ATOC fares spin unspun - again?

Last year ATOC decided that it would only announce a headline figure for the January 2010 fares increases.

Regular readers may recollect that this transparent approach went down well with hacks... in the manner of the Titanic.

Clearly unabashed ATOC has adopted exactly the same policy this year,

So how did it go?

Daily Telegraph: Corporate spinners at the Association of Train Operating Companies have adopted a strategy which is, to put it mildly, economical with the truth.

Financial Times: The Association of Train Operating Companies has declined to give a detailed breakdown of figures for different operators since 2008, and so the figure is likely to mask considerable local variations in fare increases.

Daily Mail: Labour MP Louise Ellman, who chairs the parliamentary transport select committee, criticised the companies’ ‘failure to disclose’ the true increases.

Evening Standard: Rail bosses were today accused of deliberately trying to hide fare increases of more than 10 per cent.

The Scotsman: News of the increases yesterday was accompanied by anger from rail watchdogs that passengers will be unable to find out how much individual tickets will rise until at least Sunday.

Channel 4 News: [ATOC]... gave no details of what the rise would be for each individual train company, nor did it break down the figures into regulated fares - which include season tickets and account for around 40 per cent of all fares - and unregulated fares.

Yorkshire Post: The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) attempted to put a gloss on the figures by confining itself to an announcement that average fares would rise 6.2 per cent

Metro: The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) failed to break down the figures into regulated fares - which include season tickets and account for around 40% of all fares - and unregulated fares, and gave no details of what the rise would be for each individual train company.

ITN: Atoc's lack of information was criticised by the RMT and by rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus which said passengers "deserved to know how much they will have to bear in January".

So that went well then!

Of course Eye feels for individual TOC press officers who felt the full fury of annoyed hacks.

No matter.

Presumably ATOC hopes it will have the media hordes fully trained by next year.

Any bets on third time lucky?

UPDATE: This from a Hacked-off Hack...

Once again I'm astonished at ATOC's cowardice.

They say the present government is sticking to the previous administration's policy to cut the public sector's contribution to running the railways. But that's straightforwardly untrue.

In the CSR, the government announced average fare increases would be RPI + 3 per cent for three years from next year. That's a much more aggressive effort to claw back money from farepayers than was scheduled under Labour.

The policy isn't necessarily wrong - but why do ATOC have to mislead on the government's behalf?

UPDATE: This from Our International Correspondent

None of the transport hacks have understood.

The fares increase is essential to pay for improvements to train services...

Mostly those of Irish Rail.

UPDATE: This from Lobby Fodder...

Philip Hammond, at the Transport Select Committee, has just said that he would like ATOC to be more 'transparent' with fares announcements.

Bernard Street. This is Bernard Street. All change!

Thursday now the new Tuesday - Official

Exciting news for those who are completely confused about when Petrol-head will announce the death of the UK's last remaining train manufacturing plant.

This from today's Lobby briefing...

Thursday
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has an announcement on the rail network.

Exciting news indeed!

Meanwhile, it appears that the spinners at Hitachi have been forced to 'right-size' their grandiose claims about the number of jobs that the IEP assembly facility will create at Newton Aycliffe.

This from the Northern Echo on the 23rd July quoting the president of Hitachi...

Hiroaki Nakanishi has lobbied Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond to secure the go-ahead for a factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, creating up to 800 jobs directly and about 7,000 more in the supply chain.

Eye readers are invited to compare the figure of 'up to 800 jobs' with the revised figure given by the area's own MP in the Newcastle Journal last Friday...

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson, in whose constituency the initial 200 jobs would be based, said thousands of supply sector jobs were dependant on the decision and pleaded for an early announcement.

Eye suspects that Nakanishi San's original numbers were lost in translation.

No matter.

There will be no risk of similar confusion when Hitachi's latest proposals are compared against the DfT's original OJEU and ITT requirements for the IEP...

Railway sculptures - Poulton le Fylde

An occasional series celebrating the rich diversity of artistic forms that Network Rail P-way teams have left in strategic locations to delight the passenger...


Eye suspect that this was an early candidate for world famous contemporary arts award, the Turn-off Prize.

Villiers vignettes - On the Barbielino...

This from Sinoda...

In a telephone interview just broadcast on BBC Radio 4's 'You and Yours', Cruella de Villiers appeared to suggest that Virgin Trains could lease the additional brand new Pendolino carriages, currently planned to sit in store, to help alleviate their current "Friday afternoon" overcrowding problems.

Perhaps I was just imagining it!

UPDATE: This from Transol...

I think Sinoda must have misheard.

The minister was quite clear that the new trains and new coaches to extend the old trains were not to be unwrapped until Christmas ....2012.

