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Lee
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« Reply #60 on: October 06, 2008, 22:24:21 » |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #61 on: October 06, 2008, 22:36:59 » |
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Speaking last month Geoff Hoon said: "Ashfield and Mansfield are the largest areas by population in the UK▸ without a Sunday train service. A Sunday service would be a positive step for the local economy and in promoting greater use of public transport. It is vital that people make known their support. I will be doing my best to ensure local people's views are given thorough consideration by the government.
Excuse me, mate, but Portishead is one of the largest areas by population in the UK without any train service! I'll be sending you an e-mail on the subject!!    |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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grahame
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« Reply #62 on: October 07, 2008, 05:38:58 » |
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The new ministers ar Geoff Hoon and Lord Andrew Adonis ... and I have just split off the parts of this thread that introduced them and made initial comment to: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3576.0Comments on the outgoing ministers - Ruth Kelly and Tom Harris - and their legacy .... continue posting below! |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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Lee
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« Reply #63 on: October 08, 2008, 03:44:22 » |
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And indeed as I drove home on Saturday evening (the train I would have caught back from the same meeting a couple of years ago having been withdrawn by the DfT» / FGW▸ ) the BBC» was talking about Tom Harris being sacked which struck me as an unusually exteme wording. Here are a couple of article links along those lines. http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5236http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/westminster-watch/2008/10/06-tom-harris.htmlThe two new ministers replace Rosie Winterton and Tom Harris - who has publicly declared his disappointment at losing his rail brief. A posting on his website says the Glasgow South MP▸ has been "sacked" as transport minister - news conveyed to him personally by the Prime Minister on Friday night. According to the website Harris said: "Obviously I'm disappointed; I really enjoyed being a minister, particularly in the Department for Transport. But I was always realistic - ministerial jobs come and go, but the role of an MP is more important than any other. And of course I will continue to support the government from the back benches." Glasgow South MP Mr Harris was regarded highly by many in the rail industry, and there is speculation he made have paid the price for indiscreet comments on his blog, especially one about the credit crunch which hit the headlines back in June. |
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John R
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« Reply #67 on: October 14, 2008, 23:50:48 » |
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Given today's announcementon SATS tests, can we assume that when he decided to move on from the Transport Ministry a major U turn and embarrassing announcement is about to be made?
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Lee
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« Reply #69 on: October 21, 2008, 22:24:10 » |
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Former Transport Minister Tom Harris says that "I catch the train for the same reasons that millions of others do: because it suits me. There is absolutely no altruistic motive involved" and there is "no point in appealing to people's concern for the environment ^ far too few people will change their behaviour on that basis to make a significant difference", and has defended his decision to drive his car when he wants to (link below.) http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Inside-Environment-MP-says-preaching.4607717.jp |
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #70 on: October 21, 2008, 22:33:49 » |
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And ... erm ... can anyone just remind me: on exactly what basis was he actually given the job ?? I don't want to be too provocative here, but a quick google search on Tom Harris MP▸ suggests that his rather outspoken style has made him slightly less than universally popular. I'll say no more.  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830. Many more have died in the same way since then. Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.
"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner." Discuss.
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Lee
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« Reply #71 on: November 02, 2008, 00:11:24 » |
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grahame
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« Reply #72 on: January 09, 2009, 20:22:42 » |
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I'm only in my fourth year of taking any interest in rail services ... but, already, I can't help noticing the number of times the number of times that the person sitting on the political decision chair has changed.
Prime Ministers:
Tony Blair - Sedgefield (*)
Gordon Brown - Fife
Minister for Transport:
Alastair Darling - Edinburgh
Douglas Alexander - Glasgow
Ruth Kelly - Lancashire (*)
Geoff Hoon - Notts (*)
Rail Minister:
Derek Twigg - Merseyside (*)
Tom Harris - Glasgow
Lord Adonis - unelected
I have also highlighted all of those who were elected to represent people for who the DfT» set the franchises up - in other words, those who can truely claim to be serving the people who elected them in their rail decisions. That's just four out of the nine.
I may have forgotten some ... additions / corrections welcomed
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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Phil
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« Reply #73 on: January 09, 2009, 20:59:56 » |
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That's a very interesting point.
Good to see the west of England so well represented there, too.
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Lee
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« Reply #74 on: June 24, 2009, 18:19:04 » |
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