Monday 1 March 2010

ORR dumps on the St David's day party

A very unhappy St David's Day to Arriva Trains Wales!

Without any hint of irony the ORR decided today to announce that it had turned down ATW's application to run services between Aberystwyth and London.

There'll be some Tafia muttering in the valleys tonight!

Meanwhile expect jubilation from Reich Rail's very own WSMR.

NR Western to go it alone on HST replacement?

Telegrammed by Sir William Pollitt
Good to see that NR's Swindon press office is still convinced that the Western can do its own thing.

Or so it would appear from this NR press release issued today:

The Great Western RUS - published by Network Rail - confirms an industry consensus that there is a compelling case for the railway to grow further by the end of the decade, enhancing the benefits from the capacity-boosting electrification scheme and new trains.

New trains?

Did NR miss Friday's announcement that the IEP is now unaffordable?

Perhaps the Great Western zone has secret plans to procure its own Hydraulic fleet to replace the HSTs?

UPDATE: This from The Archer, obviously in pedantic mode...

Given that today is the 1st of March, how are NR going to take delivery of said new trains by the end of the decade, which is of course just 10 months away?

Should they not have waited until the 1st of April to issue such a foolish press release?

UPDATE: This, surprisingly, from Christian Dior...

It's yet another example of people confusing trains, locos, units, coaches, vehicles etc.

It should have read 'new locomotives'.

These would be marshalled in place of an IC125 power car with a Driving Car at the other end.

As we fashionistas say Electric loco hauled Mk3s are the new IEP - how else can we continue to enjoy that divine ride.


Mwah, mwah!

Salutaris Wolmar !

This from a Mr Kennedy...

On the appointment of Christian Wolmar as an honorary research fellow at the University of Aberdeen's Centre for Transport Research.

Salve Wolmar
Ex viae Metropolitan
Ad schola Aberdonian.
Focale suus post profluare
In velo vehi id est superbe.
Ferrovia iudex veterator
Wolmar hic dat imprimatuer

Sed quis est is?
Lord Ad - onis
Transportare Generale
IEP est abrogare
Litus Oriens expectavit

“Euax” Wolmar clamoravit

“Ad Caledonia cum meo velo
Ab HST, impedimento!"