What she did suggest was that Virgin could simply go off and find some OTHER trains to lease!

Great more Pretendolinos, struggling to run a 125mph diagram with 110mph traction, and put on the Wolverhamptons so they can be turned back at New Street to recover the lost time.

Oops forgot everyone else is grabbing every last Mk 3 for open access or charter sets - still we could get a train with excellent provision for catering - every coach a RUB?

UPDATE: This from Billy Connections...

Villiers didn't say Virgin could lease the additional brand new Pendolino carriages - she was far more inaccurate and her lack of understanding of her brief was breathtaking.

After VT Head of Communications, Arthur Leathley said: "We need more trains, we put to the Government a proposal to introduce many more carriages next year. Unfortunately that’s been declined so those carriages won’t now come in until the end of 2012."

Villiers commented:

"What Arthur said was very misleading – he said that I’ve been stopping Virgin from putting on extra carriages or extra trains. They are entitled to do that, if they want to do that, they can go ahead. They can go out and lease new trains tomorrow if they want to and there’s nothing in their franchise agreement that stops them doing that. The government is supportive and will help deliver new trains from April 2012 but in the interim the train operator has the freedom to go out and lease new trains and put them on the network."

So - there are trains available to be leased tomorrow, that will run on non-available paths on the WCML, and with only 16 months of a franchise left Virgin can lease these fictional trains and run them without the ROSCOs wanting any government support?

Did she dream that up on her own or was she merely badly informed by her officials?

Meanwhile on Tuesday her boss, Hammond, said that VT couldn't use the new Pendolinos and confirmed that they won't enter service until late 2012!

Is there no communication between ministers in the same Department?

Oh - and Virgin asked permission to run a relief service from London to Manchester on Fridays, which could have started yesterday if the DfT had agreed.

Sadly the dead hand of the Department prevailed so no relief ran, no doubt to the delight of cheek by jowl passengers travelling to the North West (but as it's north of Watford who in Marsham Street cares?).

Perhaps time Theresa gave up the rail brief and went back to saving British biccies from Eurocrats, a task much more suited to her... errr... evident gifts!

Hitachi's IEP PR onslaught continues...

This exciting news from SouthEastern...

To celebrate the first anniversary of the launch of High Speed, Southeastern, Hitachi Rail Europe and Eversholt Rail will be available for interviews at St Pancras International between 08.00 and 10.00 on Monday 13 December.

Good news indeed!

Presumably Hitachi will be there in force to field the difficult questions on the trains' performance.

Which should leave SouthEastern free to explain why ridership is err... 'below expectations'?

Off the brown and misses the pink.

Telegrammed by Our Man at 222 Marylebone Road
Has there been a falling out between the FT Transport Correspondent and his ever constant 'veteran railway observer' Rupert Brennan-Brown?

In his item on the refusal of Theresa Villiers to say anything about plans for Thameslink Robert is forced to rely upon the thoughts of a mere 'railway person'.

Looks like the FT has finally joined the legions amongst whom 'Rent-a-quote BB' has little allure.

No matter.

Eye suspects the real reason for Theresa's silence is that her officials have yet to tell her what they've decided.

UPDATE: This from a Mr Robert Wright, for it is he...

Dear Mr Compiler (if you don't mind the formality),

There hasn't been any falling out with Mr Brennan Brown at all.

We here at the FT have a strong stomach for his eccentric views about politics and the railway industry, amusingly tinged as they are with a boyish sense of mischief.

However, part of our authority as a newspaper depends on our wide range of sources and we occasionally go for a while without quoting some of them.

I'm sure he'll be back, even more veteran than before.

Trainy speakibold - Central line

This from the Skip...

Can Professor Unwin help me with this one, seen at Liverpool St today?

Absence of punctuation opens the range of possible scenarios even further!!


Prof Unwin comments "Peter Tollibold student magnum cum loadhailer in the university. Deep, deep study Unwinese and much joy all across Undergrid at speaky script so clear!".

Tuesday is the new Thursday

Telegrammed by Crichel Down
Department for Transport announcements are a bit like the famed Cherbourg rail timetable

If it's a Tuesday or Thursday and the month has an 'r' in it, then something might appear.

Thus Eye understands that Tuesday is the new Thursday; so expect a major announcement from Marsham Street on electrification, major projects and rolling stock on the 23rd. Possibly.

The good news, for those who still believe in the IEP (Sid and Doris Bonkers), is that the DfT's very own Mr Kipling is understood to be pleased with the result.

Happily Eye's legal correspondent, Sir Tort Briefs, advises that Judicial Review specialists have recently been touting a special two-for-one package.

Known by the quaint legal term 'SODOF' (Summons One, Dispute One Free) it has allegedly been taken up by a train manufacturer well versed in instructing M'learned Friends.

Eye awaits proceedings with interest.

Big boys toys - the perfect gift

Whilst yesterday's railwaymen pootle about with kettles in their back gardens what should be the plaything of today's thrusting railway exec?

Eye has the perfect Christmas present idea for today's Young Professional!

One careful owner and British technology to boot!

MAGLEV FOR SALE - PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO RAISE MONEY FOR HELP FOR
HEROES/ACORNS AND SHARE WITH OTHERS

You know it makes sense!

UPDATE: This from a Mr Saltaire...

How and why on earth is this not in the National Collection???

This was the world’s first Maglev that was operated commercially, coming as it did from the genius brain of Professor Eric Laithwaite.

A true icon of British invention and worthy of a place in the NRM, let alone its parent, The Science Museum.

UPDATE:This from a Mr Hobbs...

With reference to the Birmingham Maglev, there is already a Birmingham Airport Maglev car in the NRM collection.

UPDATE: This from The Captain...

Birmingham MagLev did not come from the brain of Prof Laithwaite.

The only part of the system associated with the Prof's work was the linear motor propulsion.

The really clever stuff, including combining surrogate primary and secondary suspension characteristics in the microprocessor controlled lift magnets, was the result of a development programme by British Rail Research, which culminated in a working demonstrator...

This was commercialised for the Birmingham Airport MagLev by GEC and Brush.

Enough about moving things that don't involve contact with a running rail. T'is unnatural and probably the devils work. Ed

Thursday is cancelled

Clearly Petrol-head and his minions are getting the hang of this railway malarkey.

To the surprise of absolutely nobody last Thursday's big interdependency announcement (HLOS, New Trains, Thameslink, IEP, Electrification, etc...) was errr... postponed.

Eye understands that it is also likely to suffer further delays this Thursday.

Whitehall watchers now claim that all will become clear next Thursday, although that too might be caped.

Therefore probably best not to hold your breath, unless of course you are rammed solid on an overcrowded train, owing to a shortage of much needed new rolling stock.

UPDATE: This from the Great Shunter Who Oversees All...

Surely you mean PINE?

Has DfT Rail policy actually left the station yet?

What with so many NOGO'ed vehicles (IEP, Thameslink, the 1,300 etc...) in the consist.

UPDATE: This from the Major...

If we're to dig out the BR code book, might I suggest that passenger managers telegram Marsham Street with:

REGUP

which, in case you've mislaid your copy, means:

'The undermentioned train is booked up. Can you increase our allocation to...........'

Do not, however, be surprised if the answer is a short NO.

New services on the WCML

This from Billy Connections...

So Grand Central proposes using DB Class 67s for its Open Access service from Euston to Blackpool.

Meanwhile DB backed Alliance Rail plan to introduce brand new Chinese trains.

With DB backing both sides could this be one battle that the Germans actually win?

Pointless signs - Didcot Parkway platform 4

UPDATE: This from a Mr Sterratt...

This is particularly poignant for me, as two years ago my mother's life was saved in part by the incredibly prompt action of staff on platform 9D at Leeds station, who used a defibrillator (I believe like the one that should be in the box in Didcot) to resuscitate her.

Sadly, my mother did eventually pass away last year, but I am very glad the defibrillator was there and I am very grateful to the staff at Leeds for the extra eight months of my mother's life they helped to give.

Hopefully the defibrillator in Didcot is returned to its box soon.

Pointless signs - Warren Street

NRM celebrates World Toilet Day!

This unmissable event is taking place at the NRM...


The Fact Compiler's bladder is well and truly gasted!

Youth Plants Story - Good effort!

This from Harry (aged 14)...

Earlier in the year Eye carried a story about my campaign to get a locomotive named after Wolverhampton Wanderers.

I thought I would give you an update.

I now have over 1,000 supporters for my campaign and GBRf have challenged me to get Robert Plant to commit to attend the naming.

On Thursday 11th November, Led Zep's Robert Plant drove up from London for the home match against Arsenal.

When I met him before the game he posed with my replica nameplate and confirmed his support - if a naming is to take place and doesn't clash with his tour then he is up for attending it!


If any of your readers would like to support my campaign then please click here:

Good effort! Keep an eye on young Harry, he will go far!

East Coast solves PPM problems

Good news from state owned East Coast!

Usually languishing at the bottom of the PPM table the nationalised operator has leapt straight to the top!

And this despite the leaf-fall season.

Here for example are the figures for the period covering Friday 12th November...


Surely other operators can do just as well?

Perhaps by also monitoring just eight trains...

UPDATE: This, surprisingly, from Barbara Dixon...

