Tuesday 20 January 2009

Year Zero... and some

Telegrammed by our man at 222 Marylebone Road
DafT, which of course has nothing to do with new trains allocation, is expected to announce on Thursday that the start of the Thameslink Project has been delayed.

Key Output Zero was due to come into effect on 22 March with 23 new Class 377 Bombardier Electrostar EMUs, a new footbridge at Farringdon and a new walkway at Blackfriars from the platform to the other side of the Thames.

FCC Managing Director Elaine Holt told the Railway Study Association on 7 January, that none of these things existed as she spoke.

This is a stroke of luck for DafT which is hoping to buy its new DMUs from sundry Spaniards, Chinese and Koreans.

It allows 'Buff' Hoon to weep crocodile tears as he explains to Derby MP Margaret Beckett that he would love to buy British but that her constituents simply can't deliver!

No doubt DafT's own creation, Network Rail, will emerge untarnished from the wreckage!

UPDATE: This blatant plug from Captain Deltic...

Of course Andy Mitchell is speaking at the Fourth Friday Club this week!

Cheeky!