So. Farewell WSMR!

This from Chiltern chairman, Adrian Shooter...

It is with great regret that I am writing to tell you that we are intending to close the Wrexham & Shropshire railway company.

This has been a very difficult decision to take, but having thoroughly investigated all possible options, we feel there is no alternative but to cease operations

I am sure you are aware that the unprecedented economic environment has severely delayed the business’s move into profit. While we have worked extremely hard to increase passenger numbers, a loss of £2.8m was made in 2010 and it has been concluded that the potential for further changes to the company’s operations, including any synergy with Arriva Trains Wales, will not improve the financial position sufficiently, and there is no prospect of reaching profitability.

It is therefore intended that the service will cease on Friday 28th January 2011.

Any passengers who have already booked tickets for travel after this date will be offered alternative travel.

I must make it clear that Wrexham & Shropshire is not insolvent nor is it being placed in administration. The shareholders have ensured funding to ensure that all outstanding financial commitments can be met and all suppliers will be paid in full.

Alternative employment opportunities within the railway industry are being sought for employees, and all staff wages and full redundancy entitlements will be paid.

We are already seeking to find alternative employment within the railway industry for our staff.

We also intend to hold a recruitment fair at Wrexham on Tuesday 1st February.

Even though we are forced to close the business, we remain extremely proud of what we have achieved with Wrexham & Shropshire; with many stating that we set the standard for all other train companies to follow.

Our people are central to this and we believe they are some of the very best in the industry.

Their unfailing attention to detail and their sincere, personal interest in passengers has become the Wrexham & Shropshire way.

They are the reason we achieved 99% customer satisfaction in the National Passenger Survey of Autumn 2010, the highest ever recorded.

I would like to pay tribute to Andy Hamilton, Managing Director, and everyone in the Wrexham & Shropshire team.

UPDATE: This from today's Passenger Focus press release on the Autumn 2010 Passenger Satisfaction figures...

The highest ratings for overall satisfaction were achieved by Wrexham & Shropshire (96%) and Grand Central (95%). First Hull Trains, Heathrow Express and Merseyrail all had 93% of passengers satisfied.

Is this what is called 'going out with a bang'?

Slow news day - Official

Much noise amongst the railway chattering classes.

Apparently a number of key individuals are either very quiet or on the move!

The Fact Compiler particularly liked the suggestion from one wag that the new, improved, non-sexist Premier League has inspired a number of senior colleagues to apply for positions as 'linesmen'.

Eye thinks we should be told!

Byers and the riddle of the sands

Good news for rail passengers in the United Arab Emirates!

Former Transport Minister Stephen Byers is apparently providing his not inconsiderable skills to UAE's Union Railway, the company run by old mate Richard Bowker, which is tasked with building a 1,500 km network linking the seven Emirates.

Byers' role is unclear but Eye suspects that his experience will prove invaluable in keeping passengers on the move, should the project suffer any delays.

What could be more sensible than having 'a sort of cab for hire' close at hand?

Go-Ahead franchises to improve dramatically?

Good news for passengers on GoAhead's dire franchises.

This from StockMarketWire.com...

The bus and train company, Go-Ahead, has appointed Keith Down, formally Finance Director of pub group, JD Wetherspoon plc, as its new Group Finance Director.

He takes up his position in March.

At last!

Fall-Behind has finally managed to recruit a director with experience of running a piss-up in a brewery.

Network Rail spared FOI

This from the BBC's Martin Rosenbaum...

Lord McNally, the minister in charge of freedom of information policy, says he once tried to submit an FOI request himself. He submitted his application to Network Rail - only to be frustrated when informed that this government-created company falls outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act.

Earlier this month his government announced plans to broaden the scope of FOI to additional bodies, including various private organisations with public functions.

But ironically this did not extend to Network Rail. Although both coalition parties pledged before the election that it should be covered, Lord McNally says they will now wait while the restructuring of the rail industry is under consideration.

Yet another broken promise from the ConDems.

No doubt the sighs of relief in King's Place will be audible all along York Way.

HS2 to be laid in record time through Yorkshire!

Dear Flabby Southerners

Apparently:

'Tony Beckwith at Ribblehead dines on cow pie and spinach and can do baton twirls with railway lines.

'Rumour has it he uses detonators to clear his sinuses' (but don't tell RSSB. Ed)

View this and weep!


And this


Slack renewals teams South of Watford (and in Lancashire) claim that these are mere fibreglass components of a display at the Ribblehead Visitor Centre - presently undergoing refurbishment.

We shall see, when it re-opens at Easter.

CrossCountry finally fits WiFi to a train?

This from an Eye spy...

You might like to know that Cross Country unit 220030 has been fitted with trial WiFi in First Class and will be labelled internally next week.

Good news!

Reports on its effectiveness or otherwise most welcome.

70's remix with Pans People

This from the Mad Hatter...

Pans People at work...



Pans People not at work...


Naughty!

Exciting New Eye Competition - Shape our Future!

Telegrammed by Biggles
Time for an exciting New Eye Competition!

