Pointless signs - Darlington

Good to see the state owned railway company resurrecting the 'Arrows of Indecision'.

FGW in 'shiver my timbers' Shocker

This from Cap'n Smith...

Alterations posted for Reading-Basingstoke over Easter, Jim Lad...


Aha me hearties!

RMT & TSSA merger talks collapse

This from the Transport & Salaried Staff Association...

Dear Member,

It is with some disappointment that I must inform you that following a series of talks at various levels between our union and RMT it has become clear that the differences between us are such that the discussions to create a new union can't currently proceed any further.

Our Executive Committee (EC) recognises that over the last few years, our two organisations have developed a much closer working relationship that has greatly benefited many of you. Our union will continue building on this whilst also looking to pursue joint initiatives with similar sized unions that could develop into the creation of a federation and/or a new union.

Your EC will reflect on this position at their next meeting on the 26 April 2012 with a view to reporting developments to our Annual Delegates Conference in May. This will be supported by an emergency motion.

Conference will be asked to engage in a wide ranging strategic debate that will focus on our union's future, its finances and subscriptions, structures and campaigning and organising activities. This will be done with a view to securing our long-term ability to protect you from the unrelenting attack on jobs, terms and conditions.

We will of course keep you informed of developments.

Regards
Manuel Cortes
General Secretary

ENDS

Pointless signs - Manchester Oxford Road

This with a bowler tip to @lauranorburn...


FFS!

Pointless signs - Banbury

MML Upgrade goes Parliamental!

Clearly the East Midlands has learnt the lessons of Derbygate.

Determined not to be caught out again by Ministerial double speak local MPs are turning up the heat to secure the upgrade of the Midland Main Line (MML).

Whilst all sorts of smooth and silken words have discreetly emerged from Marsham Street about the project being a 'dead cert' for CP5, apparently not everyone is convinced.

The Tory party's potential new Robert Adley (Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan) has secured a 16th April adjournment debate on Electrification of the Midland main line.

Good effort but no cigar!

As the below shows the real improvements to the MML comes from Upgrading the route, of which electrification is but a part (click on the image to view).


Eye readers hoping to benefit from this upgrade may wish to invite their own MPs to contribute to this debate?

Meanwhile, this salutary reminder from Simon Carr of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership:

"More money has been spent on improving car parks on the West Coast Main Line in the past five years than on the whole of the Midland Main Line."

Pointless signs - King's Cross overkill

This via The Man with the Clapperboard - Take 2!

Definitely one in the eye for McNulty!


What, about these buffer stops, isn't clear?

And how much is all this Elf 'n' Safety gold-plating costing?

UPDATE: This from Best Boy...

Whilst there is a bright red buffer end, a mains-fed red light on a stick, plus a battery tail lamp on each buffer end, and a swanky sign-on-a-stick as well... alas someone appears to have omitted the sand drag.

Still, at least they've got rid of the wall you'd demolish on your way to the GN Hotel.

Daily Mail does physics!

This from the Daily Mail...

Now it's the wrong kind of sun! Train companies tell drivers to slow down because 'hot weather is heating up tracks'...

Network Rail has imposed a 20mph speed restrictions across a stretch of line in the West Country because of the effect the heatwave could have on the tracks.

The curb on speed - called heat speeds - has been imposed between Bathampton Junction and Sydney Garden near Bath...

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: 'We have over the weekend renewed that small section of track and therefore its heat tolerance level is lower than the norm."

Quite so. But on the plus side...

Whilst this tolerance level is relatively low, it compares favourably with the railway's towards the Mail.

Villiers vignettes - 13, unlikely a sum

This from Leo Pink...

'A total of 13 firms are in the running to become the next operators of the Great Western, Thameslink and Essex Thameside rail franchises' burbles Theresa announcing today's shortlisted bidders.

Well, yes, if you assume that, say, First Great Western Trains Limited, First Essex Thameside Limited and First Thameslink Limited are different companies - which Cruela probably does.

In reality, it is six of the usual subjects plus the Hong Kong MTR striking out on its own.

What is true, however, is that the owning groups will be spending £5 million a throw on their bids.

In memoriam - Malcolm Crawley & Alan Pegler

This from Black Mac...

Tornado this morning before departing KX at 07.56.


Two wreaths: top one for Malcolm Crawley; ex-Doncaster premium apprentice and vice president A1 Steam Locomotive Trust.

Bottom one on the buffer beam - where he often had his picture taken with Flying Scotsman for Alan Pegler.

Two fine railwaymen. May they rest in peace.

Shortlist for GW, Thameslink and Thameside franchises

This from the Department for Transport...

Bidders for Great Western franchise:

• First Great Western Trains Limited (FirstGroup plc)
• GW Trains Limited (Arriva UK Trains Limited – DB (UK) Investments Limited)
• NXGW Trains Limited (National Express Group PLC)
• Stagecoach Great Western Trains Limited (Stagecoach Group plc)

These potential providers will receive the Invitation to Tender which is anticipated will be issued in May 2012. It is anticipated that the successful bidder will be announced in December 2012, with the contract commencing in April 2013. The length of the franchise term will be 15 years.

Bidders for Essex Thameside franchise:

• Abellio Essex Thameside Limited (NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen)
• First Essex Thameside Limited (FirstGroup plc)
• MTR Corporation (Essex Thameside) Limited (MTR Corporation Limited)
• NXET Trains Limited (National Express Group PLC)

These potential providers will receive the Invitation to Tender which is anticipated will be issued in June 2012. It is anticipated the successful bidder will be announced in January 2013, with the contract commencing in May 2013. The length of the franchise term will be 15 years.

