UK Rail franchise system blasted by an MP report

An MP House of Commons Transport Committee report alleges that train Companies take their passengers for a ride, sorry for granted, in simply raising fares. MP’s also said that train Companies were charging “prohibitive” prices to passengers for reserving seats and that these were examples of “back-door” fare rises etc.

 

It all sounds very interesting that MP’s critise what the General Public have to tolerate but is it not MP’s themselves, at great expense to the taxpayer, charged with looking after the Publics welfare. Was it not the Government whom privatized the Railways and was it not the Labour party, when in opposition, stated that the Railways would be renationalized if they came to power at the next election!.

 

Public Services used to be monopolies in providing a common platform for ALL as to service provision – run by the Nation and for the Nation in terms its people and security, however the Government saw great self-benefits to be had through privatization (1) VAT revenue would increase from escalating prices as the Rail Network competes amongst itself to generate direct profits while indirectly the Gov benefits too but more importantly (2) Any failures as to Service could not now be apportioned to the Gov in becoming merely a regulator to which others accept accountability and responsibility on its behalf.

 

The Rail Industry is todays News and given the Government naming and shaming of NHS Trusts recently whom failed, on their behalf, to meet basic hygiene standards is this not all part of the same issue?. Rented hospitals, contracted Doctors and scores of quangos employed to cut costs providing more profits for the funding budgets given. The New Labour Government announces that the Public deserve “value for money” but that’s against a backdrop where the Gov collects income tax then outsources such tasks to others whom then pay themselves fat bonuses for the priviledge!. Subsequent to that the taxpayers are then billed for MP’s salaries whose role seemingly is to report on such failure in the Public Interest in the absence of self responsibility in the first place. Now the House of Commons Transport Committee has reported whose Departmental “in tray” follows?. 

Judging by the News how many MP's reports is needed to effect change?.

 

OLD NEWS:

06 06 2008 Six figure bonuses for Rail Bosses while the ORR fined NR a record £14 million this year for engineering work overruns.

21 07 2008 Train boss bonuses ‘Extraordinary’ – a report by MP’s said. MP’s said that communication within NR and between it and the Train Companies was ‘seriously deficient’ and this had serious consequences for passengers. 

30 12 2008 Fresh row over Rail Fares has flared. A New study said the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />UK’s biggest transport groups were making “bumper profits”, fuelling dividend increases of up to 33%. When Rail users are facing massive fare hikes and rail workers are threatened with redundancy just to protect profits we all must ask “value for money for whom?”

01 01 2009 Rail fare hikes to hit passengers. Regulated fares will be going up some 6% and unregulated by 7%  - well above inflation.

02 01 2009 New fares ‘ripping off’ passengers. Some tickets went up by more than 11%

07 01 2009 Rail chaos after £9Billion line upgrade. Rail users faced the 6th day of chaos between Scotland and London forcing Euston Station to close during rush hour this morning.

12 01 2009 Plans to cut ticket office opening times at a number of Railway stations as ticket machines replace people.

20 01 2009 Fears for Rail Services in downturn. The RMT said that Private Train Operators have made hundreds of millions of pounds in profit and must not be allowed to cut services.The General Secretary talked of the five big monopoly operators gaining profits over a decade, handing over tens of millions of pounds in dividends to shareholders on the back of Public Subsidy, overcrowding and massive fares hikes.

09 03 2009 Rail Engineering work deferred – The Rail Maritime and Transport Union alleged that whistle blowers had leaked information about plans to postone works to replace rails, sleepers and ballast in order to save money. The RMT claims 1,000 jobs under threat. 

22 07 2009 Rail Bonuses Row. NR annual meeting in Bristol where TSSA. And others have already expressed their anger at this years bonuses, which saw some top NR directors receiving in excess of £300,000.