Monday 30 October 2017

Arriva pulls out of Wales and Borders

This from the twitter feed of Ken Skates…


Ken is 'the Official channel of the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure' at the Welsh Assembly Government:
This leaves the following in the running:
  • KeolisAmey;
  • MTR; and 
  • Abellio
Interesting, possibly even unexpected...

Digital railway's missing link

The latest organisation trying, belatedly, to get inside the digital railway bubble are civil engineers Balfour Beatty.

What, Eye ponders, do a bunch of chaps in rigger safety boots and hard hats know about the digital railway?

Eager to find out we followed the instruction at the foot of the press release (below).

Mark Bullock, Managing Director, Balfour Beatty’s rail business said, “The Digital Railway will be transformative, bringing the UK’s railways into the 21st century. Making the Digital Railway a reality calls for a shake-up of the way the rail industry does business by better connecting the constituent parts, aligning the objectives of multiple stakeholders and bringing track and trains closer together. This will require robust planning and coordination, funding and a concerted effort to address the skills shortage.

Above all, the new approach will have to be more collaborative and more inclusive. Although the challenges are significant, the potential prize is great. The industry must come together to unlock the benefits of the Digital Railway and Balfour Beatty is committed to making this happen.”

ENDS

To read the paper in full, please click here and get involved in the conversation using #ExpertEngineers

Alas, link was there none!

Perhaps a good old fashioned analogue fax address would have been more reliable?


Industry 'improved finances' - a gentle reminder

This from Benjamin Disraeli...

According to the Rail Delivery Group Notes to Editors on today's launch of the 'Landmark coming together':

"The plan details the progress that the industry has made since it was restructured in the 1990s, when Britain’s railway ran a £2bn a year operating deficit (1997-98) compared to generating a £200m surplus today, benefiting taxpayers. The plan says that improved finances have helped to sustain improvements in the railway that see Britain’s network now ranked by passengers as the best major railway in Europe".

In 1997-98 all Government subsidy to the railway went to the train operators who then provided all Railtrack's income through track access charges. In other words, they met their full operating costs.

Today Network Rail's income comes from a combinatioon of track access charges and a direct grant from DfT.

According to the ORR, in 2016-17, only South West Trains and Virgin Trains East Coast made a net contribution to DfT after Network Rail's Direct Grant had been allocated to the TOCs. The rest ran an operating deficit requiring subsidy. 

And SWT was in revenue share, while VTEC is running at a loss

Railway Pride - Hampton Court (update)

Good news for fans of Railway Pride and Hampton Court station.

Regular Eye readers may recall this sorry image of the buffer stops at Platform 2 from a post on the 14th October?


The situation is now much improved as this photo from the weekend shows!


As the legend on the billboard behind notes: 'Ever onwards' indeed!

Railway Garden Competition - North Dulwich

This, apparently, from Dicky Davis…



As you might expect in North Dulwich, they have gone one better: hanging gardens!

Railway Garden Competition - Bury St Edmunds

This from the Lady Mallet…


Arboreal greetings from Suffolk!

Partnership Railway - more gloom for the Roscos?

So, today the rail industry launched its ‘In Partnership for Britain’s Prosperity’ plan.

Backed by all passenger train operating companies and Network Rail, as well as rail freight companies and the supply chain acting in partnership as one railway for Britain the plan contains the following commitments:

  1. Strengthen the railway’s contribution to the economy, keeping running costs in the black, freeing up taxpayers’ money
  2. Increase customer satisfaction by improving the railway to remain the top-rated major railway in Europe
  3. Boost local communities through localised decision making and investment
  4. Create more jobs, increase diversity and provide our employees with rewarding careers
The RDG press release contains a host of supportive quotes from business and the industry, as well as this from NR CEO Mark Carne:


Over the next 18 months passengers and communities across the country will see a transformation in the services that they receive. Thousands of new trains will be introduced as the culmination of years of heavy investment in improving our railway comes to fruition, stimulating the economy by delivering new job and housing opportunities."

'Thousands of new trains'?

Has anyone told the Roscos? Or did Mark mean 'vehicles'?

Friday 27 October 2017

Prior departs for Henley

Much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the Supply Chain tonight!

Lord Prior, the BEIS minister championing the rail Sector Strategy, resigned from the government today.

Lord Prior brought insight, energy and enthusiasm to his role, most recently displayed when he addressed the Rail Forum conference in Derby last Thursday.


No matter!

In the words of the late, great Sir Robin Day ' just another here-today, gone-tomorrow, politician.'

So a big Eye welcome to our new Supply Chain minister the Rt Hon Lord Henley!

This from Lord Henley's biography on the government website:

Lord Henley was appointed as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 27 October 2017.

He was a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions from 21 December 2016 to 15 June 2017, and a Lord in Waiting (Government Whip) from 21 November 2016 to 15 June 2017.

He is a Conservative member of the House of Lords.

Lord Henley served as Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction from September 2011 to September 2012. He served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2010 to 2011.

