Brian Corbett, Nigel Cummins, Ian Smith, and Graham Turner
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ASLEFJOURNAL JANUARY 2021 The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen Free to members Part of the union: Brian Corbett, Nigel Cummins, Ian Smith, and Graham Turner The train drivers ’ union since 1880 railway enginemen’ s tax fr ee saver plans tax fr ee savings plans for anyone who works on the railways... we don’ t mean just train drivers..! tax fr ee policies fr om 70p per day , £5 per week and £20 per month for further information call us on freephone 0800 328 9140 visit our website at www.enginemens.co.uk or write to us at Railway Enginemen's Assurance Society Limited, 727 Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, B8 2LE @RailwayEnginemens Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authorit y. Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authorit y. Incorporated under the Friendly Societies Act 1992 ASLEF GS Mick Whelan JOURNAL This is a chance to The magazine of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers & Firemen change our railway ‘I wish you a Happy Christmas and a safer, and rebuild Britain and better, New Year’ HIS is the time of year when, normally, we look forward with hope and renewed optimism and, with the announcement of a T coronavirus vaccine, and its roll out, there is a real possibility of a return to relative normality, which should hearten everyone. This will take many months to distribute and, given the complexity Ian Smith at AAD at Aviemore in the Highlands in 2016 of the task, and the reticence of many who wish to see its efficacy, and News possible downsides, may not be as quick as many of us would like. Therefore, we will be under restrictive tiers, distancing, and l Government slashes spending on the railway 4 associated mask requirements for a long time and must be resolute in l Ker-ching! Cash for cabinet pals plus Off the 5 maintaining workplace arrangements for everyone’s protection. Rails: Eric Hall; Patti Smith; Jeremy Warner; Sasha Swire; and Bernard Donoughue As I write this column, in time for the Journal to be printed, bagged, and put in the post in time to drop on your doormat before Christmas, Lucy D’Orsi fits The Bill for the BTP 6 l a decision on the Noel Edmonds’ type of Deal or No Deal Brexit l Rail Ombudsman’s plea to railway operators 7 continues but, from conversations I am having with many people l Clapping workers doesn’t help pay the bills 8 inside and outside our industry, we are ill-prepared for either scenario, logistically, and many businesses are fearful. Features We remain confident that footfall will return , albeit slowly, but the l Andy Hudd pays tribute to Brian Corbett 9 restructuring of fares is key to encouraging an industry that has l In the Strummertime: Gregor Gall listens closely 10 struggled with capacity and we think this should be seen as an to the music, lyrics, and politics of The Clash opportunity for change. To kick-start the economy we will need a l David Mathieson reflects on why – and how – as 11 proper decarbonisation programme, with electrification at its core, John Kampfner argues, The Germans Do it Better the mass building of houses, and major infrastructure projects, to l As DO7 Brian Corbett retires we look back on 12-13 create jobs, stimulate the supply chain, and secure the future, not just his life and career as an Iron on the iron road for our children and grandchildren but for generations beyond. The world is not going to be able to step back from the green l Ian Smith talks about the route from a boil in the 14 bag driver to ASLEF trustee and life member agenda, and the impact of climate change, so let us embrace the opportunity and put in place a vertically-integrated, publicly- l Railfuture slams Rishi; and Sorry Seems to Be 15 the Hardest Word for Priti Pretty Vacant Patel accountable, safe transport system of which we can all be proud. May I put on record what a privilege it has been to see how you Regulars have reacted to, and delivered for, the country at this most difficult of l Branch Lines 16 times, as key workers and as part of the wider railway family. The supporting structures and immense behind the scenes work done by l Mick Berg and Martin Dye pay tribute to SWR 17 company council rep Nigel Cummins the staff, executive committee, and officers needs to be recognised and applauded. Ultimately, ASLEF’s local representatives, company l Obituaries 18-19 councils, health and safety reps, and branch secretaries are those who l Letters and Classified Advertisements 20-21 have been on the frontline of members’ needs. They have been l Chris Proctor, a wielder of words, has the Last 22 immense and deserve all our thanks and approbation. Word on those we use, misuse, and overuse Trade unions are about people