Budget 2024 analysis for rail, NAO slaps Department for Transport, which reorganises...

Budget 2024 analysis for rail, NAO slaps Department for Transport, which reorganises... | Ep 24

Рет қаралды 2,578

Күн бұрын

We examine what the railway got from last week’s budget with a bit of Budget 2024 analysis… spoiler alert - nothing that hasn’t already been announced!
The National Audit Office (NAO) report into the Department for Transport’s Rail Transformation Programme is not flattering - we discuss why five of the high level benefits have been rated RED.
The Department for Transport reorganises again. Is it just another example of rearranging the deckchairs, or should we be worrying that the DfT is trying to take an even tighter grip on the railway?
And Grand Union is granted open access rights for a new service from London Euston to Stirling from 2025. But Richard is not happy about it…
On this episode:
00:00 Intro
01:49 NAO report into the DfT’s Rail Transformation Programme
23:47 Department for Transport reorganisation
32:02 Budget 2024 analysis
41:10 Grand Union open access rights for London Euston to Stirling
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Пікірлер: 59

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

If you enjoy this episode, please give it a thumbs up 👍! Better still, if you haven't yet subscribed to the channel, please hit that subscribe button and turn on notifications 🔔. Thanks for watching!

@staffordian 4 ай бұрын

More great content Nigel and Richard. Green Signals has a knack of making even the depressing and miserable news interesting, entertaining and worth listening to! Cheers, Rob

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Thanks Rob. Must try and be a little more bright and breezy though in future!

@jonathandart3740 4 ай бұрын

I've just come across a piece of DfT control freakery. I volunteer on two heritage railways and went to my local station to ask if I could put out leaflets for them. Both lines have direct mainline connections. I was told they could go to the information desk but not on the TOC leaflet racks because that would mean a failure in a DfT assessment of the station. This is bonkers. The Bowker doth not protest too much!

@stewartlegg855 4 ай бұрын

Richards point about diesel trains under the wires is spot on and if I recall rightly, back in BR days diesel trains were not usually run under the wires where it could be avoided. Cross Country trains had their engines exchanged so an electric engine took the train under the wires. If the train could have electric traction-it did. An example- a Merrymaker excursion (who remembers those?) in 1979 from Portsmouth Harbour to Carnforth (for Steamtown and the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway or a trip on Windermere) had 2 x 33 to Willesden and than a 85 up the West Coast. That was a day trip too! The train started back from Grange over Sands so had two loco exchanges coming home. We hear lots about sustainability and environment but running a diesel train so far under the wires does not tap into all that jazz much does it? Keep up the excellent work👍.

@robclarke3736 4 ай бұрын

Probably a bit late to the party, but when we were resignalling the Bromsgrove Corridor we were often told that the Lickey Incline was the steepest non-funicular railway in europe at 1/37. Going way back in time, the Hopton Incline on the Cromford & High Peak Railway was 1/14, but closed sometime in 1967 - it did have passenger stock running on it until some point in the 1876. Not sure if it was adhesion run at that stage though?

@davewilby9783 4 ай бұрын

Hey chaps, I work for the railway in Coms for SWR and love this podcast. You are spot on with your views. At least you can say what we're all thinking.

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for your comment Dave, that's great to hear.

@martinoban 4 ай бұрын

The entire route of the Stirling service is under the wires. It will provide a useful service for passengers on the East side of Glasgow without having to get into Central And, I seem to remember reading somewhere that there used to be a branch leading to a Racecourse station at Newbury which had an incredibly steep hump over a road. ?1in14?

@allanmorton6022 4 ай бұрын

Not convinced by the Stirling train as it seems just like a way to get open access on the west coast at any cost serving a small market. Far more useful would be return of direct trains from east coast North of Edinburgh down the west coast as BR used to do via reversal in Edinburgh. Also announced this week is new open access london to Wrexham avoiding Birmingham at the same time as avanti gives up its service to Shrewsbury. Seems to be a pattern here, current operator told to stop a service, then open access takes over! By the way, the route to Stirling is all electric unless there is a bit I'm forgetting? Agree with your NAO and budget review, shocking is the word. Will be able to buy the mugs?

