UK RAIL NEWS PEOPLE MOVES
Punctuality improves as PTA step up
Network Rail considers appeal Chairman of West Midlands Authorities. Says Mr. Clarke,
Passenger Transport Authority, ‘This is an exciting time to
Gary Clarke, is the new Chair become Chairman of the group
ity and continued high levels of Given the lack of overall flexi- of the Passenger Transport of Passenger Transport
Iain Coucher. investment. bility in the settlement, Authority Special Interest Authorities as in January we
Once again, the company has Network Rail requires a posi- Group. become Integrated Transport
delivered train performance tive outcome on these items. The group brings together Authorities (ITAs) with new
ahead of forecast while run- Secondly, the company local leaders from the six and enhanced duties and
ning a safe and financially effi- needs to attain an appropriate English Passenger Transport responsibilities.’
cient railway. We have also met investment grade from the
all the major project mile- ratings agencies to allow it to
stones on the West Coast main commence a stand alone cor-
line in a period of intense porate debt programme. The
activity and are on track to company expects to receive a
complete the upgrade on time, rating early in the New Year. A
a phenomenal achievement on final decision on whether to
such a complex project. trigger a reference to the Kirby to head
Starting in December, com- Competition Commission is
muters, long distance passen- unlikely to be made until
gers and freight users on the these matters have been UCS Rail
West Coast will start to enjoy resolved.'
the benefits of our work with Mr. Coucher added,
hundreds more trains and ‘Passengers and freight users Tim Kirby has been given the
thousands of extra seats.’ have been at the centre of our job of leading the new rail
The railway has seen almost discussions on the ORR settle- division at civil engineering
45% growth in passengers and ment. We will work with the firm UCS Civils.
50% growth in freight over the ORR to avoid the necessity of Tim Kirby was previously Rail
past 10 years. Extra capacity is an appeal as we see little bene- Manager at North Midland
badly needed. However, fit for our customers if we Construction plc where he
Network Rail is still seeking appeal against the determina- helped grow the business from
clarification from the ORR on tion and initiate a long process a turnover of £2m to £8m over
funding reduction for the next of review and uncertainty.’ a three-year period.
control period. Profits have been all but Says Tim, ‘I’m looking for- Tim
In a blunt statement Network wiped out as Network Rail fellNetwork Rail’s interim results considering appealing the ward to developing the busi- Kirby.
Rail said, ‘Before Network Rail victim to a stealth tax. Thefor the half year to 30th ORR’s decision to slash 2bn off ness from the very beginning
can accept the settlement company must pay the trea-September 2008 show the its five year spending plans. and growing UCS Civils’ pres-
there are two significant hur- sury £700 million followinghighest levels of train Says chief executive Iain ence in the rail sector. As a buoyant market sector and one
dles to overcome. Firstly, there abolition of the industrialpunctuality since 1992, Coucher, ‘Network Rail contin- company UCS Civils is very which is set for further invest-
are a number of issues on buildings allowance. Thisaveraging 92%. ues to improve the railway for receptive to growth and eager ment once the new five-year
The company, which record- passengers and freight with which the company needs saved Network Rail paying tax to make a name for itself in the Network Rail control period
ed a pre-tax profit of £706m, is record levels of train punctual- clarification from the ORR. on empty buildings. industry. This is already a very gets under way in April 2009.’
Top rail cop heads probe
the Metropolitan Police. In 1989 Assistant Chief Constable. InThe decision to appoint British
he joined the Kent County 1992 he re-joined the Met asTransport Police chief
Constabulary, and served as an Dep. Assistant Commissioner.constable Ian Johnston to head
the inquiry into the Home
Office leaks and the arrest of
Conservative MP, Damian Ian Johnston.
Green marks further
recognition for one of Britain’s
top performing police forces.
Despite the challenges of the
July 2005 bombings in London
and the continuing emphasis
on terrorism BTP has hit every
operational target for three
years (2004 – 2007), and
Netball help
achieved 90 out of 96 opera-
tional targets in 2007-08. Mr.
Johnston as head of the British
Transport Police reports to the
Department for Transport.
Ellen Zachary, Nicol Halliwell, Lois Hough, Natalie Griffiths, Bethan Barker and Lowri Barker. Anti-Terrorist police officers
from the Metropolitan Police
arrested Damian Green and
Six young netball players railway station, Natalie ed for the Under 17 netball held him for nine hours. Police
selected for the Wales Under Griffiths said, ‘It is a great squad are presently prepar- searched his home and offices.
17 Netball Squad have landed honour to be selected for the ing for the European Green was alleged to have
a sponsorship deal with train national squad. It is a big Championships that will be solicited leaked material
operator, Trenau Arriva Cymru. financial commitment for our held in Gibraltar during directly from an official in pub-
The girls, who play at Mold families to support us there- 2009. Matches have also lic service.
Sports Centre, will be sup- fore the assistance we will been played against the Ian Johnston was appointed
ported with free travel by receive with our travel national sides of England, Chief Constable of British
train to Cardiff for training arrangements is going to be Scotland, Malta, Northern Transport Police on 1 May 2001.
sessions with the national of great help financially.’ Ireland and the Republic of He has been a police officer
squad. Speaking at Wrexham Twenty two players select- Ireland. since 1965 when he first joined
4 | RailStaff | December 2008
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32