Using your skill and judgment please categorise these three photos accordingly:

1. A pointless obstruction

2. Another pointless obstruction

3. A national asset

Photo one:


Photo two:


Photo three:


The prize, for the right answer, is a brand new passenger focused railway!

Pointless signs - Hatfield

This from The Yokel...

Would these pictures from Hatfield (Herts) qualify as Pointless Sign entries?


The bridge is the only way onto and off the island platform that serves both fast and slow Down lines.


If we cannot pass the sign, then it is pointless having Down trains stop at Hatfield (except to pick up passengers from the previous train who have realised that they cannot leave the station).

With the slightly darker mood occasioned by the news that the BTP intends to award itself the authority to shoot passengers, perhaps all those pictured breaching railway bylaws should be dealt with 'Met stylee'?

BTP to turn railways into Wild West

Good news for those concerned about fare evasion!

This from Sky News...

Sky News has learned that the growing threat of terrorism has prompted British Transport Police to draw up plans for its own firearms division.

Brazilian passengers may wish to travel by coach in future.

Rail privatisation failed - Official

Telegrammed by Leo Pink
The Government's response to the Franchising Consultation appears to mark a clean break with the policies of the discredited Major, Blair and Brown years.

Or so it would appear from this:

• A significant part of revenue growth that has occurred on past franchises has been due to macroeconomic growth rather than solely a result of good management on the part of the operator.

Quite a startling piece of revisionism that.

And then there is this:

• Demand growth is largely outside an operator’s control.

Presumably demand shrink too, so National Express East Coast was a hapless victim of economic forces?

And best of all this:

• The devolution of rail services in Merseyside and London has had an extremely positive effect on patronage.

So state control beats market forces!

Should we read this as an apology from Petrol-head and his Marsham Street minions?

Today's franchises are a Curate's Egg - Official

So. Welcome to the new world of Franchising!

This from the DfT's Reforming Rail Franchising: Government response to consultation and policy statement, published today:

2.4 It was pointed out that the present arrangement of 7-10 year franchises has established a highly competitive market, delivering increasing financial returns to the Government.

3.2 The consultation acknowledged that the “Cap and Collar” mechanism used on many existing franchises has produced perverse outcomes, as well as significant financial liabilities for the Government.

Can both these statements be true?

UPDATE: This from Travelling_Wolf, via Twitter...

Yes.

High returns are consistent with high liabilities.

Marsham Street rivals the Court of St James

This from The Marsham Street Observer...

Following Japan's heavyweight lobbying in favour of Hitachi, the reception area outside Petrol-head's Great Minster House office is increasingly resembling the Court of Tamerlane.

The place is awash with ministers, ambassadors and plenipotentiaries from France, Germany, Spain, China, and Korea all vying to lay their manufacturers plans for an HST successor before King Hammond.

Sadly though, of Brits not a sight was seen...

McNulty report deeply flawed - Official

Telegrammed by Ithuriel
Here is a table from the interim submission of Sir Roy McNulty's Rail Value for Money study.


Older readers who passed the 11 Plus and younger readers with an A* in Advanced Maths may care to check the right hand column.

Eye wonders whether it is safe to trust Sir Roy and his team with the industry's finances?

UPDATE: This from Martin...

It's more serious than you realise...

Never mind the fact that the percentages don't add up to 100 (which could be explained by a further, hidden category).

I'm more interested in the way that if you use the net cost of each category together with it's percentage to calculate the overall total, each category suggests wildly different figures...

UPDATE: This from The Economist...

It's not clear what the final column actually refers to.

I think it is saying that long distance franchises cover 75% of their costs and government covers the remaining 25% while for regional franchises they only cover 39% of their costs. - hence the col should not add up to 100%

It is certainly not the proportion of Govt spending that goes to each of the three groups.

UPDATE: This from The Archer...

What’s more worrying than the 105% total is that none of the figures in the final column bear any relation to the supposedly related figures in the £m column.

The 61% should for example read 56% so the ‘inescapable conclusion’ in paragraph 6.3.3 is not correct, although what the actual conclusion should be escapes me.

South Eastern passengers left in the dark

Sad news indeed for South Eastern passengers who rely on social media to plan their journeys.

According to the 853 blog @Train_Driver is no more!

The anonymous twitterer was famed for being the only reliable source of information on how South Eastern services were running (sic) during the recent adverse weather.

This for instance on the 30th November:


Of course South Eastern doesn't do social media.

This despite yesterday's wise words from Bill Emery of the ORR:

"Britain has recently experienced hostile weather conditions and all transport sectors have faced difficulties - but the regulator is clear that the rail industry can, and must, improve performance for passengers, particularly in providing useful and accurate information."

@Train_Driver - you will be sorely missed.

Wolmar takes the Nimby shilling - Shocker

This from the Windsorian...

I see that a Stop HS2 2011 National Convention has been called for 19th February at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.

Apparently the opening speaker is none other than... Christian Wolmar - the World's Greatest Living Transport Correspondent!

Eye fervently hopes that the Great Man can recover his bicycle in time to attend this important event.

Perhaps readers can help?

