tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post8945282597469665287..comments2024-03-25T19:07:29.729+00:00Comments on Steve's Bus & Train Page: Midweek Round Up 26/8/14Steve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-8230587456530630362014-08-27T10:03:52.495+01:002014-08-27T10:03:52.495+01:00I'm actually not sure I like this "heads ...I'm actually not sure I like this "heads will roll" approach. For two reasons. Firstly, 30 years ago or so the politicians decided they didn't like management by people who had "grown up" in the industry. Whatever industry. They cost too much and took too long. Perhaps there was a reason for that? They knew what they were doing, and concentrated on doing it right. We got this idea that "management was management" and you brought in the brightest and best. Except you didn't because why would the private sector let their best people go, and why would they want to come? And as with kids, the "brightest and best" are too often, when it comes to the crunch, motivated by the fear of failure. And nothing causes failure like the fear of failure. Try it yourself. Still they took the money that was on offer, went for the quick fix to please their paymasters, and the middle management soon learned to tell the bosses what they wanted to hear. And because of that everyone in the chain of command was happy. So successful it's been aped throughout business. Especially by the banks and what used to be called public services (the NHS, for instance). The second idea imported from America is this "fire the boss". Now I'm a great fan of America, but you can't just import their culture. I was once told, and to me it has a grain of truth, that one difference between Europe and America is that in the latter staff do as they are told, whereas in Europe everyone thinks about it, and more or less does their own thing. So power is more diffused. So in America it's easier to point the finger at the boss when things go awry and, like nappies, you change them regularly (and probably for the same reason); try the same thing in Europe, and nothing changes. Maybe I'm talking the proverbial cr*p too, but I'm not so sure.<br /><br />I'm not seen it, and can't think of a good reason to visit GY, but on 33423 we need a little bit of sparkle in our lives to lighten the corporate blandness. It makes people's day. Perhaps FEC's self-styled Creative Director can step up to the plate and see that? I'm not optimistic.<br /><br />I've not read Suffolk's statutory Transport Plan, but here's a few things to throw in the pot: how about a toolkit for Parish Councils to help improve public transport in rural areas; what about planning charges for small new developments, and commercial uses, and pooled contributions to provide seedbed funding for new and improved services; and what are the level of service they aim to achieve and how are they looking at improving them? Instead of excuses. We know the problems ad naseam. smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-29947798663940603152014-08-26T23:06:19.768+01:002014-08-26T23:06:19.768+01:00With respect, Jim i couldn't disagree more. Th...With respect, Jim i couldn't disagree more. The liac compliments the black windows far better than the dark blue of the X1 livery will, and there are 24 other E400's in the X1 livery, and yes the novelty has worn off. In her current colours she is the only E400 in norfolk and Suffolk in that livery and makes her in this area unique. I saw 33424 in Basildon last week - pic tomorrow - and it just didn't have the same wow factor. Looking basically the same as 24 other buses won'[t give it the wow factor anymore.<br /><br />I'm sure an exchange with VA479 could be arranged - that would look good in Yarmouth for a bit. Don't hold your breath though.<br />Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14075632962275755022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-70833149825320999952014-08-26T22:34:51.598+01:002014-08-26T22:34:51.598+01:00Steve! if 33423 is as bootiful as you state she is...Steve! if 33423 is as bootiful as you state she is,she will look good in any livery surely,no so long ago everybody was hailing the X1 livery as extremely good,what has changed,has the novelty warn off,or are the E400's not as good,perhaps they should have tinted windows and brown & yellow seating,would that help?? personally i would like to see her at Ipswich for a short spell as i can't from the photo of her and 32479 see any difference in height,so come mister First lets be having YOU...LOL..jim longhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02815395269902549881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-27202107853658881872014-08-26T22:04:18.758+01:002014-08-26T22:04:18.758+01:00At least Notwork Rail had the decency to publicly ...At least Notwork Rail had the decency to publicly absolve GA of blame and accept responsibility tonight. To be fair Ben Gummer said heads should roll at NR and didn't blame GA either. But you're right.Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14075632962275755022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-15980070214758038992014-08-26T21:41:42.035+01:002014-08-26T21:41:42.035+01:00Cost. Rules. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....Cost. Rules. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'll let you work out which (non-)answer goes with which question!smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-21015817051622105012014-08-26T21:34:46.621+01:002014-08-26T21:34:46.621+01:00Oh dear Steve. Expecting politicians to talk sense...Oh dear Steve. Expecting politicians to talk sense? Really. Like First listening to their customers. But good news, the politicians have moved to take more control over National Rail. Everything will be all right then. The politicians ruined the nationalised railways, why did anyone think they would do any different with the privatised railway? (I'll just blame FEx for your lapse of conentration, they send us all mad). But actually, I wouldn't have liked working in the outside yesterday for peanuts, either.smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.com