30/09/2008 by admin.

Brilliant.

So what does the canny apprentice do to curry favour? Asks if there is anything he can do to help. And that is just what the “novice” has just done.!

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26/09/2008 by admin.

Going to be interviewed by the Politics Show on Sunday at Horwich Parkway station in her constituency. Getting a bit nervous but it’s only conversation isn’t it?

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24/09/2008 by admin.

Just as I was begining to like her, she’s gone.

I still think John  Prescott was the best transport secretary of modern times … but I might put Ruth second. She has opened up quite a lot recently.

A replacement? The aforementioned Tom Harris would win the industry’s vote, I’m sure.

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23/09/2008 by admin.

THE government’s rail minister was late for a fringe meeting about trams at the Labour Party conference in Manchester - because he got on the wrong tram.Trying to find his way the short distance from Piccadilly Station to St Peter’s Way for the town hall, he boarded a Bury-bound tram by mistake - and ended up having to hail a cab instead.The meeting, which was chaired by Blackley MP Graham Stringer and with Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd on its panel, started without transport minister Tom Harris.When he arrived at the meeting which was organised by the all-party Parliamentary light rail group, Mr Harris said: “I thought it was easy and it wasn’t – though I don’t mean to suggest that your system is confusing.“I must admit that after waiting five minutes for another tram to take me back again, I gave up and got a taxi.“I’m sure the bloggers will have a field day.”During questions from the floor, Metrolink director Philip Purdy apologised to the minister for the confusion.But Mr Harris replied: “No, it was completely my fault.”As a member of the Commons Transport Committee, Mr Stringer is a stern critic of ministers but he forgave Mr Harris his gaffe – and wished him luck in Gordon Brown’s reshuffle later this week.But he added that the last Transport Minister he wished luck was Stephen Ladyman – who was sacked the day after.

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23/09/2008 by admin.

“I didn’t come into politics to be a celebrity!!!!!” Do me a favour. What was all that American rubbish of having Sarah introduce you. (Glenys Kinnock had a look of “Why didn’t we think of that?”)

And did you see Harriet Harman clapping and grinning (and checking whether or not the camera was on her.)

Who is he having a go at re “my children are not props”?

I’m not sure whether he is admitting making a mistake on the 10p tax.

“London will retain its rightful place as the centre of the financial world”…this is good stuff.

….getting bored. Going to paint the fence.

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17/09/2008 by admin.

When Arriva took over CrossCountry from Virgin, managing director Andy Cooper promised me a “radical change” in the way the trains ran.

I travelled to Bournemouth and back…..and didn’t notice much of a change. The Voyagers are still cramped - no wi fi - and the catering, frankly, is poor.

On the way down, I had the weekend treatment which I remember complaining about to Virgin. First class passengers have to take their tickets to the buffet..sorry, shop…to be told , embarassingly, what free things you can have…in this case a cup of coffee and a biscuit!

On the way back on Monday, it was supposed to be an at seat service. A girl came round with a trolley as we pulled out of Reading and asked me if I wanted a drink. I asked for Earl Grey tea - which was on the menu - and she offered the gammon pie which was on the menu.

She returned with the pie, which was small but, I admit, delicious but no tea. She returned with her trolley an hour and a half later asking if I wanted another drink. I reminded her that I had had the first yet. If she was sorry for forgetting me, she didn’t show it but went off to get me a cup.

Meanwhile, the “shop” remained closed until Birmingham because nobody new were the catering staff were.

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15/09/2008 by admin.

Just back from Bournemouth where I chaired GMPTA’s fringe meeting.

I must say, I am increasingly impressed with the Lib Dems. Now they’ve got a few MPs, they have moved away from the pain-in-the-neck local councillor syndrome of 10 or 20 years ago.

And the sun shone!!!!!!

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11/09/2008 by admin.

Hooray. After the phoney war, we have battle engaged in ernest. There has been a lull since the referendum was called but today the Yes camapaign launched and people seem to have woken up at last. See breaking news on the website for a taster and register for the free TransportMatters Magazine for the full (and I mean full) story in the September edition, out soon.

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