One of Richard Parry-Jones' points is that Network Rail is 'debt-funded' - he was very proud of the range of organisations buying into NR^» (Network Rail - home page) debt...

For those wondering what a 'public member' of Network Rail does and how one can become one (recruiting now), these briefing slides are a must view (Network Rail - home page)-Briefing-Slides.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.harveynash.com/pdf/nr/NR-Briefing-Slides.pdf

Application process explained at http://www.harveynash.com/nr/

Edit to add calendar link to closing day for applications - Graham

Apologies once more for not picking up on the points raised until now. As far as I understand it, the Darwin Prediction Engine bases its delay estimations on real-time running information from around the system plus input from TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) controls. Its key advantage is that it is ONE engine rather than having the current 17 trying to interface with each other... The implementation on the Chiltern App for Marylebone arrivals and departures does show some of the benefits already (as do the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) monitor screens at Birmingham International.
 
As to interfacing with TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) / web sites etc, this was seen as desirable but not yet achievable.

Grahame - point taken and happy to oblige!

Clearly the most relevant topic at the Conference for Forum members was Darwin, not least because Matt Bromley (Station Manager Marylebone) spoke enthusiastically about the 'quick win' that the system had given Chiltern Railways. I see that Darwin has mentions elsewhere so, briefly, it is a single national database with a single prediction engine that is being put in place to feed the 2000 Customer Information System screens at stations and to feed other CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) sources such as web sites. The lead organisation for it is National Rail Enquiries.

Matt highlighted two gains for Chiltern: a single source of information now offers 87 delay reasons rather than the previous 5, and Chiltern CIS screens now reflect the national 'live' situation. This is a particular benefit in relation to CrossCountry delays - previously, Chiltern had been 'blind' to delays south of Oxford.

Ketech has issued a press release on the work (http://www.ketech.com/index.php/media-centre/our-news/latest-news/post/2012/12/19/first-networked-cis-darwin-interface) whilst Tom Cairns has blogged on the open data implications of Darwin (http://thomas-cairns.co.uk/2013/02/orr-real-time-train-information-consultation/)

Also of direct interest to Forum members would be the related presentations by Anthony Smith and Guy Dangerfield of Passenger Focus on the actual Customer Experience that was driving the need to transform Passenger Information. Clearly the twice-yearly National Passenger Survey is pivotal in informing TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) of the concerns of their passengers and it would seem from the TOC speakers is taken seriously...

The two PF^▸ (Penalty Fare) speakers wanted consistent timely information, especially during disruptions; joined-up systems that allowed the passenger to find out the same information from a variety of sources; the use of plain English rather than 'railway speak'; staff who treated passengers as 'human beings'; and the TOCs to be pro-active rather than reactive.

Elsewhere in the programme, LondonMidland spoke on the success of using Twitter (and some of the pitfalls) whilst East Midlands Trains presented on the importance of staff involvement and training. Among the international presentations was one by Deutsche Bahn on an integrated Android App which is being rolled out in Germany to provide real-time information to both staff and passengers. Interestingly a key challenge has been to find developers with the requisite HTML5 and Android app skills!

I will be blogging and tweeting from this Summit next week - www.transforming-passenger-information.com

Feedback on points to raise very welcome!

Peter

@birm2lond

http://birmingham2london.blogspot.co.uk

Just picked up from Linkedin that Mark Cooper is now Regional Manager Heartlands for Chiltern.

Also, Malcolm Holmes is now Station Management and Passenger Operations Consultant at SLC^▸ (Service Level Commitment) Rail

Sorry to come to this topic so late! Was in Brighton yesterday and was amazed to see the 0859 departure to Great Malvern on the departure board (http://t.co/YePqWhZx) and being announced as a three car (DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)) with catering... 5 hours 36 mins for ^62.50 with an opportunity to return on a through service from Great Malvern at 10.50. When I tweeted the photo, a reply came through that it has been known for a single car 153 to do the run.

Has anyone actually made the whole in either direction?

Finally got to try the Chicken Tikka Masala today (http://birmingham2london.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/hot-meals-on-chiltern-silver-sets.html) Very nice and amazing value at ^3.50. However, as Chiltern seem not to want to publicize the meals, I would suggest that you try them soon before they're withdrawn through 'lack of demand'

Chiltern tell me that the following range of meals is being made available on the Silver Set Mainline services for ^3.50 each:

Chinese Style Chicken Curry with rice;
Chicken Tikka Masala with rice;
Meatball in tomato sauce with pasta;
Chilli Con Carne with rice;
Sweet Chilli Chicken with noodles;
Vegetable Chow Mein.

More details to follow.

Chiltern's 'Tweet the Manager' and 'Tweet the boss' session dates can be found at http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/tweet-us

The 2013 Meet the Manager dates are at http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/about-us/meet-the-managers

Figures from Thomas' interview in Sky yesterday - Chiltern don't make a profit...

http://birmingham2london.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/chiltern-railways-this-is-where-fare.html

Whatever one may think of the 'padding' in Chiltern's Mainline timetable, it is still significantly better that waht was offered in 1956 (and at a cheaper price for most of the day...)

http://birmingham2london.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/february-1956-past-is-foreign-country.html

Blog post corrected - many thanks

Peter

Had a chat with Alan on Monday - see

http://birmingham2london.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/talking-to-alan-riley-head-of-on-train.html

Meals week commencing...

Monday 15/10/12    Chinese style curry with rice   
10.55 ex BMO, 13.37 ex MYB^▸ (London (Marylebone)), 15.55 ex BMO, 16.46 ex MYB, 18.07 ex MYB
Monday 22/10/12 Sweet chilli chicken with noodles-low fat   
10.55 ex BMO, 13.37 ex MYB, 15.55 ex BMO, 16.46 ex MYB, 18.07 ex MYB
Monday 29/10/12    Meatballs in tomato sauce with pasta   
10.55 ex BMO, 13.37 ex MYB, 15.55 ex BMO, 16.46 ex MYB, 18.07 ex MYB

Graham - thanks for the welcome. A further update on the relevant management structure from Chiltern is as follows:

Jenny Payne ^ Customer Services Director

Is reported to by:

Chad Collins ^ Head of Stations AND Alan Riley ^ Head of Trains

Chad has reporting to him:

Sandra Harper ^ Regional Manager North (responsible for stations and staff Bicester North northwards)

Debbie Osborne ^ Regional Manager South (responsible for stations and staff south of Bicester North)