Why I've Been Away

Well, that and having a part-time job. And Facebook. And general disorganisation.

And a long list of excuses.

Welcome back!

The Evening Stanners

Kemble to Swindon Line to be Re-Doubled

Where the current line singles off, just south of Kemble station

Amidst all the budget waffling that occurred this week, there was one very good piece of news for my home county of Gloucestershire: namely, that the money has been found to re-double the stretch of line between Kemble (Gloucestershire) and Swindon (Wiltshire).

The work will see the doubling of a 12.5 mile stretch between Kemble and Swindon

First, a bit of history. Kemble used to be an important railway junction, with two branch lines going to Cirencester and Tetbury. However, these disappeared in the mid '60's, and the line between Kemble and Swindon was singled in 1968. The rest of the line would have been singled as well, but after realising a decent diversionary route was needed for trains running between Cardiff and Swindon, they left it at that.

Indeed, it's mainly because of Cardiff that the line is now being re-doubled: the electrification programme between London, Cardiff, Bristol, Bath and Oxford means that the Severn Tunnel will have to be shut for a long period of time. During the closure, all Cardiff trains would have to run via Kemble and Swindon, which means the whole route needs to be double-track in order to cope.

Stroud MP Neil Carmichael with First Great Western and Network Rail managers at Stroud Station

No-one's quite sure when the work will start (probably by next year), but it will definitely be finished by March 2014. This will hopefully see two trains per hour, with one between London and Cheltenham Spa, and the other a shuttle service from Swindon to Cheltenham. It should also see journey times significantly reduced as well, and with new bi-mode trains to be introduced (which can run on both electrified and non-electrified lines), it's welcome news for Gloucestershire railway users.

Moreton-in-Marsh station: a train to Oxford waits at the platform

There will also be improvements for commuters in North Gloucestershire as the redoubling of the Cotswold Line gathers pace. New platforms at three of the stations (Honeybourne, Ascott-Under-Wychwood and Charlbury) are being built, and the line is being doubled between Moreton-in-Marsh and Evesham, as well as between Ascott-Under-Wychwood and Charlbury. Work should be complete by August 2011.

We'll have to see what other improvements will be made in the coming months - with only nine to speak of, Gloucestershire could do with some more stations - but this week's budget was definitely a step in the right direction.

The Evening Stanners

I go Ice Shuffling, And Alan Johnson Comes Down With A Bump

So. Ice skating.

It's INSANE. How do people manage to glide around so effortlessly? Apart from practising for hours on end, obviously. I was getting the hang of it by the end of the session, but still: this would explain why we idolise Torville & Dean so much. If you can do something well when it looks impossible to many, then you clearly have talent.

Sadly, a similar task lay in store for Alan Johnson when he became Shadow Chancellor last October, but he was skating on thin ice from the start. (You're fired - Ed.)

Hands up if you're surprised by this news

Johnson was relatively affable and a well-known face, but a politician who is not in control of their brief will find things difficult at the best of times. It is a great shame that personal issues have brought his career to a shuddering halt, and is something you would not wish on your worst enemy. That said, you wouldn't wish the rumours about him on Twitter on your worst enemy, but that hasn't stopped some. Personally, I was surprised at anyone that he resigned, but after his surprise absence from PMQs yesterday, perhaps it was more obvious than I thought.

So, will Ed Balls, his replacement as Shadow Chancellor, give Osborne a run for his money (or rather ours)? He certainly has a better knowledge of economics, and Osborne will find his questions harder to deflect. But whilst it might be tempting to mercilessly attack the Government's policy, voters showed in their rejection of Gordon Brown that a big clunking fist does not always get the desired results. Ed Balls now has the brief he wants: the key to Labour's success is to not let it go to his head.

The Evening Stanners

Prime Minister's Questions

My MP (as in the one I work for) had the first question at PMQs today, which doesn't happen often! You can listen to it here.

For those of you who'd rather not listen to MPs shouting their heads off, here's the question (and answer in full):

Q1. [34265] Andrew George (St Ives) (LD): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 19 January.

The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron): This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

Andrew George: The NHS is facing massive reorganisation, while at the same time seeking the greatest savings in its 62-year history. Respected professional medical bodies warn about the risks to public service of giving private companies the easy pickings. Before pursuing that gamble will the Prime Minister reflect carefully, informed by clinicians and the coalition programme that we agreed last May?

The Prime Minister: We will listen very carefully to the professionals, but the reason for making modernisation of the NHS such a priority is simply that this country now has European levels of health spending but does not have European levels of success in our health service. Of course, what we want is a level playing field for other organisations to come into the NHS. What we will not have is what we had from Labour, which was a rigged market.

Thanks for reading,

The Evening Stanners

(P.S. Apologies once more for the gaps between updates: it's been very busy of late! I shall be going ice skating this evening, so hopefully I'll be able to tell you all about that tomorrow, barring any injuries I sustain.)