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All across the Great Western territory => Looking forward - after Coronavirus to 2045 => Topic started by: grahame on September 15, 2018, 12:24:22



Title: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: grahame on September 15, 2018, 12:24:22
From the BBC ... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45532566

Quote
A review of the rail industry is to be launched by the government next week, following criticism of the way the franchising model is run.

Labour said the model was "broken", after the East Coast Mainline franchise failed for the third time and passengers on other lines faced strikes and disruption to new timetables.

The party says it will renationalise the railways if it gets into power.

But the government says privatisation has helped "transform" the industry.

continues

Remind me ... is this one of the reviews we already know about, or a new review?  Should there be a review of all the various reviews?

And while all this is going on ... what about keeping the current system and improvements on course, and not putting a freeze or blight on any progress ...


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: Western Pathfinder on September 15, 2018, 13:21:08
Opportunity for yet more meddling!perhaps.


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: Sixty3Closure on September 15, 2018, 13:59:42
Much easier to launch a review and give the illusion of activity rather than actually doing anything.

As Grahame says my first thought was is this another one or a bit of promo for one of the many existing ones. Or maybe you keep reviewing until you get the answer you want?


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: Electric train on September 15, 2018, 18:04:45
The governing party do need to give the illusion that they are governing the UK and that Brexit is not all consuming of their ability.


This time next year the fight starts for the next general election ……………….. that's if there is not one before hand …………….. they need something for the manifesto after all HS2 work has started, Crossrail will be complete (ish) (perhaps  ;D ) the renewal and modernisation of Britain's railways since the Victorians is all spent out ………..


So they need something new ………………….. so happy I am retiring soon  ;D


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: martyjon on September 15, 2018, 20:57:10
Part of Radio 4's news summary states the Deputy Chairman of John Lewis's has been asked by prepare a report which is to include details of how the employees of the TOC's can share in the profits of the franchise, has ANY franchise since privatisation made a profit. Quite the reverse, losing money franchises hands the keys back and similarly whilst a franchise is receiving subsidy money to run the franchise but when it comes to handing money to HMG as per their winning franchise bid the keys are handed back too. Chiltern Trains maybe an exception to this, confirmation of this latter statement welcomed.


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: grahame on September 15, 2018, 21:12:48
... has ANY franchise since privatisation made a profit. ...

Yes. I recall a post the other day showing rail and road division profits for a year from several large train and bus operators.  The ones we see handing back the keys in a blaze of news are the the ones that have gone seriously wrong; the franchises that quietly expire and pass into the next franchise / phase will for the most past have made a modest profit for their shareholders.


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: Lee on September 16, 2018, 01:58:52
Part of Radio 4's news summary states the Deputy Chairman of John Lewis's has been asked by prepare a report which is to include details of how the employees of the TOC's can share in the profits of the franchise, has ANY franchise since privatisation made a profit. Quite the reverse, losing money franchises hands the keys back and similarly whilst a franchise is receiving subsidy money to run the franchise but when it comes to handing money to HMG as per their winning franchise bid the keys are handed back too. Chiltern Trains maybe an exception to this, confirmation of this latter statement welcomed.

Would this be the same John Lewis whose profits have fallen to almost zero? (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45506322)


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: JayMac on September 16, 2018, 06:30:35
... has ANY franchise since privatisation made a profit. ...

Yes. I recall a post the other day showing rail and road division profits for a year from several large train and bus operators.  The ones we see handing back the keys in a blaze of news are the the ones that have gone seriously wrong; the franchises that quietly expire and pass into the next franchise / phase will for the most past have made a modest profit for their shareholders.

One franchise has handed back the keys to avoid making a loss in an extension period, after the franchisee got its sums wrong. And it's been rewarded by government with several direct awards...

That is one that should have expired, quietly or otherwise, sometime ago. Instead it's been allowed to limp on in a parlous state for five years to date. And will likely be rewarded for continued failure for another four years. Its a cash cow being milked by its owning group to keep them afloat. The other two franchises run by this owning group are apparently in trouble too. No doubt taxpayers will be stumping up there too.

