Christian Wolmar's March newsletter
Christian Wolmar
Dear subscriber
I was waiting to do the March newsletter for the government’s paper on the railways to come out and, some three months late, it has finally been published. It is, inevitably, somewhat underwhelming and I will be writing a full analysis in my next Rail column.
However there is a short comment piece in today’s Independent at http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/christian-wolmar-no-more-inflationbusting-fare-rises-they-must-be-off-the-rails-7546213.html
Interestingly, there is precious little on franchise reform in the paper and Department sources confirmed to me that nothing further would be forthcoming. I suspect they have never been able to answer the Wolmar question of ‘what are franchises for?’. Certainly there is no clue in the Command Paper.
The hustings for the mayoral election are beginning but it is difficult to get too excited. Even though this is one election where transport issues are to the fore, neither candidate offers an exciting vision. While Boris Johnson concentrates on a few pet projects – cable car anyone? – without any real strategy, Ken Livingstone focusses on reducing fares – a laudable aim – but fails to inspire confidence that he understands how central London could be freed from the shackles of the private motor car. Oh, please, a candidate who wants to close Oxford Street – other than the dear old Greens.
February was much quieter than January and therefore there’s only the regulars added to the site. The two new Rail columns cover first the role of the rail delivery group, topical given the importance placed on it by Justine Greening in the briefing on the Command Paper: http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2012/02/rail-689-can-rail-delivery-group-deliver/ The other new Rail column is on the bonus culture which I argue is incompatible with the railway business
http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2012/02/rail-690-bonus-culture-incompatible-with-railways/
My column in Surveyor highlights the parking scams run by dodgy – near criminal – contractors often employed by public agencies http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2012/02/parking-scam-is-real-war-on-motorist/ while my TSSA comment is on the alliances which Network Rail is becoming involved in
http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2012/03/alliances-integration-or-dismemberment/
Remember, if you want a copy of Down the Tube, my sadly prescient view of the PPP on the London Underground published in 2003, it is available on Kindle now via Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Down-Tube-Londons-Underground-ebook/dp/B005ENTAG8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1331225143&sr=8-2
And coming soon, I will be putting my book on rail privatisation, On the Wrong Line on Amazon Kindle, too, which is pretty timely given that there are concerns that the industry will be subject to more privatisation attempt. Frankly, I doubt that any private businesses will want to take on much asset risk, but given the intellectual weakness underpinning the Command Paper, who knows what crazy decisions will ensue.
On that cheery thought, enjoy the Spring. My next newsletter will have details of how to get early copies of my book on American railways, The Great Railway Revolution. Meanwhile, I have just got a few copies of my two DVDs on The Subterranean Railway, and Fire and Steam, both 90 minute films produced by my friends at 1st Take Video to offload. They normally cost £15 each but you can have both for that price, and £2 p & p by emailing me via the site.
I have kept the full links in this time because last month they did not work – and at least you can copy and paste if they misbehave. And please keep on clicking on the ads – it pays for the site!
Christian Wolmar