WCRC Licence Suspended

Your words not mine. WCRC were managing their staff, but NR and ORR appear to have concerns. I imagine that any investigation will look at what was custom and practice within WCRC and how that developed.

 

Quite agree. We had Britannia testing at 60mph the other week. Section time Ropley to Medstead....about 3 mins. At that rate the line would take about 11mins end to end! Pointless!

 

Posted on WNXX, Tony Miles works for Modern Railways and is well respected.

 

The famous Cunard Quote is rather apt here I think "Your ship is loaded, take her; speed is nothing, follow your own road, deliver her safe, bring her back safe – safety is all that is required."

It seems that WCRC has had a number of unfortunate incidents over the years where a rather different corporate approach has been evident

 

How very true, and yes I'm just guessing, like everyone else.

 

Only if there was coming the other way - then it'd be circa 15 mins........ but we digress!

 

Indeed, it's a crystal ball job I'd say. Best cross your fingers

 

From Steam Railway's Facebook page.

APRIL 30: WEST COAST RAILWAYS SUSPENSION REMAINS IN PLACE

West Coast Railway Company currently remains barred from operating steam and diesel charters on the main line, Network Rail confirmed today.

NR’s head of media relations, Kevin Groves, told Steam Railway on April 30: “The suspension remains in place and won’t be lifted this week.

“We had a very positive and productive meeting on Friday, and WCR has provided us with further evidence – but while some of the seven points raised in the suspension letter have been addressed and closed, half remain open with some significant work yet to be done.”

 

Don't tell the VAT man that.

 

Glad that someone from NR has given a progress report. Looks encouraging - progress has been made but still more to do. Maybe now that GB8 is "accounted for", WCRC and RTC will be a little more realistic in their public statements, too.

 

Not sure which thread to post on. There are a few interlinked.

With the news today and the obvious inability to obtain alternative services through DBS in the month so far allied to an undetermined end, it strikes me, and very reluctantly, that all tours planned using WCRC should be either cancelled or at best postponed. I feel for the staff in the associated companies and the threat to their livelihoods. I can see a number of tour operators hitting the buffers. But at the end of the day, if you cannot guarantee to provide the product you have sold, it would be better to step back. I understand passengers are planning to exit GB8. Customers voting with their feet speaks volumes.

The initial optimism and hope of a quick resolution has faded. Reality must be faced.

 

So 3.5 of the 7 points have been addressed?

 

Yes, that does appear to be a little obtuse and there's nothing in the way of detail but maybe that's to be expected and at least progress is being made in the right direction.

 

And an official statement by NR regarding the issue is another step in the right direction.
Much better than off the record comments to journalists who cannot resist dropping massive hints, or "people in the know" telling their mates.

 

The message conveyed is clear and timely, even if it doesn't stand up to our ruthless logical examination. Remember that the man being quoted is "NR’s head of media relations", so probably not a maths graduate. ;-)

 

The quoted remark from Kevin Groves actually says, "some of the seven points ..... have been addressed". That could mean (say) 2 are done, 3 started and 2 yet to be looked at. Let's not add pedantry to the list of points to disagree over.

 

I wouldn't get too excited just yet. I am reminded of Mr Churchill's famous apology - "I called the honourable gentleman a liar and I am sorry for it. You may put the punctuation where you wish" (apologies if that is not the precise quotation, but it is late). It strikes me that the statement might well convey that most of the work is still to come. There is two weeks left before the track access agreement suspension is due to be lifted, but the ORR consultation also comes to an end around then, and that could mean that the safety certificate is withdrawn. NR's suspension may end without WCRC being able to operate. I think we are only just entering the woods, not seeing daylight the other side.

 

Well, I guess views on that will depend on whether you're a cup half empty or a cup half full kind of guy (or gal!).

 

Worth noting that these are the requirements for WCRC to reach minimum acceptable standard for the purposes of holding a licence. The effort required and said to be further required is perhaps indicative of how far short of expectations WCRC has been found. That in itself should be of concern.

 

Obviously, that was my point....the statement can be read two ways. It matters not though how you or I read it, only what was in the mind of the person who said it. In Churchill's case he was clearly not apologising at all. In NRs case I suggest that at best one should be neutral for the present, but I was observing that there is enough in the public domain to suggest that this is very far from over.