HS2 to be fast-tracked - DfT hopes for amnesia?

Call the Fact Compiler a cynic but he wonders whether the proposed fast tracking of HS2 is designed to draw a veil over recent ICWC events?

Tough luck, it won't work.

So let's be clear about what the DfT really needs to focus on now.

1. Where is the remit for Richard Brown's review?
2. Who is being asked to contribute to it.
3. How can other interested parties make submissions
4. What is the precise timeline for activities and implementation of any findings after Richard Brown reports back, allegedly on the 31st December.

As soon as possible, please.

Railway Garden Competition - Waterloo East

This from a Mr Greg T...

I thought Eye readers might be interested in these images from the Waterloo East Garden Centre:

The roof-bonsai are still doing well.

 

 

And here is a special artistic drain entry!

 

 

Magna cum laude!

DfT: Throwing good money after...

According to Her Majesty's Daily Telegraph...

The Department for Transport has asked headhunters to search for senior managers who could run the West Coast rail franchise on behalf of the state-backed Directly Operated Railways (DOR) from December 9.

A spokesman for the DfT said the decision to appoint recruiters was part of the department’s “contingency planning” to determine whether a senior management team could be found quickly enough if the DOR is put in charge of the franchise.

What a lot of wags there are in the Department for Transport!

Safety cases not withstanding.

And precisely how much is this costing and who is paying?

UPDATE: This from Captain Deltic...

Is this the smoking gun that proves an 'ABB' mindset really exists?

Bernard Holden RIP - Saviour of the Bluebell

This from the Mid Sussex Times...

THE funeral of Bernard Holden who helped to found the Bluebell Railway, will take place next Tuesday (October 16) at 12.30pm.

Mr Holden died on October 4 at St Clare’s Care Home at St George’s Retreat in Ditchling. He was 104. 

His funeral will take place at St Margaret’s Church, Ditchling, followed by a private burial.

No flowers please but donations should go to the Bluebell Railway Trust via R.A Brooks & Son, Haywards Heath

Bernard was lauded as a railwayman, war hero and preservationist by the Daily Telegraph.

Where are they now - Roger Salmon

Introducing an exciting new Eye feature!

The first in an occasional series designed to help Patrick McLoughlin and Richard Brown determine the right way forward for contracted passenger services.

Roger Salmon is here.

That is all.

RDG meeting to discuss support for Brown review

Eye understands that the Rail Delivery Group is meeting to discuss how it might assist Richard Brown's Review into Franchising.

This is a massively important piece of work for the future of the passenger railway and also for ensuring that both fare and tax payers get value for money.

Therefore, Eye wishes their discussions well this evening.

That is all.

Arriva XC meets WiFi obligations

This from CrossCountry...

With fitment on 221133 completed on 21st September, all CrossCountry Voyagers and HSTs now have WiFi installed (and working!).

Good news indeed!

But what's this?

Users of CrossCountry's WiFi are apparently unable to view Railway Eye!

No doubt a temporary technical glitch?

UPDATE: The Fact Compiler offers a mea culpa!

This post updated from a CrossCountry Voyager using the trains WiFi!

Access restored!

Industry sets agenda for McLoughlin speech?

This from Scotch Corner...

In light of the Secretary of State's comments at the Tory Party conference yesterday I wonder if the below might have informed his thinking?

Sun Oct 07, 2012 10:16 pm

The 17.40 Skegness - Carnforth has failed at Swineshead with the rear 4 coaches fouling the A17 level crossing. Both 47760 and 47500 are on the front and neither can be got going.

Stock is vacuum braked only and nearest dual braked loco is 47798 apparently. Crossing blocked at 19.15 and ETA for 47798 is midnight. One network rail man plus WCRC guard having to direct traffic

Is this, perchance, the sort of "mix-modal" that Mr McLoughlin was inveighing against?

On planet Vulcan railways are nationalised

Welsh national anthem mangling MP John Redwood has been having a go at Network Rail.

Not unsurprisingly he is concerned that over the last year the infrastructure operator "had to write off £567 million from the value of all the derivatives and financial instruments it holds."

Money which, the Vulcan believes (and probably quite rightly), could be better spent in his Wokingham constituency on "a bridge over the railway line to ease congestion" and "a new station", as well as "safer level crossings" nationally. 

So far so good. 

But then he has to go and spoil it all. 

He concludes his blogpost with the following: 

"I was less amused to learn from the borough council that Network Rail wants to charge the council a fee for suggesting a bridge over the railway line to try to tackle safety and congestion... 

"And they are meant to be a nationalised public service.".

Perhaps he'd like to remind Gideon and the National Audit Office of this fact?

NR launches new Level Crossing TV ad

This from Network Rail...

Network Rail yesterday launched a new TV, radio and online advertising campaign as part of its level crossing awareness programme. It hopes the campaign adverts will make people more aware that they should treat approaching rail footpath crossings as they would a busy road, even in quiet rural area.

The £1m campaign will run for three weeks across terrestrial national and regional television and on satellite channels such as Sky Sports, Sky 1, Dave and FiveUSA. To gain maximum exposure the advert will appear alongside popular shows such as Coronation Street and Downton Abbey. It will also be on video on demand channels including itv.com and will be promoted via social media channels including Youtube, Facebook and Twitter.

Good effort.

Has anyone seen the Rail Delivery Group?

This from Leo Pink...

At this critical time when the railway industry, standing shoulder to shoulder needs to take back its future from the so-called Department for Transport where is the notional leadership to lead the fight?

Wasn't the Rail Delivery Group set up at the behest of McNulty to provide just the very leadership we need in this time of turmoil?

But where is the RDG?  

Where are its views on the future of franchising? 

Why isn't the RDG leading the review of franchising? After all its members actually run franchises. 

Surely the RDG could have saved Richard Brown from being torn away from his comfy armchair and slippers?

On the other hand, does the silence of the RDG reveal it to be a fair weather talking shop?  

After all its Chairman and two senior Members are busy consulting M'Learned Friends. So agreeing a common position is presumably somewhat difficult to deliver?
 
Meanwhile, the brooding giant that is Network Rail awaits its hour...

BBC explains working of DfT franchise model

This from a Mr Say Wott...

Irony?

Writing on the wall for FCC at Luton

This from a Mr Hind...

During works on the Luton bus way the following was revealed...

Bearing in mind that the Thameslink franchise competition has been suspended there seems little point in covering it up again...

UPDATE: This from the Man by the Photocopier...

 

Sorry to be a party pooper, but the fact compiler has been misled. 

 

That BR sign on the bridge at Luton has been visible all along, and much treasured by those who knew it was there. 

 

Time to put it on the front of the station, though?

Eurostar e320 - tickets now available!

This from Citizen Smith...

Seen at one of the Edgware Road's more creative travel  agents.

Still it beats the usual Eurostar broom cupboard!

DfT officially not in panic mode - Don't panic!!!

No hint of panic then in DfT's decision to announce a change to the planned January fares increase yesterday.

A Sunday.

A Sunday that followed the week where the government's entire franchising policy came crashing down around its ears. 

A Sunday that isn't the 5th of December, which is when the Autumn Statement is due to be given.

A Sunday that just happened to coincide with the start of the Tory Party conference.

A Sunday where the tiniest piece of good news would be embraced by the party faithful as a drowning man clutches at straw.

So no panic at all.

No indeedy, absolutely none at all.

In related news Eye understands that the Pope is no longer Catholic and bears have ceased defecating in woods.

Mingay speaks!

This is the statement issued by Kate Mingay...

The PR Office issued the following statement today on behalf of Kate Mingay and her lawyers Mishcon de Reya:

5 October 2012

Statement by Mrs Kate Mingay (Director, Commercial and Technical Services, Department for Transport)

“While it has been widely reported in the context of the award of the franchise for the West Coast Mainline that I have been suspended, my role has been inaccurately portrayed mainly due to statements and other comment made by the Department for Transport itself.

I would like to make it clear that:

• I did not have lead responsibility for this project;
• Neither I nor any member of my team had any responsibility for the economic modelling for this project, or for any Department for Transport project;
• Nor did I have any responsibility for the financial modelling in respect of this project;
• I have not been involved in briefing Department for Transport ministers or other government ministers in respect of this project.

I will of course cooperate fully with all ongoing and future investigatory processes in relation to this matter, but wanted to correct the completely inaccurate portrayal of my role immediately.”

ENDS

Farewell - keep it McLean and good Knight

Yesterday saw a farewell do for two time served railway PRs.

Virgin men, Allan McLean and Steve Knight, held a retirement breakfast aboard the Pendolino which was later named Chad Varah (see post below) at Euston.

Pictured are Allan and Steve aboard the train, as they head of to the Dun Spinning Retirement Home.

Eye wishes both well and is sure it won't be the last we've heard of them!

Quadruple naming for Samaritans founder

Amidst all the negative noise some good news!

Yesterday four railway companies named rolling stock at Euston in honour of the Rev Chad Varah, founder of the Samaritans.

Virgin...

London Midland...

DRS...

And Network Rail - although their loco, a class 57, was called away to other duties...

No matter!

As the Samaritans do such sterling work Eye is happy to applaud all concerned.

Good effort!

New Irish Rail CEO appointed

So the UK brain drain to Ireland continues.

First Theresa Villiers took up the role of Northern Ireland Secretary, and perhaps not a minute too soon in light of recent developments at her former department!

Now Eye understands that David Franks, currently at Keolis, is heading across to the Emerald Isle to become CEO of Irish Rail when Dick Fearn retires in February.

A challenging role at a railway that is under significant financial pressure.

UPDATE: This the note circulated to Iarnród Éireann colleagues this morning...

Dear Colleagues,

In July, I informed you of my decision to retire from Iarnród Éireann in February 2013.

Yesterday, following a special meeting of the IE Board, the chairman announced the name of my successor.

He is Mr David Franks, a lifelong railwayman from England with extensive front line railway management experience, both in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

David (55) began his railway career at just 16 years of age, as a junior member the station staff at Salisbury in the south of England.

Subsequently, following many years in line management positions with British Rail and its successor companies, David has, in more recent years, led a number of rail businesses, including the train operations of National Express in the UK and the Stockholm Metro system in Sweden.

He is currently employed by Keolis, the UK division of the French National Railways, SNCF.

David will join Iarnród Éireann early in the New Year and I do hope you will extend the same warm welcome to him as you did to me when I joined the company back in 2003.

Regards, Dick Fearn
 

Cap and Collar costs revealed

This from the RMT... 

Evidence unearthed by rail union RMT has revealed that all of the rail franchises currently eligible for receiving taxpayer financial support under loaded contract rules are now claiming it with the exception of Northern Rail and London Midland who could move onto the same special measures shortly.

RMT research also reveals today that the total level of revenue support paid back to the train companies has shot up to £451 million, meaning that nearly half the £1 billion paid to the government in premiums is returned to the operators in a revolving door of corporate welfare. The revenue support payments have gone up from £290 million in a year and are still rising.

The so-called system of “revenue support” – better known as “corporate welfare - is where under the franchising “cap and collar” procedures, private train operators can get more subsidy or pay less premium if their revenue undershoots original inflated projections.

The Parliamentary information shows that the following TOC’s are now being bailed out by the taxpayer because they and DFT have got their sums wrong,

• FGW
• Virgin West Coast
• FCC
• South Eastern
• South West trains
• East Midland
• Cross Country
• Southern (from 20/9/13)

That means that eight out of the current 19 rail franchises are on taxpayer bailouts and, whilst Northern Rail and London Midland are in revenue share at the moment (paying more premium or getting less subsidy) this is only by a marginal sum and they could also apply for a bailout at any time.

Yet another reason for Richard Brown's remit to be extended. 

Rather than reviewing 'the franchising programme', now is the time to look into whether franchising is working and if there are better ways to provide passenger services. Through 'concessions' for instance...

UPDATE This blatant piece of puffery from a Mr Chris Jackson...

Interested to see that RMT has now 'discovered' how many TOCs are getting revenue support. 

Subscribers to Rail Business Intelligence would already be well aware, as we published the full list in issue 422 a fortnight ago.

(Can I have a discount on my subscription now? Ed)