Lord Henley held a number of positions in the previous Conservative government, including Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Social Security, the Department for Employment and the Ministry of Defence. He was also Minister of State for the Department of Education and Employment. In Opposition, he served as Chief Whip, Deputy Speaker and was Opposition spokesperson for Legal Affairs and Justice.

He was educated at Clifton College, Bristol and Durham University. He was called to the Bar in 1977.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Responsibilities include:

  • industrial strategy
  • Lords lead on all BEIS issues
  • industrial policy (with the Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry)
  • technology and emerging sectors
  • infrastructure/construction
  • professional services
  • rail supply chain
  • defence
  • maritime
  • life sciences
  • EU on-going business
  • better regulation and regulatory reform
  • Land Registry
  • Ordnance Survey
  • Companies House
  • corporate minister
A long list of responsibilities, we can only hope he exhibits the same enthusiasm for the rail supply chain as his predecessor.

On the plus side, no doubt the Rt Hon Lord Henley can bend the Rt Hon Chris Grayling's ear at Privy Council meetings.


Wednesday 18 October 2017

Shaken and stirred: DfT appoints 'Directors General' for Rail Group!

This announcement from the Department for Transport, via a number of chums…

Director General, Rail Group
Polly Payne and Ruth Hannant have been appointed as Directors General for Rail Group, joining DfT from the Department for Education where they currently lead the Government’s work on Higher Education reform. 

Polly and Ruth are a very well established job-share team who together bring extensive commercial, financial and strategic policy experience to DfT, having worked in a range of roles in HM Treasury, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and UK Government Investments.

(Having had first-hand experience of colleagues undertaking a job-share role, this can work really well. And impressive that the DfT is prepared to create our first ever Directors General. 

More importantly the connection with the Department for Education will be especially valuable as the industry collectively seeks to improve skills and diversity, which will need the active support of the DfE. 

This is beginning to look inspired! Ed).

Director General, Resources and Strategy
After 6 months as Acting DG for Rail - Nick Joyce will be taking up the role as Director General, Resources and Strategy. He will succeed Jonathan Moor who is leaving DfT in December to go on secondment to the Canadian Government as Chief Financial Officer for the Canadian Border Services Agency.

Building on his experience both as Director of Corporate Finance and as Acting DG for Rail, Nick has been asked to strengthen and lead DfT's shareholding function for Network Rail, High Speed 2 Limited and Highways England.

Precise timings of handover will be determined shortly, but we expect that Ruth, Polly and Nick will be in post before the end of the year.

Director General, High Speed Rail and Major Projects

Clive Maxwell was appointed as Director General, High Speed Rail and Major Projects earlier this month. Clive will formally take up his role on 20th November.

Clive joins DfT from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, where he has held the role of Director General, Energy Transformation since 2014. He has extensive experience of working across Government, including leading work in HM Treasury in response to the financial crisis, and on consumer and competition issues at the Office of Fair Trading.

Clive’s experience of infrastructure, regulation and delivery of complex programmes will be an asset to the Department. His recent responsibilities include overseeing a number of Government Major Projects, including on Smart Meters and Heat Networks, as well as leading wide-ranging policy on energy and tackling climate change.

As well as HS2, Clive will lead our work with Transport for the North on Northern Powerhouse Rail, and be responsible for East West Rail as well as working with Transport for London on the Crossrail 2 project.

(Another example of a helpful flow of talent between BEIS and DfT, both departments having a common interest in the success of the railway's supply chain. Ed)

Non-Executive Team
DfT have also been refreshing our Non-Executive team and the Prime Minister and Secretary of State have approved the following appointments to the DfT Board:
  • Ian King, CEO of BAE Systems from 2008 to 2017, to succeed Ed Smith as DfT Lead Non-Executive.
  • Richard Keys, Director of Merrill Lynch International and previously Senior Global Chief Accountant at PWC. Currently Non-Executive Director at NATS and Wessex Water. 
  • Tracey Westall, Executive Director at SCC (Specialist Computer Centres) and Non-Executive Director on Innovation Birmingham, TechUK and Governor of Birmingham City University.
  • Richard Aitken-Davies, an independent consultant with wide experience in Executive and Non-Executive roles in the infrastructure sector in particular in rail and electricity.
Ian, Richard, Tracey and Richard will join Tony Poulter to make up the Department’s Non-Executive team, and we expect them to take these roles from early-November.

All in all, much to be pleased with here. Good effort.

Monday 16 October 2017

Thin gruel at DfT threatens Open Access!

Exciting news from Great Minster House!

This important announcement seen today…



We may safely assume that DfT's former chilly support for on-rail competition, will now be as stone-cold as their canteen food.

Hitachi goes on the front-foot!

This, from Hitachi, is impressive...


How many other suppliers would have done this and so quickly?

Great Western IEP Launch - the highs and lows...

A day of mixed blessings…














To put the carping to one side, eight years after the contract was originally signed the new trains are finally entering service. 

Therefore, on balance, very good news!