Railway franchises. Profits privatised. Losses nationalised. Phoney capitalism. Anytime a franchise gets into trouble one of two things happen. Nationalisation. Or the contract is renegotiated/directly awarded to the benefit the franchisee. Either way the real losers are taxpayers. Bonkers system based not on what is best for running a railway, but instead based on Tory ideology and dogma.

I hope the whole house of cards come crashing down. Some short term pain when that happens, but a spectacular failure is the only way to kill off for good this stupid way to run railways.

The reason there's a review is because the system is falling apart. Franchises are defaulting or struggling and want to renegotiate. Bidders are pulling out of upcoming tenders. Or, as is rumoured with CrossCountry, only the encumbant has expressed interest in bidding.


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: sikejsudjek3 on September 16, 2018, 08:52:25
Carillion, rail franchises, G4S in prisons, Crapita - the entire neoliberal model is a house of cards. Some of it has collapsed - the rest will.

Neoliberalism (Blair and the Tories) has never been about value for money for the taxpayer. Its been about providing an unearned rental for private capital out of state assets. Its economic folly - but supported by shills in the media. PFI - estimated loss to the tax payer £223 billion. Private losses by banks - £550 billion private loss paid for by public austerity.

As long as the 'little people' can be brainwashed to blame benefit scroungers and immigrants they don't seem to notice. But alarmingly for the establishment they are starting to notice - and the policy of loading both main political parties with neoliberal shills has broken down.


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: TaplowGreen on September 16, 2018, 09:54:14
Carillion, rail franchises, G4S in prisons, Crapita - the entire neoliberal model is a house of cards. Some of it has collapsed - the rest will.

Neoliberalism (Blair and the Tories) has never been about value for money for the taxpayer. Its been about providing an unearned rental for private capital out of state assets. Its economic folly - but supported by shills in the media. PFI - estimated loss to the tax payer £223 billion. Private losses by banks - £550 billion private loss paid for by public austerity.

As long as the 'little people' can be brainwashed to blame benefit scroungers and immigrants they don't seem to notice. But alarmingly for the establishment they are starting to notice - and the policy of loading both main political parties with neoliberal shills has broken down.

Yep, can't wait till Corbyn takes over and sorts it all out, we'll all be so much better off............ ::)


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: CyclingSid on September 17, 2018, 07:07:51
Usual problem, like calling in consultants, there are good points from both sides (privitised and nationalised) but dogma will probably get in the way.


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: Lee on September 20, 2018, 02:30:46
The DfT have now officially launched the review. (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-root-and-branch-review-of-rail)

The announcement includes the news that the CrossCountry Franchise Competition will not proceed. (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20417.0)


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: grahame on September 20, 2018, 06:34:17
The DfT have now officially launched the review. (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-root-and-branch-review-of-rail)

The announcement includes the news that the CrossCountry Franchise Competition will not proceed. (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=20417.0)

Quote
“The timetable is our promise to passengers”   Rail Delivery Group, 2015

On 20 May 2018, this promise was broken.
This interim report into what happened focuses
on identifying the factors that contributed
to the failure to develop and implement an
effective operational timetable in May 2018,
and draws conclusions about the management
of operational risks created by major timetable
changes, based on information received
from those involved. Phase 2 of the Inquiry
will report before the end of 2018 to make
recommendations for change.


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: ChrisB on September 20, 2018, 09:04:56
Much easier to launch a review and give the illusion of activity rather than actually doing anything.

As Grahame says my first thought was is this another one or a bit of promo for one of the many existing ones. Or maybe you keep reviewing until you get the answer you want?

It is yet another!
The initial one headed up by John Lewis's Chief Exec, this one is being headed up by BA's Chief Exec, Keith Williams. I guess he knows how to timetable (aircraft) at least.


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: Timmer on September 20, 2018, 09:11:27
this one is being headed up by BA's Chief Exec, Keith Williams. I guess he knows how to timetable (aircraft) at least.
You'd have thought he would have enough on his plate sorting out BA net alone trying to sort out the rail industry.


