Alistair Darling (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[tramway]

Reported in the Metro this morning, and on SKY News.

One of the country's least popular rail companies has been warned to "get a grip" or risk putting its franchise in danger.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-1305566,00.html?f=rss

[Lee]

That's two senior government figures (Dawn Primarolo is quoted as well) being highly critical , and even the most balanced of observers would have to say that this doesnt bode well for FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

I am aware though, that it is highly ironic that such criticism should come from Alistair Darling.

[12hoursunday]

I am aware though, that it is highly ironic that such criticism should come from Alistair Darling.

Isn't that the bloke that split up the SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) and put the person who had started to put the railway right (Richard Bowker) out of a job, and now keeps changing his mind on whether to tax some non-doms?
                                                                               and
correct me if I'm wrong wasn't Dawn Primarolo in charge of the Tax Credits System that first of all paid hard up people too much money and then a couple of years later demanded it back. The one that a Treasury select committee member accused her of "losing control of her department.

Now as an employee I know things haven't gone to plan within Great Western but for these two to be critical beggars belief.

I just wondered though what would have happened if that train had left without Mr Darling?

[vacman]

That's probably the most HYPOCRITICAL thing Mr Darling has ever said!!!! Mr Beeching reicarnated as I used to call him!

[Lee]

The view from the I Hate First Great Western blog (link below.)
http://ihatefirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2008/02/pants-on-fire.html

[Lee]

Oxford Mail article link.
http://oxfordmail.net/display.var.2049987.0.chancellor_warns_rail_firm.php

[vacman]

The view from the I Hate First Great Western blog (link below.)
http://ihatefirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2008/02/pants-on-fire.html

Never thought i'd agree with anything from that blog, but that I do! well said!!

[Lee]

Charles Howeson enters the fray (link below.)
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144125&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232450&contentPK=19892994&folderPk=108202&pNodeId=251466

[Btline]

Surely it is Network Rail's fault FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are not operating the 300 Mk2s^▸ (Mark 2 coach) lying at Honeyboune?

[smokey]

Surely it is Network Rail's fault FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are not operating the 300 Mk2s^▸ (Mark 2 coach) lying at Honeyboune?

Don't see why NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are to blame that FGW don't hire in MKII's with spot hired loco's.

[12hoursunday]

As Mr Howeson says

"The Government is responsible for the allocation of rolling stock these days and as

prehaps that will stop all the why don't FGW^▸ (First Great Western) hire this or that postings.

[Andy W]

Hi 12hoursunday,

You are spot on about Mr Darling & Co.

Following Mr Howeson's statement about the government's responsibility the article continued:-

"A spokesman for FGW^▸ (First Great Western) said that the company was "urgently seeking extra rolling stock to address our capacity needs".

I presume that is the government's job and not FGWs in view of your quote.

Is there rolling stock that FGW can use but is being prevented from using it by the government?

[Shazz]

Surely it is Network Rail's fault FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are not operating the 300 Mk2s^▸ (Mark 2 coach) lying at Honeyboune?

Don't see why NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are to blame that FGW don't hire in MKII's with spot hired loco's.

Because 95% of the time they do, NR have a hissy fit and don't allow them to run them.

So NR are very much to blame.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, I think it's a bit rich, Alistair and Dawn laying into FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to 'get a grip' or risk their franchise being reviewed: it's the terms of the franchise that are at the root of the problem. Good for Charles Howeson, pointing this out:

"FGW chairman Charles Howeson said Mr Darling should remember that as Transport Secretary he was responsible for many of the restrictions placed on the firm ... He told the WMN^» (Warminster - next trains): "As the Chancellor of the Exchequer will recall from when he was Minister for Transport, this franchise involved private sector investment of ^200 million on the complete refurbishment of all of the train fleet and payment of a premium of ^1.3 billion to the Government over the full life of the franchise ... The Government is responsible for the allocation of rolling stock these days and as deep as any company's chequebook might be, it is not frankly possible to obtain the rolling stock and locomotives that we need and would wish to put into service as soon as possible."

AND Charles Howeson did acknowledge that some problems are within FGW's control:

"However, he is right in that we have been undeniably under-performing because despite the best will in the world and along with a huge amount of resources and energy, we still don't have enough train crews or enough of the right sort of train sets to deliver the service that we certainly aspire to and that our customers would want."

A very well balanced article, I think. The only pity is that it appeared in the Western Morning News, which I suspect is not Alistair or Dawn's usual breakfast table reading. Hopefully the Times will pick up the story? 

[Lee]

As Mr Howeson says

"The Government is responsible for the allocation of rolling stock these days and as

prehaps that will stop all the why don't FGW^▸ (First Great Western) hire this or that postings.

Howeson's view is not far off, but (in my opinion) slightly too simplistic.

The Department for Transport does not set the required number of trains or carriages in any given franchise, but the ROSCOs^» (Rolling Stock Owning Company - about) generally wont enter into long-term train leasing agreements unless they are underwritten by the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).

There is nothing to stop FGW taking note of suggestions from the likes of us and trying to make them happen, or indeed to make short-term deals off their own back.