Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 22:35 02 May 2024
- Protesters held as asylum seekers' transfer thwarted
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 18/05/24 - BRTA Westbury
22/05/24 - WWRUG / TransWilts update
02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber

On this day
2nd May (1999)
Last special train to Weymouth Quay (*)

Train RunningCancelled
21:59 Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
22:30 Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads
Short Run
17:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance
18:18 Carmarthen to London Paddington
18:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance
19:15 Penzance to Bristol Temple Meads
19:18 London Paddington to Swansea
19:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
19:48 London Paddington to Swansea
20:23 Swansea to London Paddington
20:30 Carmarthen to Bristol Parkway
20:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
21:08 Paignton to Bristol Temple Meads
21:30 Cardiff Central to Frome
21:45 Penzance to London Paddington
Delayed
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 22:42 Exeter St Davids to Bristol Temple Meads
PollsThere are no open or recent polls
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
May 02, 2024, 22:43:04 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[260] Vintage film - how valid are these issues today?
[80] Rail unions strike action 2022/2023/2024
[46] Leven, Fife, Scotland, fast forward a month
[42] Train drivers "overwhelmingly white middle aged men"
[34] underground plans for Bristol update.
[34] Visiting the pub on the way home.
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 ... 3 4 [5]
  Print  
Author Topic: Transport secretary - on subjects beyond transport  (Read 25809 times)
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6438


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #60 on: March 02, 2019, 16:06:22 »

I suppose Chris Grayling can't be personally blamed for all the poor decisions of the DfT» (Department for Transport - about) under his charge. He's signing off on poorly thought out plans, I doubt he's thinking them all up himself. I suspect he doesn't have the nous or creativity.

It's more like a lunatic running the asylum.

Yes he can. The minister should have the big ideas, with the Civil Service turning them into reality. Things only start to go wrong on the railways when something changes, and Patrick McLoughlin didn't have the same issues in the 4 years he was transport secretary, and he had a lot more on his plate.

When the cock-up fairy visits a department once, it can be easily mended most times. When she seems to have set up an office within the department, the minister's choice is normally between tendering resignation or keeping the desk fairly clear to make it easier to move out when sacked. He has made some rather expensive errors of judgment. Others have been defenestrated for less.
Logged

Now, please!
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40853



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #61 on: July 19, 2019, 19:29:32 »

From The Guardian

Quote
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. A low threnody emanated from the Commons benches as MPs (Member of Parliament) gathered for transport questions to say goodbye to one of their finest. This was to be Chris Grayling’s final appearance as a minister – not even his closest friends expect him to continue to fail upwards in a Boris Johnson government – and the mourners were out in force to pay their respects.

If you have tears, prepare to shed them now ...

Hmmm ... or are there certain ministers to leave in place in "poison chalice" ministries to take the **** there while Boris (or Jeremy) deals with other things ... for later replacement by those supporters the new PM wants to thank with a job if they help him through the next six months.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Oxonhutch
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1248



View Profile
« Reply #62 on: July 20, 2019, 08:09:20 »

Six ... ?  Cheesy
Logged
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 18928



View Profile
« Reply #63 on: July 22, 2019, 13:04:45 »

Whilst Failing Grayling won't be missed by anyone with an interest (vested or merely personal) in railways, there is the very real likelihood that the next SoS for transport will be an arch-brexiteer Boris yes man/woman.

Mark Francois or Esther McVey at Transport? Lawks!
Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
IndustryInsider
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 10124


View Profile
« Reply #64 on: July 22, 2019, 13:27:59 »

Or, possibly even worse, Jo, the brother of Boris.
Logged

To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 18928



View Profile
« Reply #65 on: July 22, 2019, 15:08:45 »

Will Boris favour nepotism over having a remainer in his cabinet?
Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6438


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #66 on: July 22, 2019, 21:33:12 »

A little unlikely, imho.
Logged

Now, please!
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: 1 ... 3 4 [5]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page