The Sleeper's Blog

1300 hopes dashed… again

30.10.09: For a moment this morning my usual cynical mood was raised by a headline which stated that the Glasgow Airport Rail Link could be reinstated. Imagine my joy of seeing a possible 1300 rail jobs coming back on to the market, only to have the...

Coming in First place…

29.10.09: First GBRf has appointed Phil Amos to a new rail job, as market manager in Rail Services. Phil, who has had a job in rail at First GBRf for the last seven years, will be taking on responsibility for all of First GBRf’s commercial acti...

1300 construction rail jobs that could have been

28.10.09: One decision by the Scottish Government, who is controlled by the SNP, has cost Scotland 1300 construction rail jobs. That decision was to scrap the construction of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link and has led to the Scottish Government coming...

Hope for Ilford rail jobs

27.10.09: It has been reported that losses at the Bombardier workshop in Ilford may not be as bad as once thought. As a consequence of union talks, Bombardier have reportedly increased the number of rail jobs to be saved, along with agreeing to inves...

Thank god for Britain’s rail safety record

26.10.09: On hearing the news of two awful train crashes, one in northern India and one on Egypt, I was filled with a series of emotions; pity for the victims and their families, along with relief that Britain’s railways are amongst the safest in th...

Grabbing headlines is a dangerous game

23.10.09: My heart leapt in my chest when I saw the RMT press release claiming that Network Rail was planning to shed 13,000 rail jobs and then re-employ a smaller amount. Of course Network Rail have vehemently denied this accusation; however the ide...

Strikes; the way to end an industry?

22.10.09: Whilst reading about the Royal Mail strikes today I began to wonder if striking has ever done an industry any good? If you consider the industries which were famous for striking; coal, steel and car manufacturing, they have now all but...

Bringing fresh talent to the rails

21.10.09: It is marvellous news that Network Rail has taken on 220 new graduates and will be expanding its workforce. However, it seems to be in direct contradiction of the 1800 redundancies which are happening and so sends out a mixed message. ...

On a road to nowhere?

20.10.09: There have been some fairly vicious comments being made ever since the publication of the report, put together by the Tax Payer’s Alliance and the Driver’s Alliance, which questions the amount of public money spent on roads and on ra...

Leaf delays down

19.10.09: Network Rail is to be quizzed next month by MPs over its decision to cut around 1800 rail jobs in an effort to reduce its expenditure. The not-for-profit company will have to face questioning from the House of Commons Transport Select Co...

Quiz over rail job losses

16.10.09: Network Rail is to be quizzed next month by MPs over its decision to cut around 1800 rail jobs in an effort to reduce its expenditure. The not-for-profit company will have to face questioning from the House of Commons Transport Select Co...

Eurostar reports ticket sales up 6.8%

15.10.09: Eurostar, the provider of high-speed, carbon neutral rail journeys between the UK and the continent, has announced its Quarter 3 2009 results which report some recovery in sales. Whilst sales and revenues for the year to date are down sligh...

Birkenhead maintenance staff get a brand new roof

14.10.09: Train maintenance staff at Merseyrail’s Birkenhead depot are now working in brighter, drier conditions thanks to a new £2.5m roof over their heads which has been installed without any disruption to train maintenance. The nine-mo...

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14.10.09: Train maintenance staff at Merseyrail’s Birkenhead depot are now working in brighter, drier conditions thanks to a new £2.5m roof over their heads which has been installed without any disruption to train maintenance. The nine-mo...

Crossing the line?

13.10.09: Network Rail has begun a renewed attack on those who misuse level crossing in an effort to bring down the number of casualties which result from misuse. However there has been criticism of Network Rail in Scotland, where the Rail Accident I...