Saturday 14 October 2017

Pointless signs - East Midlands Parkway

Not so much a Pointless Sign…


…as a sign that missed its own point.

Wolmarried!

Wolmar wed today!


Any suggestions that this is a publicity stunt prior to the publication of his new book 'Railways and the Raj' have been strongly denied.

'Railways and the Raj: How the Age of Steam Transformed India', is being launched at Daunt Books on the 30th October. Priced at a very reasonable £25, it is available… (That's quite enough gratuitous puffery, Ed).

Many congratulations to the happy couple: Deborah and Christian!

Railway Pride - Hampton Court

This from a Mr Penson...

What a reassuring sight to greet you on arrival at Hampton Court's platform 2.


As Henry Francis Lyte observed: 'Change and decay in all around I see'.

The Case of the Silent Krankie

The scene: A room at 221b Baker Street...

I am sure Watson, that you will have noted the significance of the Scottish Statement of Funds Available

But Holmes, the Scottish SoFA has yet to be published

That, Watson, is the significance!


Friday 13 October 2017

Railway Pride Restored - Belper

This from the Weaver…

'Railway pride restored in Belper - thank you to all involved'.

Older Eye hands may remember this image from Belper in September.



Great joy!

Pictures from today!




Railway Pride is restored in Belper.

A reminder, as the late great Noel Coward might have said…

Railway Pride has been handed down to us.
Railway Pride is a flower that's free.
Railway Pride means our own dear town to us,
And our pride it for ever will be.


Good effort!

Thursday 12 October 2017

Money behind SoFA bigger than expected!

Much rejoicing over the size of the Statement of Funds Available!

A cool £48bn for CP6, and apparently almost all of it on OMR.

Plaudits to RIA, RSG, RDG, RFG, RFEM, NR etc… for a job well done.

The devil of course will be in the detail!

Meanwhile, supply chain colleagues, SHARPEN YOUR PENCILS!

And then sharpen them again. And possibly still further!

Alas, there is a dark cloud…

Cynical Eye readers have been asking whether the disclaimer found on the government website this morning, announcing the SoFA allows DfT wriggle room?


Worrying if true!

Wednesday 11 October 2017

Pointless signs - Emergency Electrification!

A welcome return for Eye's occasional series of Pointless Signs!

This from Steady as She Goes…



Emergency electrification?

Has someone just discovered 'the Reading area' needs to be juiced?

Steve Marshall RIP

Captain Deltic writes...

I was saddened to learn of the death of Steve Marshall at the early age of 60.


Steve took over as Chief Executive of Railtrack when Gerald Corbett resigned, under pressure from a pusillanimous board, a month after the Hatfield derailment in October 2000.

As Railtrack's Finance Director he had been in the thick of the Company's battles with Rail Regulator Tom Winsor over the settlement for its second Control Period, against a background of the cost of the West Coast Route Modernisation spiralling out of control and performance  reacheing new lows after Hatfield. To cap it all a new Chairman with zero railway experience was appointed.

Then, in October 2001, transport Secretary Stephen Byers forced Railtrack into Administration. While his Chairman prevaricated Marshall resigned immediately, agreeing to stay on until a replacement was appointed in March 2002.

His immediate concern was to obtain compensation for his shareholders, which eventually came to pass. During this second drawn out battle  he continued as a non-executive director of the residual Railtrack company.

Most of my contact with Steve was during this turbulent period. It could not have been easy for a reserved  finance man to be pushed into a high profile public position.

To me he was the only player to emerge with dignity from the enforced collapse of Railtrack, which was reflected in his subsequentlly successful career.

Rail and Air Quality crawls up the agenda

This written answer from the Rail Minister

Andy McDonald(Middlesbrough) Asked on: 12 September 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the announcement of 26 July 2017 on the end of sales of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040, what his policy is on the use of diesel trains after that date.

Paul Maynard Answered on: 09 October 2017
We are encouraging the railway industry to improve air quality by proposing solutions that reduce emissions from trains and also to develop innovative solutions around future fuel technologies such as hydrogen and battery power. In the nearer term, there are currently a number of new bi-mode trains being delivered or on order. The rail industry expects rolling stock to typically have an expected life in the range of 30 to 35 years. There is no policy at present on the use of diesel trains post 2040.

The key words appear to be 'no policy at present'. Developing...


Wednesday 4 October 2017

World's longest serving TOC MD speaks!

This from Arriva CrossCountry…

"An innovative partnership has been launched in the North East to coincide with the start of ‘Rail Week’, where the rail industry and educational establishments come together to promote careers in the rail sector.

"Embracing the regions proud legacy of rail engineering and operational history, Britain’s largest train operator, CrossCountry, and the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership (Cont p94…)




"CrossCountry’s Managing Director, Andy Cooper, said: “This partnership is a great opportunity for us all to work together to help the Academy’s students gain some real-life railway experience, which will add true value to their knowledge of the rail sector. The North East was the birthplace (Also cont page 94…)

Longevity is evidently the father of loquaciousness!

None the less. Good effort!