Bidders for Thameslink franchise:

• Abellio Thameslink Limited (NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen)
• First Thameslink Limited (FirstGroup plc)
• Govia Thameslink Railway Limited (Go-Ahead Group plc and Keolis SA)
• MTR Corporation (Thameslink) Limited (MTR Corporation Limited)
• Stagecoach Thameslink Trains Limited (Stagecoach Group plc)

These potential providers will receive the Invitation to Tender which is anticipated will be issued in October 2012. It is anticipated that the successful bidder will be announced in May 2013, with the contract commencing in September 2013. The length of the franchise will be a minimum of 7 years, with pricing also required for a potential extension of up to 2 years at the discretion of the Secretary of State

More details here.

Richard P-J confirmed as NR Chairman choice

This from Network Rail...

NETWORK RAIL CONFIRMS CHAIRMAN-DESIGNATE

Network Rail today confirmed the appointment of its chairman-designate, Professor Richard Parry-Jones CBE.

The confirmation of his appointment follows a meeting with Network Rail's members.

Professor Parry-Jones will start with the company on 28 March 2012 as a non-executive director, taking up his position as chairman if his appointment is ratified by members at the company’s AGM in July when Rick Haythornthwaite steps down.

A big Eye welcome to Prof Ricky Jim-Jams!

Cameron burnt by King's Place finest

Oh dear.

Looks like Network Rail will be off iDave's Christmas Card list.

The Prime Minister, keen to get back on the front foot over Gideon's disastrous Pie-Tax, offered the Beeb the following wibble:

The PM continued: "I am a pasty eater myself, I go to Cornwall on holiday, I love a hot pasty.

"I think the last one I bought was from the West Cornwall Pasty Company. I seem to remember I was in Leeds station at the time and the choice was whether to have one of their small ones or large ones, and I have a feeling I opted for the large one and very good it was too."

Alas.

@NetworkRailPR was obliged to point out:

For the record: West Cornwall Pasty Co vacated Leeds Stn 31/3/2007. However, Cornish Bakehouse was open there until last week (23/3/2012)

Either way, both retail outlets have now closed.

Back to the VAT free Caviar, eh Dave?

Eurostar offers quality product for Olympics

This from the Sleeper...

Eurostar's fleet is looking increasingly tired.

Indeed some vehicles now have rusty holes adorning their body sides.

Happily necessity is the mother of invention, leading to this wonderful solution.

Stick a lavatory out of order sticker over the hole!

Now that's really is taking the p*ss!

Railway Garden Competition - Ryde Pier

This illuminating contribution from Rock Sniffer...

Pampas grass on the Up platform at Ryde Pier, Isle of Wight.


I'm informed by a learned source that in the 1970's a crop of this in the front garden signified the owners of the property were into 'swinging'.

This frowned upon practice apparently having something to do with fastening a vehicle to the end of a train without the benefit of continuous brake.

Command Paper - Executive remuneration

This from Our Man at 222 Marylebone Road...

From the Command Paper

Executive remuneration has been the focus of public debate.

As a private sector company, Network Rail sets performance pay levels for its senior staff. In response to questions from the wider public about bonus awards that have been perceived as excessive in relation to Network Rail performance levels, Network Rail has worked with the ORR under the terms of its licence to adapt its remuneration approach.

The ORR has made clear throughout this review that its objective is to ensure that Network Rail’s executive bonus payouts are simple, transparent and clearly aligned with performance, meeting long-term taxpayer objectives by rewarding only sustained out performance of long-term financial targets, notably efficiency, while also reinforcing the need to hit overall non-financial regulatory targets, including safety and reliability.

So why was Ms Greening prepared to vote down the Annual Incentive Plan which Network Rail and ORR had worked together to adapt and ORR had cleared?

I ask only out of curiosity.

Command Paper - Industry members

This from Ithuriel...

From the Command Paper:

Government believes that these principles can best be delivered within the current Company Limited by Guarantee structure. We therefore welcome the governance proposals that Network Rail is announcing, including:

• reducing the number of members to a more sensible level, thereby improving the quality of decision-making. This could include removing industry members, who are prevented by conflict of interest from playing a substantial role;

Conflict of interest or being unwilling to bite the DfT hand that feeds them?

Chair of PAC on HS1

This from the Public Accounts Committee...

NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE: The completion and sale of High Speed 1

A statement from The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Chair of the Committee of Public Accounts:

I am yet to be convinced that HS1 will prove to be value for money. Yet again we hear that value for money will depend on uncertain benefits which have not been quantified. We will want the department to do all it can to realise the benefits and turn this sorry story round.

Compared to the staggering mismanagement of the West Coast Mainline upgrade, the department did relatively well with the construction of HS1. But that is damning with very faint praise indeed. It’s a sad state of affairs when it comes as no surprise that HS1 was based on dodgy assumptions and bad planning.

Don't be so coy Margaret, tell us what you really think!

Pointless signs - Stranraer

These from a Mr Howcroft...


And here the station's sole, lonely, platform trolley...


Alas, not from Stranraer it's not.

Passenger Focus - Qui custodiet ipsos custodes?

This from the Metro...

Anthony Smith’s salary as chief executive of Passenger Focus has risen from £95,000 in 2008 to £122,000 last year.

Despite claiming to be independent, the bulk of Passenger Focus’s £6.4million budget last year came from Ms Greening’s department...

Mr Smith denied being influenced by the Department for Transport.

‘At no time during our sponsorship by DfT have they ever tried to control what we do or say,’ he told Metro.

So that's all right then.

In other news the DfT denied micro-managing the railways.

UPDATE: This from a Mr Fieldmouse...

I remember a time when Passenger Focus’ predecessor was sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry to avoid precisely this apparent conflict of interest.