This from our North American cousins is nice.
As all three major parties made specific reference to Railfreight in their manifestos this week (Round of applause! Ed), perhaps there should be a similar version for British Railfreight?
Over to you FOCs, RFG, RDG and the MD of NR's FNPO?
Eye understands that there is a new MD at Caledonian Sleeper!
This from Howard Wade...
Interesting to compare and contrast trade associations responses to the recent spate of manifestos.
Here is Rail Delivery Group Chief Executive, Paul Plummer, who may be in danger of sleepwalking over a cliff...
"Working together, by the end of the next parliament, we will be running 6,400 extra services a week and 5,500 new carriages. On top of this, train companies are making a range of changes to improve the experience of passengers from simpler ticket buying to better information. This is all part of a £50bn-plus upgrade plan to improve journeys and to make local economies stronger and fairer, now and for the future.”
Plummer was, of course, speaking on behalf of RDG's 'train company members' (ie the TOCs and FOCs, pointedly excluding Network Rail which is gagged during Purdah).
Compare this with recently appointed Railway Industry Association Chief Exec, Darren Caplan. He pulls no punches, as many of his members are fighting for survival as Plummer's "£50 bn plus" is consumed by both Treasury and boiling frogs:
"We hope that [insert party of choice] recognise and share our concerns about the need for continuity of year-on-year funding for the rail supply sector, which faces the ongoing challenge of planned projects being postponed due to funding limits and which could ultimately lead to passenger and freight services suffering as a result.
"The current 'Control Period 5' (CP5) will see significant reductions in spending in 2018/19, which could lead to asset degradation, reductions in sectoral employment, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises in the supply chain going bankrupt, and a negative impact on productivity. This in turn could lead to capability gaps and increased costs when the delayed work is commenced, perhaps several years into the next Control Period, CP6."
No doubt about who is speaking for the real railway industry.
UPDATE: This from a Mr Steve Strong...
Reading the words of Mr Plummer I can't help but feel that it lacks key references to 'strong and stable' and 'for the many, not the few'?
Perhaps RDG could amend their statement to read:
"This is all part of a £50bn-plus upgrade plan to improve journeys and to make local economies stable and strong; for the many, not the few.”
You are welcome!
The scene: A room at 221b Baker Street...
This from Politics Home...
JUSTICE
Other pledges include the creation of a national infrastructure police force, bringing together the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the Ministry of Defence Police and the British Transport Police to improve the protection of critical infrastructure such as nuclear sites, railways and the strategic road network.
Not sure that this will be universally welcomed!
With the media pack descending on Halifax for the launch of the Tory manifesto Eye has received this:
Here's ACoRP's CEO, Julie Townsend, launching the new Scenic Rail website at King's Cross today.
Here are the key rail elements of the LibDem manifesto...
Taken from section 6.7 'Investing in the transport we need' (page 62ff)..
To build a transport system fit for the 21st century, we will:
● Ensure that new rail franchises include a stronger focus on customers, including a programme of investment in new stations, lines and modern trains. We will allow public sector bodies and mutual groups involving staff and passengers to bid for franchises. We will continue the Access for All programme, improving disabled access to public transport as a key priority.
● As a result of severe failings that rise to the level of breach of contract, establish government-run companies to take over the running of Southern Rail and Govia Thameslink, with a long-term plan to find more effective and sustainable ways of managing these franchises involving greater powers for local government.
● Pursue the electrification of the rail network, improve stations, reopen smaller stations, restore twin-track lines to major routes and proceed with HS2, HS3 and Crossrail 2, including development of a high-speed network stretching to Scotland.
● Invest capital in major transport improvements and infrastructure. We will:
- Shift more freight from road to rail.
- Deliver the Transport for the North strategy to promote growth, innovation and prosperity across northern England.
- Develop more modern, resilient links to and within the south-west peninsula to help develop and diversify the regional economy.
- Complete East West Rail, connecting Oxford and Cambridge and catalysing major new housing development.
- Ensure London’s transport infrastructure is improved to withstand the pressure of population and economic growth.
- Support the takeover of metro services in London by London Overground.
- Encourage the swift take-up of electric and driverless vehicles.
To protect and extend local public transport, we will:
● Introduce a rail ombudsman to enforce passenger rights and improve the provision of compensation, with the power to sanction rail companies as appropriate.
● Provide local authorities and communities with the powers to improve transport and ticketing with the ability to introduce network-wide and smart ticketing systems.
You can read the entire thing, here.
Worthy, but probably pointless...
Here are the key rail elements of the Labour Manifesto launched today...