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: Lee on September 20, 2018, 09:19:19
Much easier to launch a review and give the illusion of activity rather than actually doing anything.

As Grahame says my first thought was is this another one or a bit of promo for one of the many existing ones. Or maybe you keep reviewing until you get the answer you want?

It is yet another!
The initial one headed up by John Lewis's Chief Exec, this one is being headed up by BA's Chief Exec, Keith Williams. I guess he knows how to timetable (aircraft) at least.

Same guy, same review - https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/mar/22/john-lewis-hires-british-airways-chief-executive-keith-williams-as-deputy-chairman


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: stuving on September 20, 2018, 09:27:57
this one is being headed up by BA's Chief Exec, Keith Williams. I guess he knows how to timetable (aircraft) at least.
You'd have thought he would have enough on his plate sorting out BA net alone trying to sort out the rail industry.

As announced:
"The review — led by independent chair Keith Williams, the former British Airways chief executive and deputy chairman of John Lewis Partnership —"


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: ChrisB on September 20, 2018, 09:45:00
oh ok - hadn't known he was moving from BA to John Lewis. Makes sense to only have one over arching review though


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: Thatcham Crossing on September 20, 2018, 12:07:12
One would have thought he'd have his hands full at John Lewis, bearing in mind their recent (not very good) business results?


Title: Re: Rail industry review to be launched by the government next week [9.2018]
Post by: stuving on October 28, 2018, 01:06:26
It turns out that the 20th September announcement wasn't the launch of the review, and that happened in a Commons statements by Grayling on 11th October (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/rail-review). That rambled on a bit, and covered other subjects too, but I was struck by this in the introduction to what is officially called The Rail Review:

"As we now know, the railways were not in terminal decline after all – they had simply been starved of investment."

We've got used to the claim that the rise in demand for rail travel after a long fall was due to privatisation, which can't be proved or disproved but looks unlikely. But is he really saying that demand had actually been strong, but was unmet due to underinvestment?

The terms of reference for this review are online (https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/rail-review), rather than in a document, and in their main part say:

Quote
Purpose

The government’s vision is for the UK to have a world-class railway, working as part of the wider transport network and delivering new opportunities across the nation. The Rail Review has been established to recommend the most appropriate organisational and commercial frameworks to deliver the government’s vision. It should be comprehensive in its scope and bold in its thinking, challenging received wisdom and looking to innovate.

The Review will be independently chaired. Its recommendations should support delivery of:

    commercial models for the provision of rail services that prioritise the interests of passengers and taxpayers
    rail industry structures that promote clear accountability and effective joint-working for both passengers and the freight sector
    a system that is financially sustainable and able to address long-term cost pressures
    a railway that is able to offer good value fares for passengers, while keeping costs down for taxpayers
    improved industrial relations, to reduce disruption and improve reliability for passengers
    a rail sector with the agility to respond to future challenges and opportunities

The Review’s remit does not include the infrastructure and services that should be provided by the railway. It will therefore not reconsider public investment decisions made through existing franchise agreements, Control Period 6 commitments, High Speed 2 and other major projects, or spending decisions that will be made through Spending Review 2019.

The government is investing record levels in the railways. Recommendations should avoid negative impacts on the public sector balance sheet and / or creating additional government expenditure beyond reasonable transition costs. The Review’s conclusions will be reached in the context of the Department for Transport’s settlement at Spending Review 2019.

Outputs

The Review may publish interim reports during the period of its work.

The Review’s final report will be a government White Paper, which will be published in autumn 2019. It will set out the government’s intentions for reform of the rail sector. This White Paper is also expected to reflect ongoing improvements the government is making to passenger experience during the course of the Review.

That list of objectives does not impress - it looks more like a few ideas hastily scribbled on the back of a restaurant bill. I'm reminded of the Economist writing about the cabinet during one of the first pre-reshuffle periods of this government. Having been very rude about most of them, it suggested that there was some talent on the back benches, but "there are no big thinkers in the cabinet, nor any small ones either". And, after being extremely scathing about Boris, it asked "just what is the point of Chris Grayling?".



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