Curse of Metrolink

We all like the concept of trams, it would seem. They are faster and more attractive than the bus, more frequent than the train. And now that the Congestion Charge is history and we're getting most of the "Big Bang" anyway, the future looks bright for the Metrolink in Manchester. If only the present looked so good – what a total shambles the current system is in! Here's a little list:

• No trams in the city centre for nearly six months due to track replacement work: city centre looks like a building site
• No trams on two of the three existing lines during August, only two years after a similar summer holiday closure
• No trains on the Oldham line for two to three years from this October: no dedicated rail replacement services for Oldham line rail services

The last point is presumably a plus point as far as GMPTE and First are concerned – the bus operators will strengthen their existing routes to cater for the former train passengers during the closure, at no/little/less* cost to the taxpayer (* delete as appropriate)

The thing that really annoys me though is the new livery. I think it's pretty rubbish on several counts:

1. I don't understand why yellow and grey has been chosen as a colour scheme – there's no historical explanation I can think of, and it seems a bit like they're copying Merseytravel.
2. The actual device of circles decreasing in size between the two colour areas is very "turn-of-the-millennium desktop publishing" to my mind. There's only so many ways to skin a cat, but to pay a design agency to remind you of one?
3. Why not call a tram a tram, and have a pictogram of a tram as the logo? It would make far more sense at stations etc than some abstract square-full-of-circles. Or would that belie the concept of the integrated transport system where you can't get a combined season ticket for the tram and another mode of transport?

I'll enjoy the idea of being able to get a tram into Chorlton from Didsbury, once it's built, although in my housebound state I'm not sure how often I'd make use of it.

New Project

Blogging is so much easier when there's a goal in sight rather than aimless waffles. To that end, please visit Britain by Bus, a fundraising/social-media/travel expedition: the length of the country using only Stagecoach buses.

I'm having fun so far – let's see how I feel after having sat on my bottom for six days flat...

Six-legged sheep

A colleague of mine wondered aloud online what a six-legged sheep would look like. I'm not quite sure why. With a couple of spare minutes on my lunch break, and in a quasi-homage to the illegal-tender spider with only seven legs, I broke out Paint and was happy to oblige.

Lemsip O-pack

Sniffle-time in Burnage. There's something about drinking hot Lemsip* all day that is strangely comforting. However, today I tried one of the magic sachets of powder that one pours on one's tongue. I don't recommend these - they're like a little package of medicine-flavoured sherbet, and any fule kno that the only tasty medicine is Buttercup Syrup. If only I had a cough...

* Other cold and flu remedies are available.

Don't speak your brains please

In much the same way as you can normally spot a bonkers comment on the BBC Have Your Say pages by the fact that it is the most popular, the Daily Mail has tried to introduce a system for marking out vaguely sane comments on its columns and opinion pieces – just look for the red arrow of community disapproval, as displayed on this article by the esteemed Mr Littlejohn.

But what's this? It seems to have gone horribly wrong on this report of John Barrowman exposing himself live on air... on the radio (by way of spEak You’re bRanes). Either Mr Barrowman's fans have risen up in anger, or else it is just possible that there is some sanity left on the interweb. Web 2.0 and the concept of instant feedback is certainly still a bit of a conundrum for the traditional media – how do editors feel at being told they're wrong in a very public forum?

Rebranding fail

A quote from the Network West Midlands website, the new name for Centro, the West Midlands PTE (my bold text):

Working closely with partners in the West Midlands Metropolitan Districts and private operators of bus, train and Metro services, we launched Network West Midlands – the new name that connects all public transport in the West Midlands metropolitan area, providing far better passenger information – in 2006. Complete roll-out was achieved in December 2007.

Network West Midlands signage is installed at all bus, train and Metro stops and wherever you see the network 'n' you'll find clear, consistent and up-to-date information aimed at making bus, train and Metro travel easier.

Yet not only do the bus shelters in Meriden village still appear in full old-school Centro brand, the timetable for service 900 is over 12 months out of date (that hoary old twenty minute frequency chestnut) as pictured. Mind you, as the blurb states, we should only expect up-to-date information where the network 'n' appears...

Sardines

Despite a withering piece by The Fact Compiler, the launch of a new campaign to name and shame overcrowding on East Midlands Trains services to Liverpool has to be welcomed with open arms. The Department for Transport may be the dark forces keeping a hold on the purse strings in the background, but the franchised train companies should be making more noise about the problems they are facing and who is to blame: and if this campaign is what it takes to get some action, then so be it.

By way of a bit of background: the quarter past eight train from Warrington Central to Manchester Piccadilly is one of the most overcrowded in the country. The old franchisee (Central Trains) at least had the resources to enable a minimum of three carriages on this service, even if they were grotty inside and mechanically suspect below. East Midlands took over the service just over a year ago, but don't have enough trains to run the service properly. Three carriage trains became two carriages, and double-length services are sporadic. The evening peak train home is not much better.

It isn't as if people haven't tried to work within the system - Rail Users Warrington started off with such aims but got worn down by officialdom. We don't need longer platforms, as they already exist - all that is needed is a couple more trains. The custom is there, and can only increase if the Manchester TIF package gets the go-ahead - although that fund is unlikely to be spent on such an inter-regional express service. Even if TIF fails, the M62 motorway is already full to the brim at peak times. Good luck to the campaign, but the cynic in me thinks that the powers that be will try and sit this out with vague promises of more trains dangling in the future.