Apparently it was last seen on Mount Kilimanjaro, further updates would be appreciated...

UPDATE: This also from the Windsorian...

Wolmar sets out his case against HS2...



No longer 'Two Bikes Wolmar' - now it's 'Two Mikes'!

On a more serious note, Wolmar asks legitimate questions about the case for HS2.

Anyone care to go head-to-head with Wolmar in a public debate?

Jim Steer? Or perhaps our very own Petrol-head...

UPDATE: This from The Water Baby...

May I please open a book on things Wolmar is most likely NOT to say in his address to the Stop HS2 mob?

How about:

'HS2 is palpably unnecessary because ETCS Level 3 has the potential to unlock hitherto unimaginable reams of spare capacity on the upgraded 21st Century WCML by providing "straight out of the box" moving block functionality...!?!'

UPDATE: This from a Julie Mills, at Greengauge 21...

Having seen your recent post on Christian Wolmar...

Jim Steer of Greengauge 21 would be more than happy to debate the case for HS2 with Christian and to explain why it is needed and how it does have a very good economic and environmental case.

Good effort! Wolmar do you accept the challenge?

Hitachiballs: Rising Sun flies over Derby?

Telegrammed by Howard Wade
This from the Northern Echo on the 13th January...

THE Japanese government yesterday lobbied ministers to urge them not to reject Hitachi’s £7.5bn plans to bring train building back to the region.

Shin Ebihara, the country’s ambassador to the UK, requested the meeting with Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, as one of his last acts before leaving the post.

Meanwhile, it is understood that Yutaka Banno, Japan’s Foreign Secretary, is also attempting to secure talks at the Department for Transport (Dft), when he arrives in Britain next week.

The powerful twin-pronged lobbying operation underlines the huge importance of the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) to the world’s third-biggest economy – as well as to the North-East.

Neil Foster, Northern TUC campaigns officer, said: “Why hasn’t the Government yet committed to the Agility consortium, which would create 800 direct and 7,500 indirect British jobs? Why are they considering an off-theshelf option overseas?”

Diesel locomotives are made in Germany and the US, while most electric trains are manufactured in Germany, France and Spain, although some are made in Derby by Bombardier.

Presumably the East Midlands TUC Campaigns Officer is asleep?

Is Bombardier's Management unable to see any problem in a foreign train manufacturer whose home market is protected from international competition lobbying to put Derby Litchurch Lane out of business?

And, Hello!, is anyone awake at the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum?

Why aren't East Midlands MPs being primed to defend skilled local manufacturing jobs in Derby with the same vim and vigour as North Eastern MPs push for unskilled assembly roles on their patch?

No doubt the Hon Members for Derby and Derbyshire will become highly vocal once it is all too late and the closure notice is posted on the gates of Litchurch Lane!

Meanwhile our ever cost conscious Government must be absolutely delighted by Hitachi's insistence that it should receive a £15 million bung towards the cost of a new assembly plant in the North East?

As for the TUC's lobbying, even Tokyo Rose knew that you needed a modicum of accuracy to make propaganda convincing.

Apart from 'some' electric trains being built at Derby (actually about 5 vehicles a week at present) roughly 20% of the content-by-value of the new Pendolinos is being manufactured at Preston, Lancs. This is high added value traction equipment, not a mere spanner and screwdriver fitting-out job which apparently Foster San thinks more important than the real high tech British design and manufacturing jobs which could be lost.

Would any politician or civil servant recognise the long term value of an industrial strategy?

That is, of course, a rhetorical question.

UPDATE: This from a Mr Reginald Slicker

You do the hard pressed British rail traveller no favours with your jingoistic attempts to stem the tide of international trade and keep the Derby factory manufacturing trains when superior products are available from abroad.

If you had your way, passengers on South Eastern's high speed services would not be travelling in the lightest trains in Britain with better reliability and availability figures way exceeding that achieved by European manufacturers.

I remain, Sir, R Slicker

Villiers vignettes - improvements to South Eastern

This from Kentnews...

A government minister has refused to intervene in the ongoing rail fare dispute, stating the massive price hike was well within the rights of Kent’s berated train firm.

Conservative transport minister Theresa Villiers wrote to North Thanet MP Roger Gale saying she would not approach Southeastern boss Charles Horton on the issue.

In a letter to the senior Tory backbencher, Ms Villiers said the train company was allowed to increase fares by inflation plus three per cent rather than the normal one per cent to cover improvements made to the network.

Presumably Cruella had the recent adverse weather in mind when referring to 'improvements' made to South Eastern's network?

Celtic fringe lambasts ATW

Exciting news for fans of the Welsh language!

This from the Cambrian News...

A LANGUAGE row has erupted in Pen Llyn, after councillors criticised a train company for using English-only announcements on their service.

The issue was raised by Pwllheli town councillor Alan Williams, who said: “I find it very disappointing that in such a Welsh area as Pwllheli and Pen Llyn, the announcements are made in English only.

“I travel a lot on the Cambrian Line, all the way down to Aberdyfi sometimes, and I was shocked to hear English-only announcements."

He said, errr... in English!