@simonpilk 4 ай бұрын

I have worked on many major projects latterly including WCML and ECML re timetabling as a result. I have witnessed levels of micromanagement as the years have gone on from various government departments that is really paralysing. I do believe that with this DfT reorganisation does suggest that they will not relinquish the strangling control that they have so mercilessly carried out in recent times. They must have in an indirect way considered that Covid offered the golden opportunity to ‘take over’ passenger operations and frequencies and that level of control has never been surrendered. That I think is why the control of the industry is something that they might only give up kicking and screaming. While such a situation exists, the industry just cannot successfully move forward.

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

I'm going to talk a little more about this next week Simon. But I tend to agree - control will not be surrendered, It will need to be taken away. Richard

@guyb3785 4 ай бұрын

Great podcast thank-you

@TheDaf95xf 4 ай бұрын

Afternoon guys. WOW a week has passed already 😮 Great topics as always loved it 👍🏻

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Indeed - where the heck does the time go?!! Thanks for the lovely feedback.

@RobertDaveyD1022 4 ай бұрын

This pod cast is so downbeat, but makes complete sense, having spent the latter 20 years of my career in a programme office looking after multiple multi million pound projects. Can’t wait to see change on how the rail industry is run. Sounds like the governance from central government is pants!

@tantive4 4 ай бұрын

The steepest section of adhesion works track in the UK that has regular passenger trains isn’t on National Rail, but you didn’t specify that it has to be. It’s 1 in 17 on the Docklands Light Railway on the tunnel section up from Bank to the junction with the Tower Gateway branch.

@Richardhill1978 4 ай бұрын

That’s a cracking question it could be ilkley near Birming at 1 in 37 at the or into one of the underground stations Farringdon at 1 in 27

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the guess and for being so quick off the mark! You'll have to listen to next week's show to find out if you were right!

@bishwatntl 3 ай бұрын

For a long time, it has seemed that DfT Rail were not fit for purpose.

@johng5474 4 ай бұрын

The DfT has screwed it up. I am shocked inspector, SHOCKED!

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

I know, incredible isn't it?!

@gingertom2355 4 ай бұрын

Another fine discussion on the issues gents. Hard to disagree on pretty much all of the views expressed on the topics covered. As they say if DfT keep taking the same failed approach over over expecting better outcomes that's insanity. Unsurprising really given the guiding mind examples from Westminster. PS: I certainly believe it's fixable. The demand is there despite efforts to suppress it. Many people like using Rail if they can afford to do so. It's mostly better than alternative modes when done well enough. We just have to face facts there's a section in Government who don't share those views who are currently in charge of the levers, some intentionally setting routes into headshunts. We can but hope the next shift know how to set a route back out again!.

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Heated agreement - it is fixable. With the right strategy and the right people.

@IanJames-qu6yv 4 ай бұрын

Not sure if this qualifies, but the Glasgow Underground is 1 in 18 as it goes under the Clyde, so not mainline and a gauge of 4ft. It was rope hauled when originally built but has been electric powered for many years.

@lukejoshua5156 4 ай бұрын

Steepest track I know is the climb from Whitechapel to Shoreditch High Street on the ELL (Windrush) Overground line that has a regular passenger traffic

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Good shout. But do we agree? Tune in next week to find out!

@paulholmes3562 4 ай бұрын

Steepest track - was it on the Mersey Railway Near James St Station?

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Ah, was it? Or was it not! We reveal all next week - good shout though!

@robertwalsh1724 4 ай бұрын

Fully automated trains? Fully automated track maintenance. Only way I can see clear to save billions in the workforce.

@gordondudman240 4 ай бұрын

I have a feeling that the 2 miles of 1 in 36 coming out of Ilfracombe up to Morehoe (as mentioned by Flanders and Swann in “Slow Train”) must be right up there. The Lickey incline, is of course still in use and is 2 miles of 1 in 37. I’m mindful that the gradient coming out of Plymouth up towards Ivybridge again is a very demanding 2 miles of 1 in 40 (and got a brief mention on your Pullman trip).

@gordondudman240 4 ай бұрын

PS - A great programme guys; inc Steph!

