Christian Wolmar's February Newsletter
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Christian Wolmar
Feb 8, 2012, 7:25:57 AM2/8/12
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Dear subscriber,
The railways have hardly been out of the news over the past month. Consequently I have done a record number of TV and radio appearances talking about HS2, fares rises, Network Rail bonuses, the new Anglia franchise and various other odds and sods.
It’s funny how this happens in spates. Sometimes, months go by without the railways being in the news, and then they seem to be top of every news editor’s agenda. I suspect there is a knock on effect here, from HS2 – which is a big and fascinating story. Love it or hate it, the project has attracted attention to the railways.
I remember at the time of privatisation, the railways were also flavour of the month in the news, simply because there was so much interest in the initial controversy. So other aspects of the railways then became the subject of interest and the media hounds are on to it. Then interest wanes, and the media circus moves onto another area – education, welfare, housing, whatever – until a story hits the headlines. Anyway, the key thing is to take advantage of the interest which means I am very busy for a few weeks, and then when it goes quiet, I can return to the book writing.
I am, at the moment, in one of those brief periods between books, having sent off my America manuscript and now starting to scope out my Transsiberian book, but in a very relaxed way. First, of course, I have to go on the train, and am busy to ascertain when would be the best time.
Back home, I wrote a piece for Who Do You Think You Are magazine (what a terrible title) on tracing railway ancestors. I have had several response to it already as many people seem to love that sort of thing - here
HS2, of course, was the main topic of interest, and I wrote a piece for Accountancy mag – which had a minimalist but elegant cover on the subject - here and, inevitably, also for my Rail column on the publication of the consultation paper here .
The other Rail column, on fares , suggests that it is becoming politically unpalatable to keep on putting up fares and that the fuss being made by passengers is having an effect akin to the protests over fuel taxes. And lastly, my Surveyor column is on Boris’s unthought out idea to build an airport in the sea…
Please keep on clicking on the ads on the site – they are more varied these days, not just findasugardaddy.com – and it helps to pay for the site maintenance. And do encourage colleagues and friends to subscribe as I have nearly reached 2,000 subscribers. And you can follow me on Twitter @christianwolmar
This month’s offer: I have just five hardback copies of my first book, Stagecoach (about the bus company, not Dick Turpin), left on my shelves – yours for £5 plus £2 50 p and p. Signed of course. Last chance.
Christian Wolmar
The railways have hardly been out of the news over the past month. Consequently I have done a record number of TV and radio appearances talking about HS2, fares rises, Network Rail bonuses, the new Anglia franchise and various other odds and sods.
It’s funny how this happens in spates. Sometimes, months go by without the railways being in the news, and then they seem to be top of every news editor’s agenda. I suspect there is a knock on effect here, from HS2 – which is a big and fascinating story. Love it or hate it, the project has attracted attention to the railways.
I remember at the time of privatisation, the railways were also flavour of the month in the news, simply because there was so much interest in the initial controversy. So other aspects of the railways then became the subject of interest and the media hounds are on to it. Then interest wanes, and the media circus moves onto another area – education, welfare, housing, whatever – until a story hits the headlines. Anyway, the key thing is to take advantage of the interest which means I am very busy for a few weeks, and then when it goes quiet, I can return to the book writing.
I am, at the moment, in one of those brief periods between books, having sent off my America manuscript and now starting to scope out my Transsiberian book, but in a very relaxed way. First, of course, I have to go on the train, and am busy to ascertain when would be the best time.
Back home, I wrote a piece for Who Do You Think You Are magazine (what a terrible title) on tracing railway ancestors. I have had several response to it already as many people seem to love that sort of thing - here
HS2, of course, was the main topic of interest, and I wrote a piece for Accountancy mag – which had a minimalist but elegant cover on the subject - here and, inevitably, also for my Rail column on the publication of the consultation paper here .
The other Rail column, on fares , suggests that it is becoming politically unpalatable to keep on putting up fares and that the fuss being made by passengers is having an effect akin to the protests over fuel taxes. And lastly, my Surveyor column is on Boris’s unthought out idea to build an airport in the sea…
Please keep on clicking on the ads on the site – they are more varied these days, not just findasugardaddy.com – and it helps to pay for the site maintenance. And do encourage colleagues and friends to subscribe as I have nearly reached 2,000 subscribers. And you can follow me on Twitter @christianwolmar
This month’s offer: I have just five hardback copies of my first book, Stagecoach (about the bus company, not Dick Turpin), left on my shelves – yours for £5 plus £2 50 p and p. Signed of course. Last chance.
Christian Wolmar
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