WCRC Licence Suspended

Amongst other things, I take that to mean that WCRC have 28 days to come up with more detail / something better than their first response / whatever it takes.

Yesterday's Railway Herald article does move us on quite a lot. It confirms what's going on behind the scenes (rumours of which, of course, were everywhere), it clarifies the timetable, and most of all, it shows that WCRC are very unlikely to be running any trains for the next 3 weeks at least. However, it will be a while before we learn anything else that's new, so discussion should probably now switch to the "ramifications" thread, and this one can go back to sleep until 15th May...

 

Which was also said to coincide with the WCRC licence being due for renewal as well .......

 

Does the Railway Herald have unique access to classified information or something (more so than the 'experts' on here???). Just surprised that I haven't heard similar stories elsewhere... Although it has to be remembered that all publications are primarily there to 'sell' themselves...

 

There are some documents on the ORR site (search for "West Cost Railway") that show their present track access contract was renewed last year to run until July this year. I think this is a standard thing, not WCRC getting special treatment. It's something to do with incorporating the new track-access charges, performance penalties and so on into the existing contract. In the mean time, NR is drawing up new model contracts for everyone that covers the new charges.

I would expect to see a "spoiler" story about WCRC on the Heritage Railway magazine web-site or Facebook page today or tomorrow, since the next issue of Steam Railway will be with subscribers tomorrow or Thursday, and on the shelves on Friday. They do try to spoil each other's news stories if they possibly can.

 

Apropos ORR: starting the 28 day consultation could mean either that they have decided that the licence should be withdrawn, regardless of whether WCRC's ongoing actions are sufficient to satisfy NR, or that they are not yet sure whether withdrawal is appropriate but want to get the consultation out of the way so that they can act immediately when they come to a decision. The wording of the consultation might reveal which is the case, if it were public. In either case there is a separate question of whether to impose a fine.

 

In the interests of all parties then to have confidence restored by the time the renewal falls due otherwise ORR presumably won't have to issue a punitive sanction but simply decline to renew the licence. I seem to recall reading that a TOC has to provide a declaration to ORR some time in advance of the intention to apply for renewal as well so it may be in that timeframe now.

 

the ORR's offices and comms were seriously knocked out last week by the massive Holborn fire - the ORR have said their phone lines and web were out
they have had a twitter feed only

no doubt comms with them or their website is still difficult but the RH article seems credible - and no doubt they have had some contact

 

I suspect we will know sooner rather than later what the outcome will be be. Am I guessing? Maybe. But through various contacts I think we won't have to wait too long to know the outcome, good or bad.

 

I could add my two penny's worth but I just have too much else to do, like writing articles and books about the real days of steam........

Don

 

The purpose of the consultation process is probably to allow those in the industry who may be affected by a potential ORR decision to provide a response indicating consequences that may need to be taken account of but not necessarily apparent to ORR at this stage.
Of course it is unprecedented so there is no reference point.

 

It is not true that industry wide consultation does not already exist. I would refer you to Railway Group Standards who keep the Rule Book and other documentation. Should a rule change be required industy wide consultation is a must. Should ORR percieve a need for some form of major standards change it is only a small step from RGS consultations

 

I think the thing that's "unprecedented" is the subject that ORR are consulting on, not the consultation process which is, as Dave says, fairly standard. I'm not aware of a previous occasion when ORR has sought to stop a TOC from operating altogether.

 

If Hatherton Hall stays on his medication, then early morning Saturday 25th April. If he escapes from his straight jacket, then sometime tomorrow probably.

 

Ha ha. I like that. The medication has calmed me down and all I can think about now are the birds singing in the garden and the wonderful smell of the garden flowers. Who needs steam trains anyway?

Wake up, this is a nasty nightmare. Who needs steam? I DO, I DO. Time for a strong coffee!

 

That's precisely the use of unprecedented I was intending because orr has never got to this point before - its new territory for all stakeholders .

 

But will it beat WSR to its 10,000?

 

I can't believe that its got nearly one million views! It means that everyone who has posted has read their post ten times!