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Hmm. It was steep. But was it the steepest? Cheers. Richard

@gordondudman240 4 ай бұрын

@@GreenSignals Not a scooby! But we'll see next week. 🙂

@bishwatntl 3 ай бұрын

There was a story long ago that one government department used to mark certain documents as "not to be seen by the NAO". True? Maybe....

@GreenSignals 3 ай бұрын

I believe that NAO have access to anything they want to see. I always found the NAO courteous and professional. I doubt very much that story is correct.

@Group51 4 ай бұрын

Thameslink into Blackfriars seems quite steep. No idea if it’s the steepest.

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

It is indeed steep. Tune in next week to see if it's the winner!

@jonathandart3740 4 ай бұрын

Quiz answer: Ilfracombe to Morthoe.

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Which was indeed steep. But was it the steepest? We reveal all next week.

@mrcogginsgarage7062 4 ай бұрын

Folkestone Harbour was 1in27 so might be your answer.

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the answer, tune in next time to find out!

@Richardhill1978 4 ай бұрын

Or was it Hopton incline after chain traction finished

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

There is a C&HP theme developing in a number of answers!

@angusswanson5984 4 ай бұрын

Cromford and high peak railway - Hopton incline?

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Hmm. Good shout. Have run up it and can confirm it is mighty steep. But does it meet the criteria we set? Tune in next week to find out!

@clivewilkins1754 4 ай бұрын

Not sure High Peak ever had a 'regular' passenger service. Which gets the question 'What's the difference between 'scheduled' (timetabled) and 'regular' ?'

@angusswanson5984 4 ай бұрын

@@GreenSignals I’ll let the judges decide re criteria! Found out about it on a recent holiday to the Peak District. That whole line feels bonkers, designed more canal engineering than railway. Great local walking and cycling resource

@HoggRyan 4 ай бұрын

Leadhills and Wanlockhead?

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Interesting shout. Tune in next week to find out....!

@user-iz1ht3ut1m 4 ай бұрын

Middleton Junction to Oldham 🤔

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Interesting. And it was a passenger line. So tune in next week to find out!

@grahamslack9360 4 ай бұрын

Middleton Junction to Oldham Werneth

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Ah, a good Northern candidate Graham. Tune in next to week to find out if it takes the crown.....!

@robertwalsh1724 4 ай бұрын

Pearl Harbor trivia. Just a few moments in to the attack on December 7,1941, the battleship Oklahoma capsized. l wondered why for decades. About 20 years ago I was honored to represent a member of the crew of the battleship Maryland. Maryland was moored to Ford island. Oklahoma was tied up to her. In the history of the WW II actions of Maryland there was a memorial page to the crew of Oklahoma. It seems that the captain of Oklahoma had set a white glove inspection for Monday, December 8, 1941. Because he knew that the chiefs and sailors were all lazy and liked to hide problems behind watertight compartment doors he ordered every door un-dogged and propped open. So Oklahoma was an empty beer can thrown in the water. The Captain made his greatest contribution to the war effort by dying on December 7th. Oklahoma or cancellation of HS2. Plenty of foolishness to go around.

@rossclark9437 4 ай бұрын

The Lickey incline

@GreenSignals 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the guess! We'll let you know next week...

@garrywilson2748 4 ай бұрын

Another interesting...but depressing issue! I don't mean your style of delivery...the spread of news. Its all such a mess....you have had 3 interviewees who are go getters and are passionate about change, Andrew,Maggie,John....these should be the people that Labour say to.....here is your budget....you guys know the railway....you guys run it. The first line of the budget transport statement....what an absolute joke. They have allowed a new build east west rail route to be built without electrification....only allow EMR and Avanti to order 5 coach new trains ( in my humble opinion any long distance operator should have a minimum of 8 coaches in their train sets). These two decisions alone go against their opening line of their budget statement. I think it can be sorted too.....I love my car...but I would love to not need it ! I would love for every long distance journey to know going by train is the best option....but currently it's not. Cost,reliability, availability of a seat,catering,etc is all very much up in the air every time you want to think about a journey. I honestly think some in the current government think OA operators are the ones who will take over the whole railway....they are being championed whilst the franchised operators are being handicapped. Look forward to the next episode.

@nigelharris6873 4 ай бұрын

Heated agreement here Garry! Hope all well with you and that our paths cross again before too long.