Personally, I am quite impressed at East Coasts performance on Friday 12th November.

As one of the patrons on a late afternoon service from Peterborough to Leeds on said date where the guard or train manager or whatever they call themselves nowadays was advertising delay repay at all stops.

Are we talking some dodgy wires or a Network Rail signaller spilling his coffee?

No, it was a brake pipe failure on the said train at Biggleswade.

IEP to be swung by soft loan?

Telegrammed by Ithuriel
Subscribers to RailHub were tantalised with the following this morning...

Philip Hammond is understood to be visiting the site of a potential Intercity Express Programme rolling stock assembly plant at Newton Aycliffe in Co. Durham on Thursday 18 November. There is speculation that a rail-related announcement may be made then.

Meanwhile this from Reuters...

Nov 13 (Reuters) - The Japanese government is considering giving financial support for Hitachi Ltd's (6501.T) bid to win a high-speed railway project order in the UK, the Nikkei reported.

The Japanese government would provide a loan through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation to a railcar-leasing company that Hitachi plans to establish with a leading British general contractor, the daily said.

To be absolutely clear.

A less expensive wrong train is still the wrong train, plus 20 years to rue the wrong decision.

Calling all Picture Desks - fill your boots!

Not content with presiding over a railway that treats photographers as a terrorist threat it would appear that Petrol-head has now banished them from Marsham Street.

This from Her Majesty's Daily Telegraph...

Norman Baker, a Transport minister, said Philip Hammond, the Transport secretary, had "directed that future ministerial photographs will be taken by staff of the department".

This was after his department had spent £550 on official photographs since May 6.

As we are currently picking up the tab for Cameroon's vanity snapper Eye applauds Petrol-head's gesture, but wonders if he may be being penny wise and pound foolish?

This photograph of the Secretary of State was taken by Tom Harris MP at the National Rail Awards earlier this year.


Eye is sure that Tom won't mind Fleet Street picture desks reproducing it at every conceivable opportunity?

Villiers vignettes - Operational Transport Use

Proof positive, were it needed, that Civil Serpents have no understanding of the operational railway.

The soon to be abolished British Railways Board (Residuary) is rushing to flog off the family silver before the quango is consigned to oblivion.

One of the biggest pieces of land that remains in its portfolio is the former Derby Railway Technical Centre site which extends over 11 acres and which BRB(R) has put on the market for £16m.

But what's this?

Although most of the site is used for offices about a third is rail connected and is in operational transport use.

As well as a number of rolling stock engineering businesses dependent on the rail connected site the RTC is also home to Network Rail's Infrastructure Monitoring Fleet, which is so critical to the railways assurance regime that if the monitoring trains failed to run the network would be shut down.

So concerned about the sale is local lobby group the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum that is has issued the following statement:

"We are concerned that the sale of the RTC Business Park contains no protection for the rail-connected facilities at this important site.

"Were these facilities to be lost it would have an enormous impact on the skills base offered, particularly in the field of specialist rolling stock engineering."

Of course in the Age of Austerity nothing must stand in the way of balancing the books - not even clearly issued Ministerial Directions and Guidance.

This from the Saviour of the Jammy Dodger only last week:

Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, Plaid Cymru)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the land in the ownership of BRB (Residuary) Ltd when that body is abolished.

Theresa Villiers (Minister of State (Rail and Aviation), Transport; Chipping Barnet, Conservative)
BRB (Residuary) Ltd will continue its agreed programme to dispose of land that has been determined to have no further operational transport use on terms that deliver the best value for money to the taxpayer.

Any land still held by BRB (Residuary) Ltd when it is abolished will transfer to the direct ownership of the Secretary of State for Transport.

So if the RTC is viewed as having 'no further operational transport use' then what rail connected site does?

Eye is confident that Waterloo International, also a part of BRB(R)'s property portfolio, will make a truly splendid hotel!

Have we got GOOD news for you? No!

Today the nation's editors and their deputies travel to Glasgow for the annual bun-fight that is the Society of Editors National Conference.

The society's 400 members will be welcomed to Glasgow tonight by no less a figure than Alex Salmond, after which the owner of the Evening Standard and Independent, Alexander Lebedev, will give the keynote speech.

The event which is running from the 14th to the 16th of November is taking place at the Grand Central Hotel at the city's Central station.

What a marvelous opportunity for the railway to show all those uber-hacks from 'Fleet Street' exactly what it can do as it speeds them to Scotland's second city!

Sadly not.

This from Virgin's website:

Until 1500, train services will operate between Warrington Bank Quay and London Euston, and between Preston and Scotland.

Rail replacement coaches will operate between;

Warrington Bank Quay and Preston

Good to see that the industry's PR's have their fingers on the pulse!