Great Western Coffee Shop

"Transport Secretary launches new Acceleration Unit to speed up transport infrastructure projects and build back better from COVID-19

New unit will boost the delivery times of major transport projects as new funding is announced."

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-launches-new-acceleration-unit-to-speed-up-transport-infrastructure-projects-and-build-back-better-from-covid-19 (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-launches-new-acceleration-unit-to-speed-up-transport-infrastructure-projects-and-build-back-better-from-covid-19)

Interestingly none of the names mentioned appears to have a railway background. But on the plus-side some rail project money is (re)announced.

Surely that's the point? This sounds like DfT's in-house gadflies, who ask "why is it being done that way so it takes so long?" and, being told "because that's how railway work is done" suggest alternatives used elsewhere. But can that be done from a perch in DfT? Most work is already being done by the big civils contractors for Network Rail, and part of the reason for that is that they can do this cross-fertilisation. So it looks more like a combination of ministers thinking their department ought to project manage NR's project managers managing outside contractors' project managers, and Dominic wanting to replace "useless" civil servants with outsiders.

Apparently they've appointed a firm of consultants, Dunning-Kruger Advisery Consultantsy

From Campaign for Better Transport (https://www.facebook.com/bettertransport/posts/10164048928535022)