Chiltern Mainline: Nice & Fast!

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

btw - reverting to the Inspector's report from the Oxford enquiry, he can only submit his report while the House is sitting. As they break up next week until after the Party conferences (other than a week or so before), October is about as early as it can be accepted.

Are you completely sure about that? 

TWA Order enquiry inspectors reports (that I've found online) are all addressed to the Secretary of State. I just found for instance that the Hitchin flyover report went to the S of S dated 06 August 2010 - well into the summer recess.  I can't see why parliament sitting is necessary - the reports are dealt with by the S of S, who works all year round surely?

I've subsequently found decision letters published in late July and September, so during the recess.  They seem to be normally signed by the civil servant head of the TWA Order unit, on behalf of the S of S...

Paul

[ChrisB]

The SoS is an MP^▸ (Member of Parliament). Do they work all year round, or only when House is sitting? Does the Permanent Secretary (a civil servant) not run the Dept during recess?

[ellendune]

The SoS is an MP^▸ (Member of Parliament). Do they work all year round, or only when House is sitting? Does the Permanent Secretary (a civil servant) not run the Dept during recess?

The SoS does indeed work all the year round except for normal holidays.  When she is not working a junior minister is in charge of the department. 

[paul7575]

AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) this is the difference between being in parliament, and being in the government.  Effectively all the latter (which includes the cabinet and all the various levels of Minister of State etc) are full time jobs with fairly normal holidays, and if a Minister or 'Secretary' is away an appropriate political deputy takes over.  The supporting civil servants cover all year anyway.

Paul

[Btline]

Looks as if all the investent has paid off:

http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/business_daily/9793198._Chiltern_Railways_rated_top_for_stations_/?ref=rss

Chiltern Railways rated top for stations
PASSENGERS have rated Chiltern Railways as the top operator in the country for overall satisfaction with the stations, with 88 per cent of passengers ^satisfied^ or ^very satisfied^ with the standard of the stations, according to findings of the National Passenger Survey (NPS^▸ (National Passenger Survey)).

The survey, commissioned by the independent consumer watchdog Passenger Focus, represents the views of morethan 100,000 rail passengers on a broad spectrum of issues and is conducted twice a year.

Chiltern Railways also ranked in the top six for overall customer satisfaction, with 90 per cent of passengers satisfied with the level of service.

Chiltern Railways^ managing director, Rob Brighouse, said: ^We are delighted that passengers have found us to be the top operator in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) for overall satisfaction with our stations.

^We are also proud of the fact that we have improved on our high level of customer satisfaction, ranking among the top six train operators in the country. The findings reinforce our commitment to providing a high quality passenger experience.^

Greatly deserved!

[smokey]

With reguards to the "NEW" power operated MK^▸ (Milton Keynes) III doors on Chiltern Loco and Coaches stock, I'll guess from photo's I've seen that only 2 doors per coach have been modified whilst the other 2 doors are now Emergency exits.

Better send the MK III's back to Doncaster for painting in the correct livery!

The Emergency Exits should not be in "Door" highlighted livery, example being FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Emergency Exit doors on HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Buffet Cars are NOT painted Pink like the other public doors.

[ChrisB]

Apart from the doors by the buffet, which is 'Staff Only' and Emergency exits, all the exit doors are converted.

[smokey]

That the point Emergency Exit doors are in the wrong colour.

[Southern Stag]

Not unique though, Midland Mainline livery MK3s had the TGS and buffet doors painted the same colour as the others, highlighted from the rest of the livery.

[IndustryInsider]

btw - reverting to the Inspector's report from the Oxford enquiry, he can only submit his report while the House is sitting. As they break up next week until after the Party conferences (other than a week or so before), October is about as early as it can be accepted.

Any updates on the enquiry's progress, Chris?  The recess ends next week, any rumours that it will be shortly after that, or whether we will indeed be waiting until at least October?

[ChrisB]

Not heard anything recently - will make enquiries....

[JayMac]

From December 9th the fastest service from Moor Street to Marylebone is slowed to 94 minutes. Most journeys will be around 100 minutes. Somewhat of a reversal from the much heralded 90 minute journey time advertised in September 2011.

[Southern Stag]

Is there even a 90 minute journey time in the current timetable? It was a fiddle anyway, the working timetable had the train arriving at Birmingham Moor Street in around 92 minutes, only the public timetable had a 90 minute journey time anyway. Usually a difference between working and public timetables is the opposite way round, the publicly advertised arrival being later, which gives the impression of slack in the schedule.

[JayMac]

The current 0655 from Moor St arrives Marylebone at 0825. WTT^▸ (Working Time-Table) an PTT^▸ (Public Time-Table) show the same times. From Monday 9th arrival will be 0829. Again, both WTT and PTT show the same times.

[Southern Stag]

Ah, it was the down service which was the one with the WTT^▸ (Working Time-Table) and PTT^▸ (Public Time-Table) difference.The 1630 from Marylebone was the train I believe, now booked to arrive at Moor Street at 1803, until May it was 1800 in the PTT.