looking after each other and l Griff Rhys Jones takes a Slow Train Through 23 understanding the needs of all those in our collective community. We Africa ; Prize Crossword; Legal Services; discuss, debate, and argue but, ultimately, we come together for a and members’ Change of Address form greater good. There is no union without you, our members, so may I l Cover photograph: Nigel Goldsmith take this seasonal opportunity to thank you and your families, who EDItoR Mick Whelan, general secretary l DESIgNER Michael Cronin have to live around the demands of a shift-based, 24 hours a day, PRINtER College Hill Press, London, SW19 4HE l ADvERtISINg ASLEF seven day working week industry, a Happy Xmas and a safer, and Journal, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN. Contact Keith Richmond on 020 7324 2407 or [email protected] l ClASSIFIED ADS better, New Year. [email protected] or call 020 7324 2400. The acceptance of a display or classified advertisement does not necessarily imply endorsement of Yours fraternally, that product or service by ASLEF CHANgE oF ADDRESS Please post your details to ASLEF, 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 4NN The ASLEF Journal is published every month by: ASLEF, 77 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN Tel: 020 7324 2400 l email: [email protected] Mick Whelan, general secretary, ASLEF website: www.aslef.org.uk l twitter: @ASLEFUnion January 2021 l The ASLEF Journal 3 News Harris now says that budget will only be Government slashes £9.4 billion. ‘So what’s happened to the missing spending on UK rail money? And why has it suddenly been slashed? How is Britain to be rebuilt after SLEF has called on the Conservative Brexit, and after the pandemic, which has government to come clean about its ravaged this country’s economy? And what A plans to rebuild Britain after it was has happened to this government’s promises revealed that it has slyly slashed £1 billion about investment? from its infrastructure budget. Mick Whelan: ‘this puts a question mark over ‘This revelation puts a question mark over Mick Whelan, general secretary, said: ‘We rebuilding Britain after the pandemic’ not only some long-planned, and much- have learned that the government has cut needed, improvements to our transport £1 billion from the rail infrastructure budget government’s “levelling up” agenda. infrastructure, but to the whole question of following the Chancellor’s spending review. Network Rail’s enhancement budget for the rebuilding this country after the pandemic. Rishi Sunak promised record infrastructure five year period from 2019-24 was set at It’s time for the government to come clean investment as part of what he called the £10.4 billion. But Rail Minister Chris Heaton- and tell us what they mean to do.’ Yorkshire Post , rang to FARRINGDON UALMOSTV FINISHED ASLEF in action apologise and put Construction work by Bam, Ferrovial, and Kier things right in his at Farringdon’s Elizabeth line station, just a few We moved quickly to times the speed limit newspaper, the sister hundred yards from ASLEF’s head office in St put the record when the incident paper the Yorkshire John Street, Clerkenwell, was completed in straight in the wake happened,’ said DO4 Evening Post , and the early December. It will be handed over to TfL in of a report by the Nick Whitehead. Leeds Live website. March. Custom House was the first Crossrail Rail Accident ‘This was simply GS Mick Whelan station to be finished, earlier last year, and Investigation Branch not true. The Azuma said: ‘When we make Paddington is slated to be next. into a collision was travelling at a mistake, or when between an LNER 15mph, the one of our members FLORENCE IS THE MACHINE Azuma and an HST maximum permitted makes a mistake, we The first two 17 metre long tunnel boring going on to Neville speed on the Nicky Whitehead set always put our hands machines – built by Herrenknecht in Germany Hill depot near Leeds. approach line to the record straight up. But when a driver and named Cecilia and Florence – to be used ‘It was widely Neville Hill, where the is blamed for in the construction of the HS2 railway line were reported, especially accident happened, After strenuous something that he or delivered just before Christmas to dig the 10 in local media, that and this was made lobbying by ASLEF, she did not do, we mile long tunnels in the Chilterns. the Azuma was clear in the RAIB James Mitchinson, have to point that travelling at three report.’ the editor of the out.’ NETWORK RAIL PLEDGE TAKES ROOT Network Rail and the Tree Council are planting 80,000 trees and hedgerows this winter as part Freight’s still great of a three-year, £1 million, green scheme to QUOTE… make up for all the trackside trees felled to ‘Sir Graham Brady (Conservative, ASlEF’s annual keep services running.