STOP TRYING TO DIVERT ATTENTION TO YOUR RAIL FRANCHISEES

[whole diary]

[woody]

It is not acceptable for the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to simply pass the buck of responsibility to the hapless operator now saddled with its folly.
Read full article at http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141529&command=displayContent&sourceNode=141513&contentPK=20125643&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

[Lee]

It is not acceptable for the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to simply pass the buck of responsibility to the hapless operator now saddled with its folly.
Read full article at http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141529&command=displayContent&sourceNode=141513&contentPK=20125643&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

woody, does it say anywhere who wrote that article?

[devon_metro]

Ruddy Marvelous

[Timmer]

One word BRILLIANT!

[grahame]

That's an excellent piece of documentation and is much closer to the truth (I'm sure) than what I've seen written anywhere else.  The inevitable question / follow up is "OK - so that's how we got here. Now - how do we sort things out to get the disenfrachised passengers and growth back on board?"

[vacman]

I'm gobsmacked, the Western Morning news printing something thats almost pro rail!!

[Lee]

I'm gobsmacked, the Western Morning news printing something thats almost pro rail!!

I'd still love to know who wrote it. Any ideas, anyone?

[woody]

It is not acceptable for the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to simply pass the buck of responsibility to the hapless operator now saddled with its folly.
Read full article at http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141529&command=displayContent&sourceNode=141513&contentPK=20125643&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

woody, does it say anywhere who wrote that article?

The original newspaper article said Neill Mitchell, of South West Chambers of Commerce

[Lee]

It is not acceptable for the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to simply pass the buck of responsibility to the hapless operator now saddled with its folly.
Read full article at http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=141529&command=displayContent&sourceNode=141513&contentPK=20125643&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

woody, does it say anywhere who wrote that article?

The original newspaper article said Neill Mitchell, of South West Chambers of Commerce

Thanks Woody. Here is an interesting archive link (13 December 2004.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=196

^The new timetable provides good cause for business travellers from the West Country to thoroughly review their traditional travel patterns - whether previously by air, car or rail - as it contains a number of significant changes. Undoubtedly the most exciting innovation is the fast new early morning business travel rail service, departing from Plymouth at 06.00, Newton Abbot at 06.35 and Exeter at 06.56 arriving in Paddington for 09.00 (or getting international passengers to the Heathrow Terminals, via Heathrow Express transfer, by about 09.30). Other improvements include a number of accelerated journey times, supportive of the Business Community's concern that "time is money" and of ongoing efforts to promote the competitiveness of the South West Peninsula for inward investment.^

[Lee]

Of course, if you prefer your Neil Mitchell with 2 l's then check out the link below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1593507.stm

First Great Western has won support from the Devon and Cornwall Business Council.

The council recently backed First Great Western's bid for a two-year extension to the franchise, provided tough conditions are met. The top priority is new trains.

Neill Mitchell of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council said: "A two-year extension will, according to First Great Western, result in orders for rolling stock.

"If the franchise is not extended they won't order any rolling stock and it will be a long time before the new franchise will be in a position to do so. So, that's the key".

[Lee]

See also quote below :

I don't trust the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website! 

Actually, I find it very informative at times (link below, 19 November 2007) :
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=570

Neill Mitchell Chairman of the SW Chamber^s of Commerce, and, until recently, a member of the former Rail Passengers Committee for Western England says: "The appointment of such a high profile regional businessperson, rather than a career railwayman, to the top job is a bold and innovative move by the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)'s largest train operating company. It sends a powerful message that FirstGroup is committed to ensuring that their renewed Great Western flagship franchise is to be keenly responsive to both the customer interest and, importantly, to the stakeholder partner performance expectations of the regions served by FGW. Rightly, First clearly recognise that this franchise must be both "Great" and Western" in its aspirations for excellence in service delivery and in its visionary outlook for the future".