Taken from the section on Transport (page 90ff):
On our railways, we pay some of the highest fares in Europe for increasingly unreliable and overcrowded services.
The beneficiaries of public funding siphoned off through transport privatisations have been the earnings of directors, dividends for shareholders and the coffers of overseas governments.
Labour will prioritise public service over private profit. And we will start by bringing our railways back into public ownership, as franchises expire or, in other cases, with franchise reviews or break clauses. We will introduce a Public Ownership of the Railways Bill to repeal the Railways Act 1993 under which the Conservatives privatised our railways.
In public ownership, we will deliver real improvements for passengers by capping fares, introducing free wi-fi across the network, ensuring safe staffing levels, ending the expansion of driver only operations, and introducing legal duties to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
Labour will introduce regulations to designate and protect routes of critical community value, including those that serve local schools, hospitals and isolated settlements in rural areas.
A publicly owned railway system can be the backbone of our plans for integrated transport. It will be built on the platform of Network Rail, which we will retain whole, working with the devolved administrations. We will ensure new rolling stock is publicly owned and will encourage expansion of public freight services in a publicly owned railway that will leave our roads freer of traffic and our air cleaner. We will facilitate British procurements, including steel, whenever possible.
A Labour government will complete the HS2 high-speed rail line from London through Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester and then into Scotland, consulting with communities affected about the optimal route. We will link HS2 with other rail investments, such as Crossrail of the North (tying together our great Northern cities) and on to the Durham Freight Centre. We will build a new Brighton Main Line for the South East.
In London, to ensure our capital continues to prosper, we will build Crossrail 2.
To harness the economic potential of new technologies and science, we will complete the Science Vale transport arc that runs from Oxford to Cambridge through Milton Keynes. and we will deliver rail electrification and expansion across the whole country, including in Wales and the South West. We will also consult with local communities to re-open branch lines.
Read the whole thing for yourselves here.
Compared with last week's leaked version Birmingham appears to have lost its port(!), Brighton will gain a new mainline to London and commitments to get rid of DOO have been watered down.
This from a Mr Highbrow...
Amazingly, since Eye's return to the fray, we have not been inveigled into giving a blatant plug for the industry's stealth newsletter Rail Business Intelligence.
So here is an item from last week's issue:
Commissioning of the resignalling between Platforms 20-24 at Waterloo Station and International Junction, scheduled to be brought into use on May 15, has been postponed. This is part of the programme to bring the former Waterloo International platforms into domestic use as part of the CP5 Waterloo Capacity enhancement programme. Availability of these platforms will allow the partial blockade at Waterloo from August 5-28 for the lengthening of Platforms 1-4
It would appear that someone at the Sunday Times is an avid readers of RBI?
Eye's man with the safety critical software notes that, unusually, the Weekly Operating Notice containing this information (on Page 95 of 102) did not give a revised commissioning date.
Ooh er!
A Pilgrimage of Grice undertaken by Geoff and Vicki, supported by RDG...
From the All The Stations website:
No, sorry. Eye lied.
It's actually a huge shot in the foot, or other more sensitive parts of the anatomy!
Readers of today's Sunday Times will no doubt have seen the following story about state owned Network Rail:
Exclusive Eye footage of First/MTR's bid director outlining the management plan and new train strategy!
You can run, but you can't hide!
This from TfL, is brilliant!
Overheard at Railtex...
I must says, Holmes, it certainly makes you proud to see that so many rolling stock manufacturers see such potential in the British market that they have taken such large stands at Railtex this year. One can only hope that many are thinking of building their new trains here in the UK?
Indeed so, Watson, and I noticed the enthusiastic manner in which you attacked the buffet on the Stadler stand.
Speaking of which, Holmes, I could not but observe the cordiality with which the Swiss welcomed you. Do you have some connection with their agent?
No, Watson, while I am not averse to a bottle of Mr Wilson’s Crémant, the connection goes back much further. You will not need to be reminded that the Reichenbach Falls are also in Switzerland.
Ah, yes indeed, Holmes.
Now to business Watson! You will have noted the significance of Derby based Bombardier’s contribution to Railtex, especially as they are rumoured to have won the order to build new trains for the London and South Western franchise?
But Holmes, I don’t think I have seen a Bombardier stand here today or heard any mention of train manufacturing in Derby.
That, Watson, is the significance.
As ever the Rail Freight Group is quick off the mark!
RFG managed to publish their manifesto the day before Labour's was leaked!
Headlines here:
Rail Freight Group (RFG) has set out its priorities for the new Government and called on party leaders to include rail freight as part of their transport commitments.
