Tuesday 26 January 2010

First Capital Connect Update

Firstly, for anyone who missed the ITV London Reports story on First Capital Connect last night, here it is (thanks to Don't Call Me Dave at Not The Barnet Times for the clip) - Enjoy.






Next up, remember that First Capital Connect said that the days of 4 carriage trains were a thing of the past? We'll I just checked the First Capital Connect journey check website (at 17:45) and saw these affecting Mill Hill Broadway :-
16:44 St Albans City to Sutton Surrey due 18:08
This train will be formed of 4 coaches instead of 8.
Message Received: 05:09:55 26/01/2010
           
17:18 Luton to Sutton Surrey due 19:05
This train has been revised.
This train will be formed of 4 coaches instead of 8.
Message Received: 16:39:27 26/01/2010
       
20:20 Luton to Sutton Surrey due 22:07
This train will be formed of 4 coaches instead of 8.
Message Received: 05:10:41 26/01/2010



As for the petition to terminate the Franchise. It now has 4,726 signatures and has risen to the 26th most popular petition in the country.

One other thing I found out today. I was rather interested in who actually runs First Group PLC, the parent company for First Capital Connect. We've already looked at the CEO Moir Lockhead and his compensation package. I thought I'd see what the Chairman, Martin Gilbert brings to the group. If you click on this link, you'll see an impressive array of chairmanships etc on Mr Gilberts CV. He is the CEO of Aberdeen Assett Management, where he's worked since 1983. What amazed me (maybe I'm just naive or stupid), but he seems a bit light (shall we say) on experience of running transport companies. He looks like a great guy to manage your assets though. Could this be why First is so much better at looking after it's directors and shareholders than it's passengers?

When will the penny drop and Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Transport Minister Lord Adonis realise that the people who should run railways are people who understand railways?

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