Amended from 15.11
The Second Reading of the Bill to create Great British Railways has begun in the House of Commons.
Key points from opening speech by transport secretary Heidi Alexander:
(15.11) After years of spiralling costs this ‘landmark Bill’ means that the railway will be owned by the public
(15.14) A rolling stock strategy will be published next year, to assist the supply chain.
(15.22) The Bill will end fragmentation, ticketing will be simpler and decisions taken in the interest of passengers. We will ‘wave goodbye to the blame industry’.
(15.25) There will be a ‘laser-like’ focus on improving the railway for passengers.
(15.31) There will be a new GBR website and app, offering fares which are the best value for money.
(15.33) Some freight which is currently moved by road should move to the railways, and GBR will have a freight target.
(15.34) GBR will not be allowed to function unchecked: the Office of Rail and Road will hold it to account.
(15.38) Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden has responded that the government only wants to exert more state control. The government is neglecting electrification in north Wales and on the Midland Main Line. The paint on the demonstration GBR train is covering the cracks in the Bill, which is reviving the worst aspects of the 1970s. There is no target for passenger growth in the Bill.
There is due to be a vote at the end of Second Reading by 19.00 this evening.
Readers’ comments
15.11 does public ownership always reduce costs?
15.22 does this mean a monolith that falls between stools and pleases nobody?
15.33 how is moving freight from road to rail to be achieved?
15.34 would it not be better to be held accountable to customer and taxpayer directly?
But I'm pleased we have finally dropped franchising*. Also, to what extent can objectives be achieved through incentivisation, rather than through imposition?
David C. Smith, Bletchley
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