Rail freight is a key part of UK’s freight and logistics, moving a quarter of all containerised imports from the nation’s port to consumers, delivering 40% of the construction aggregates used in London and the South East’s building boom, and underpinning key industrial sectors such as steel. Government action is key to providing a framework which allows rail freight to prosper, and allow the private sector operators and customers to invest for the future.
Our five priorities are:
1. Put Rail Freight at the heart of post Brexit trade links
2. Invest in rail freight infrastructure and technology
3. Provide a stable environment for freight to enable private sector investment
4. Restore and promote rail freight grants to support new services
5. Enable the development of modern fit for purpose terminals
Slick!
Here is the Transport section of Labour's leaked manifesto:
Labour will invest in a modern, integrated, accessible transport system that is reliable and affordable.
Our transport systems illustrate the abject failure of Tory policies: relentless deregulation, privatisation and fragmentation.
They say we get choice and efficiency but the reality of their transport privatisations has been that services are less reliable, safety is compromised, fares have risen, ticketing has become complicated and public health has worsened.
On rail we pay the highest fares in Europe for an increasingly unreliable and overcrowded service.
The beneficiaries of public funding siphoned off through transport privatisations have been the rocketing earnings of directors, dividends for shareholders, and the coffers of overseas governments.
A different system is possible. A Labour government will prioritise public service over private profit. and we will start by bringing our railways back into public ownership, as franchises expire.
A Labour government will introduce a Public Ownership of the Railways Bill to repeal the Railways Act 1993 under which the Conservatives privatised our railways.
In public ownership, we will deliver real improvements for passengers by freezing fares, introducing free wi-fi across the network, ensuring safe staffing levels and ending driver only operation, and by improving accessibility for disabled people.
A publicly owned railway system can be the backbone of our plans for integrated transport. It will be built on the platform of Network Rail, already in public ownership, and consider establishing a new public rolling stock company.
A Labour government will complete the HS2 high speed rail line from London through Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester, and then into Scotland, consulting with communities affected about the optimal route.
A Labour government will invest to regenerate the local and regional economies across the whole country, so that every area gets its fair share of transport investment.
A Labour government will link HS2 with other new investments, such as Crossrail of the North.
To harness the economic potential of new technologies and science we will complete the Science Vale transport arc, from Oxford to Cambridge through Milton Keynes. To prepare for global new trade arrangements, we will study the feasibility of port development in Southampton and Avonmouth as well as Liverpool, Hull and Birmingham.
In London, to ensure our capital continues to prosper, we will build Crossrail 2 and devolve responsibilities for running the commuter train lines to the Transport for London authority.
We will invest in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, too, working with devolved administrations through the National Infrastructure Commission.
Our plans for will encourage and enable people to get out of their cars, for better health and a cleaner environment.
Across the country we will enable the creation of municipal bus companies, publicly run for passengers not profit.
We will introduce regulations to designate and protect routes of critical community value, including those that serve local schools hospitals and isolated settlements in rural areas.
We will better regulate the licensed taxi and private carriage hire sectors in the knowledge that new technologies, consumer service and public safety all require competitive playing field between these sectors to be levelled.
We will invite the National Infrastructure Commission to recommend the next stages for developing and upgrading the National Cycle Network.
We will continue to upgrade our highways and improve road works at known bottlenecks. !he A1 North, the Severn Bridge and the A30 provide essential connections and require our urgent consideration.
We will refocus the roads building and maintenance programmes on road safety, connecting our communities, feeding public transport hubs and realising untapped economic potential.
Our rail freight programme on a publicly owned railway will leave our roads freer and our air cleaner.
Labour supports the expansion of aviation capacity and we will continue to support the work of the Airports Commission.
We will continue working with our neighbours through the European Union’s Highways of the Seas and by negotiating to retain membership of the Common Aviation Area and Open Skies arrangements.
This from Chris Crossrail, Fleet Street's legendary 'burrower for news'...
Although now fully retired and resting I can't help but notice things are not quite so ahead of the game on Crossrail.
Little things.
The quarterly newsletter that used to boast of Stakhanovite targets being met, and even exceeded, is now a month overdue and the January edition was pretty lame.
Through the grimy windows of an HST yesterday I noted that track laying trains are still working the tunnels from Ladbroke Grove. As I understand the track has got to be in before other ancillary services can be fitted out this is beginning to look a bit tight.
My guess is that the project is not in real trouble but a lot of irreplaceable float time is being used up and the unions are on to this. Big 'productivity' deals are being negotiated at Liverpool Street etc... following the excellent lead of The Brothers at Paddington.
Perhaps Eye readers can burrow further? All submissions at the usual address (see right hand menu bar).
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