He joined the UK rail industry over a decade ago, with previous roles including General Manager and Head of Planning and Industry Performance.

Good to see that NR has appointed a Member of the Institution of Railway Operators to this important role.

UPDATE: This from NR's Internet Rapid Rebuttal Unit...

David Simpson would like to point out that he too is a member of the Institution of Railway Operators.

He puts the letters FIRO after his name.

Oooh. A Fellow of the IRO! Eye is impressed.

Posh graffito - Arundel

Time for an exciting new Eye feature!

Eye gives you Posh Graffito!

This from a Mr Marshy...

Taken yesterday between Chichester and Arundel.


Obviously a fan of Southern Railway!

Pointless sign - St Pancras South Eastern station