Banzai!

This from Trailer Second...

IEP @ Yahoo! Video

12,500

***This from Lobbydog on the 12,500 UK jobs that will allegedly be created by exporting the IEP build to Japan***

Inspire the least

Telegrammed by Ithuriel
The credit crunch may soon squeeze the rejoicing Samurai Warriors.

The IEP delivery dates quoted yesterday by Hoon are markedly different to the three phases and an option approach to procurement and funding being touted round the city by DfT.

Phase 1 could be for as little as an affordable 350 vehicles for the ECML !

Not a lot of work for a new IKEA-style assembly plant - sorry major manufacturing complex.

All aboard Hitachi's gravy train

Telegrammed by our Independent Expert
Either the media have succumbed entirely to the Hitachi PR machine or British journalists are even dumber than we think.

Yesterday, most BBC daytime news reports gave the impression that 12,000 jobs were being created in British factories to build the new "Super Express" trains, instead of what the unions reckon is a couple of thousand to build them in parts from kits.

Today Radio 4's You and Yours gave a big chunk of airtime to Times's correspondent Leo Lewis, who sang Hitachi's praises saying the new vehicles will run as fast and as comfortably as Japanese Shinkansen trains (Shome Shinkansen mishtake, shurely! Ed).

What's the betting Fleet Street's finest will soon be smacking their lips over all those geisha-filled freebies to Tokyo.

Mind you, it beats a fish and chip supper in Derby everytime.

UPDATE: A source close to the BBC advises...

You and Yours were not planning such a big chunk on IEP but had to extend when Anthony Worrall Thompson failed to show for his slot on bankrupt restaurants!

How the credit crunches, unless you're Japanese of course!

IEP in perspective

40 years ago this month...

Chief Engineer Terry Miller made the formal submission to the British Railways Board to develop the new 125 mile/h InterCity diesel train - offering a prototype with six coaches and two power cars ready to run 22 months after the funding was authorised.

And not a consultant in sight...

48 Hours

Telegrammed by the Archer
The IEP announcement will be delayed for 48 hours whilst Geoff Hoon tries to explain an Incredibly Embarrassing Predicament to Derby MPs.

'Nuff said!

UPDATE: From our man at 222 Marylebone Road...

IEP reported to be stuck in Downing Street while the Prime Minister tries to work out how to spin British jobs for Japanese workers as good news for the out of work tax-payers and fare-payers in the Midlands rolling stock supply chain.

One solution could be to bundle the IEP announcement with electrification commitments.

Winners are now expected to start envying the losers from Wednesday evening.

Special pleading

Telegrammed by our man at 222 Marylebone Road
The preferred loser and the winning also ran in the bidding for the Incredibly Expensive Procurement (IEP) were due to be told their fates this evening.

While Hitachi may take away the Bento-box, it won't have much in it, thanks to death by a thousand phases in the attempt to match quantities to limited finance..

And wait for the Europeans, who are shut out of the Japanese rail market, to hit Gordon Brown with the jobs card.

Any advance on 1,200?

Banzai

Telegrammed by Admiral Tojo
Sushi and Sake all round at Marsham Street on Monday night is the word on the tracks, with an announcement on Tuesday morning.

But only a small initial order.

Unless the Treasury bins it again.

Day of the dead

Telegrammed by our man at 222 Marylebone Road
The railway industry official haruspex reports that next week there will be an announcement on the Zombie/Frankenstein/Camel Train (please add Dinosaur train. Ed).

What a chance for Gordon to strike a blow against protectionism and proudly declare: 'I'm all for British jobs for Japanese workers' if it saves the world from depre...oops, recession'.

Or he could let Lord Adonis announce: 'Project Deferred until we need new trains for the GWML electrification to be announced later this year when we have put Mark Lambirth back in his cage'..

Or the Treasury could kick it into the long grass (shurely 'invest in an alternative to air travel'. Ed).

Importance of Standards

For goodness sake.

What better evidence do you need for the dysfunctional state of the industry?

As any fule kno Standards are central to the safe, economic and effcient operation of the railway.

But when it comes to rolling stock it seems that every Tom, Dick and Peter is suddenly an expert.

Take the IEP.

The Fact Compiler prefers the term Frankenstein Train, Captain Deltic favours the Zombie Train, whilst Nigel Harris plumps for the Camel Class.

Johnny come lately, Peter Fox, has now decided that the IEP should be called 'The dinosaur'.

Enough! Come on RSSB do your job!

UPDATE: A diabolical reader suggest the IEP should be known as the Class 666...