Network Rail Owns Up

Richard Branson has praised Network Rail for owning up as responsible for the Cumbria train crash that has so many similarities to Potters Bar, adding perhaps thy should listen more to the rail companies who bear the front line risk of carrying passengers over potentially hazardous maintenance. One suggestion involvede more localised management responsible for track maintenance, resulting in more intimate ownership of rail.

Makes sense to me, centrally controlled bureaucracy backed managment have been putting Brits to death since the R101 nad probably before.

I think I hinted at something like that in my last blog.

Network Rail took over 5 years ago, after the Potters Bar disaster, so it is not as though they haven't had time to get it right. Its a shame they can't fail an exam, rather than cause tragedy.

But anyway.

When you actually have a business to run, it seems, you seem to have more of an idea of what to do.

Train Saves Lives, Track Suspected

If you read about network Rail on their website page on, Network Rail History, it tells you,

In October 2002, Network Rail took over the running of Britain’s rail infrastructure
We were given a mandate by the Government to improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of the railway.

Whether this will be held as true may or may not be held to account in the light of the train crash in Cumbria, where first reports suggest a similar problem with points that caused the POTTERS BAR CRASH.

What is certain is that the Rolling Stock has ben haild as being responsible for a low casualty count.

Is it a coincidence that Virgin Rail is run by a business man and entrepreneur in the vein of great British business and industry giants, and the Rail Network is still under the shadow of being run by Government mandarins and Civil Servants, though it was de-nationalised some time ago?

Can I just also mention that this is the first thing you will see just now if you go to Virgin Trains website:

"25 February 2007, 10:00
Statement Issue No: 4
Statement from Virgin Trains

Serious incident in Cumbria

It is with deep regret that Virgin Trains can confirm that there has been one fatality in an accident that took place shortly after 20:00 on Friday 23 February 2007 near Lambrigg, north of Oxenholme in Cumbria.

The train involved was the 17:15 from London Euston to Glasgow Central, operated by Virgin Trains.

The first thoughts of everyone at Virgin Trains are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives or been injured in this terrible accident. We will do whatever we can to offer assistance in the days ahead.

The emergency services have issued the following number for friends or relatives concerned about anybody travelling on the train: 0800 056 0146 (from overseas call 00 44 20 7158 0198).

Further information about Virgin Trains services over the coming days will appear on our main site. Click the link above to go to our main site."

Below is a creenshot with Network Rail's frontpage report of the incident ringed in Green as the 'Latest News'. Click on it for a full size view


Draw your own conclusions on who regards the value of their customers and therefore responsiblity to them the most.

Hey Davey Dude, Don't Worry abaad'it

Who the hell cares if David Cameron used to smoke dope, or not?
Frankly, I thought blood sports were made illegal now, but no-one seems to have told the press.

They love to dish out dirt and pretend they have a moral point to make or some worthwhile agenda.

Most of the time they simply feed the whole publicity/propaganda machine until eventually we the public don't know up from down, wrong from right. The only people they really serve are themselves and the bureaucrats who will always remain untouched, unelected, and unnamed, who stay that way running the guts of this country while the people held up to us as the decision makers are hired, fired and gossipped about on the whim of the erstwhile Fleet Street Pack.

But to be frank, if our country's decision makers have never had a lateral thought in their life, or lived 'outside of the box', then I think we are all seriously fucked unlesss we truck outa here en masse. Oh no we can't - before we get far enough away we will fall of the edge of the earth...

Why do the likes of Michael Portillo or Edwina Curry have to retire before they actually decide to experience the lives the were supposed to be affecting every day while in office?

David Old Son, I for 1 am behind you on this, as I suspect and pray are many other people.

More Motoring Mayhem

{Plods on a corner in Swansea}

A specialist force has been brought in to investigate the spate of letter bombs in recent weeks.

The police are buzzing around the DVLA buildings in Swansea all excited.


Do we have a disgruntled motorist?

Do we have an extremist group of green fingered rainbow warriors?
Do we have another form of guerilla war from some supranational body that has a grudge against the British?

Why on earth would anyone resent the Driving Enforcement bodies that apppear to have been hit?
Are motorists going to be in the cross hairs of the law for this, or are they the next victims?