Transport Select Committee 21/6

[Nicholas Lewis]

Merriman appeared at TSC today

https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/13652d80-d1da-4391-b1c8-c71ff620f57f

A couple of key points i picked up today

1. Going to amend current NRC contracts to give some incentive to operators to take revenue risk by enhancing services where they see opportunity

2. Targeting questioning that too many trains are overloaded what are they doing about balancing demand vs capacity - Ans - we need to incentivise train operators

3. Still deciding on Avanti but says they've turned a corner despite saying they've had to agree a small reduction to services over the summer. Wants open access on WCML.

4. TPE performance has got worse since OLR took over. Merriman has the detail saying they have lost six drivers with full route knowledge who left once OLR took over which was critical. Only 50% of drivers have sufficient route knowledge. Lost 56 drivers last year. Apparently a TPE driver can call in on Monday to take Wednesday off - really??? Still talking around Northern/TPE integration or as minimum rehashing who operates what.

5. Dispute - Offers are on the table for train operators RMT & ASLEF won't put it to the members

I glossed over the GBR waffle section im afraid

6. RNEP is being worked on still but say 2B pa is still being spent on enhancements irrespective of failure to update it

7. HS2 still working on revised costings. Still haven't worked out how Euston Mk2 was such a financial cock up. Crewe works will carry on despite delay to 2a.

8. Rolling stock - mentioned several operators looking at new stock and talks up how close they are working with manufactures but no sign of any orders

9. WiFi - operators being tasked to provide info on commercial rationale for retaining it

Merriman is at least shows some passion for our industry but obfuscates rather too well and has forgotten about how he was treated when he was chair mind you the MPs waffle on about their pet issues as well.

 

[185]

My opinion but Merriman should have got Transport Secretary, we'd probably be much further up the line than now.

Did watch much of it, he seems a lot more conciliatory than previous rail ministers.

I find Greg Smith adds little to the TSC, just a permanent whine about HS2 building sites in Buckinghamshire however Jack Brereton has now started asking mildly more relevant and useful questions compared to his previous attendances. Notably lacking are the opposition members who perhaps should be doing a little more to scrutinize matters and especially challenge DfT bosses.

 

[winks]

Unfortunately the offers on the table aren’t going to be put to members, so really that was a non-answer.

 

[43066]

Unfortunately the offers on the table aren’t going to be put to members, so really that was a non-answer.

We know ALSEF have just overwhelmingly backed further action, so very clearly the current deal is unacceptable to the membership. It’s just yet another distraction tactic.

It’s a pity he can’t make the leap between his acknowledgement that the TPE situation has been resolved by working constructively with the union, and how this approach might just be what’s required solve the wider dispute…

(Or perhaps he does get it, but that approach isn’t allowed…)

 

[OneOfThe48]

I find Greg Smith adds little to the TSC, just a permanent whine about HS2 building sites in Buckinghamshire...

Vacuously whining about HS2 is a central plank of Greg Smith's re-election campaign

 

[scrapy]

We know ALSEF have just overwhelmingly backed further action, so very clearly the current deal is unacceptable to the membership. It’s just yet another distraction tactic.

As have RMT. The latest ballots were a defacto referendum on the offers.

 

[43066]

As have RMT. The latest ballots were a defacto referendum on the offers.

Thanks. Sorry, I couldn’t remember what the latest was on that side hence deliberately avoided mentioning. You loose track after a while!

As you say, it makes the point all the stronger.

 

[3RDGEN]

4. TPE performance has got worse since OLR took over. Merriman has the detail saying they have lost six drivers with full route knowledge who left once OLR took over which was critical. Only 50% of drivers have sufficient route knowledge. Lost 56 drivers last year. Apparently a TPE driver can call in on Monday to take Wednesday off - really??? Still talking around Northern/TPE integration or as minimum rehashing who operates what.

He claimed in a normal year TPE would average/expect 25 drivers leaving but was more than double that last year at 56. Your never going to keep up with losing staff at twice the normal rate, hopefully that can be slowed down now and some catching up made over the next couple of years.

 

[RPI]

Merriman appeared at TSC today

https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/13652d80-d1da-4391-b1c8-c71ff620f57f

A couple of key points i picked up today

1. Going to amend current NRC contracts to give some incentive to operators to take revenue risk by enhancing services where they see opportunity

2. Targeting questioning that too many trains are overloaded what are they doing about balancing demand vs capacity - Ans - we need to incentivise train operators

3. Still deciding on Avanti but says they've turned a corner despite saying they've had to agree a small reduction to services over the summer. Wants open access on WCML.

4. TPE performance has got worse since OLR took over. Merriman has the detail saying they have lost six drivers with full route knowledge who left once OLR took over which was critical. Only 50% of drivers have sufficient route knowledge. Lost 56 drivers last year. Apparently a TPE driver can call in on Monday to take Wednesday off - really??? Still talking around Northern/TPE integration or as minimum rehashing who operates what.

5. Dispute - Offers are on the table for train operators RMT & ASLEF won't put it to the members

I glossed over the GBR waffle section im afraid

6. RNEP is being worked on still but say 2B pa is still being spent on enhancements irrespective of failure to update it

7. HS2 still working on revised costings. Still haven't worked out how Euston Mk2 was such a financial cock up. Crewe works will carry on despite delay to 2a.

8. Rolling stock - mentioned several operators looking at new stock and talks up how close they are working with manufactures but no sign of any orders

9. WiFi - operators being tasked to provide info on commercial rationale for retaining it

Merriman is at least shows some passion for our industry but obfuscates rather too well and has forgotten about how he was treated when he was chair mind you the MPs waffle on about their pet issues as well.

I'm pleased to see point 1 addressed, if the railways are to remain privately operated then there needs to be some commercial freedom otherwise OLR may as well run the whole thing.