UK Conservatives Desperate for Direction UPDATE

Photos

Eurostar train at London Waterloo Station

see larger image

uploaded by The Anglo American

  Update: BBC Radio 4 Today Programme confirm Redwood not on the rails when it comes to trains. You can go to this link and listen to Richard Hope, Consultant Editor, Railway Gazette International  - broadcast @ 0849 Friday 17th. August.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/  

  Mr John Redwood, the darling of the right of the British Conservative Party, has written a letter outlining the party’s vision for the future and its all about trains.

  If I remember correctly the older parts of the Paris metro runs on rubber tires {together, with steel wheels} for reasons of noise and vibration to surrounding buildings - especially when they go above ground. I can’t see Mr. Redwood’s point there.

  But Mr. Redwood is right to be impressed with the French railways. It just goes to show what can be done with long term public planning and funding. Now the UK may have contributed to the grant funding, indirectly, through their contributions to the EU – but perhaps that is a can of worms the Conservatives would rather not open!

  Where we have had private control of public infrastructure, such as the Channel Tunnel, it simply has not worked. And business failed to deliver the English end of the high-speed railway to London or beyond. It does not seem to occur to any politician that improved public rail infrastructure to Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, for example may make for a good manifesto commitment. It would certainly would take the strain out of the overheating South East England economy and its failing infrastructure, from housing to roads to hospitals to, well you name it!     

  This is a lost battle for the Tories. In contrast, the privatisation of British Airways was a brilliant idea, but the railways were a bridge too far. Many Brits, of all political persuasion, believe that some things are best left in public ownership. They also believe that privatisation, while capable of producing huge benefits, should not become a religious creed. The railways are the proof of that and one hopes it is a lesson that some Conservatives, who are serious about returning to office, would have learned.     

  Perhaps it is time to look for inspiration from the wisdom of Sir Peter Parker from all those years ago. Then, perhaps, we could articulate a vision of transport policy forwards to 2050!     

  I don’t criticise Mr. Redwood for having a vision. I just don’t agree with it. And I don’t agree with it because I have seen it before and did not like it then. I also think there are many, many people like me.

The Anglo American

From Mr. Redwood's letter to the British Daily Telegraph

  Passengers standing on trains, drivers sitting in traffic jams, homeowners bailing out flood water, travellers delayed trying to board a plane, and people queuing to get drinking water out of a bowser have something in common. They have all fallen prey to the chronic lack of capacity in the UK's basic service networks supplied or controlled by government.

  It is putting investors off the UK. This is one of the reasons we are slipping down the world competitiveness league tables, leaving too many people with no job or a poorly paid job.We do not lack computers, televisions, trainers, foodstuffs, gin, or legal advice. All these goods and services are supplied by a competitive market. It's when government involvement becomes too intrusive that things fall apart.

  The shortage of train capacity at peak times means people have to use the car to go to work. The shortage of road space means they have to sit in traffic jams, churning out harmful emissions.

  Providing more seats on additional new trains at popular times of day lowers the average carbon output per journey, which is currently high for rail travel because so many trains run at unpopular times on less used lines, using old dirty engines.

  We need more capacity of all kinds. We need it now. We need it without increasing public spending.It is possible to solve this problem, by unleashing the benign forces of competition and private capital in these areas so they can be as successful as they have been in equipping practically everyone with a mobile phone, and providing food on the table for all.

  The reason there is not enough trains on the track is technology.The Montreal metro and some parts of the Paris metro run on rubber tyres to give them more grip. Government should urge the railway industry to adopt newer technologies to allow more vehicles and passengers per hour on rail routes.

 <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />