Chiltern Railways became the tenth operator nationalised and swallowed up by government-run Great British Railways last weekend. Rail Minister Lord Hendy marked the moment at Marylebone with the same script ministers have wheeled out nine times already: this one will save money and will deliver a better service. A familiar tune… So how are the new nationalised operators actually doing? The proportion of South Western Railway (SWR) trains arriving on time fell to a seven-year low following nationalisation, and state-run TransPennine Express remains among the least punctual services in the country. Thameslink have new seats under public ownership, replacing the famously unloved “ironing boards” (the Government’s own term), with an almost identical seat…Former Transport Secretary Lord Harper called nationalisation by its true name – a handout to Labour’s favourite donors – the rail unions. The unions now have a single national employer to bargain with, much easier…
Not that it helps passengers: nationalised Chiltern is already facing imminent strike action from leading rail union the RMT. Be quicker to walk…
Asked by Lobby hacks about his past comments on Trump (“any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now”) Burnham was blithe:
“Politicians say things throughout their career, but now the important thing is to focus on the moment you are in.”
Were it so easy…