Fare basket to increase by 3%

[whole diary]

[Dispatch Box]

Contrasting news reports today.  Grayling, as usual, is blaming someone else for the fares rise - the standard Conservative whipping boys, the unions.  However on local radio this morning GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) placed the blame squarely on the government stating that they imposed the fares rise.

Yes I heard last night on bbc 1 news, That they said the railways keep the 98 percent of fares, what happens to it then? Does NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have it for track works. As was stated it goes back into the railways.

As for the tall rail card, bunkum!, Not fair and might be seen as discrimination. I would not qualify as I am only 5,8. Have been since 15.

[didcotdean]

This was an early RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) response to the potential change inflation index for wage negotiations:

https://www.rmt.org.uk/about/policies/research/pay-and-conditions/resisting-attempts-to-sideline-the-retail-prices-index-rpi/

RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) is really only produced these days because it is contractually hardwired into some government contracts, in particular index-linked gilts and National Savings Certificates, although the latter will change for new issues later this year (and the former really ought to as well). Its methodology has been thoroughly discredited by neutral statisticians.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Do you not think it's a little ironic how the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) froth at the mouth re:fare rises yet in the next breath demand above inflation pay rises for its members? 🙂

You could make a case that the RMT's job is to fight for its members; FirstGroup's job is to produce healthy returns for its shareholders; and the Government's job is to improve the lot of the travelling public - and the only one of those achieving its aims right now is the RMT...

[Clan Line]

I don't think there would be many takers for the Tall Persons' railcard       I am "only" 6 ft and already have my knees jammed up against the back of the set in front of me in 150s, 158s, 159s, 165s, 166s, etc, etc, etc.     If I was 6 ft 3 I would sell the Fiesta and buy a Mondeo !

[TaplowGreen]

Do you not think it's a little ironic how the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) froth at the mouth re:fare rises yet in the next breath demand above inflation pay rises for its members? 🙂

You could make a case that the RMT's job is to fight for its members; FirstGroup's job is to produce healthy returns for its shareholders; and the Government's job is to improve the lot of the travelling public - and the only one of those achieving its aims right now is the RMT...

Yep - but that doesn't diminish the irony - as you say the RMT are the only one of the three achieving its aims, mainly because they have the ability to hold the other two to ransom. There used to be quite a few trade unions in that happy position, most now have lost the ability to do so as technology and society have moved on and the World has passed them by.

With advancing automation and driverless technology etc not far around the corner, the bruvvers of the RMT would be well advised to make as much hay as possible before the sun goes down...............or keep praying for  Corbyn to win an election..............although they, like all of his supporters, would most likely be desperately disappointed if he did within a year or two.