Protest as Tories signal break-up of Network Rail
THE biggest revamp of Britain’s railways for more than 20 years was unveiled by embattled Transport Secretary Chris Grayling yesterday.
Mr Grayling announced plans for a massive shake-up of the network he claimed would lead to more reliable services and “transform the passenger experience”.
His proposals would see Network Rail lose its control over miles of track.
But he launched it in the face of fierce criticism for failing to intervene in an increasingly bitter dispute which has brought misery to hundreds of thousands of commuters.
Pressure was growing on him to halt the meltdown of Southern Railway, which carries 600,000 passenger journeys a day between London and the South Coast.
Crippling
The crippling strikes formed a chaotic backdrop to Mr Grayling’s revamp plans, which were slammed by unions as a “piecemeal privatisation” of Network Rail.
Southern runs the network on the Government’s behalf for about £1billion a year.
It has been hit by a series of stoppages over conductors and whether drivers should open and close doors, disruption which has seen commuters suffer severe stress and even quit their jobs.
RMT guards walked out yesterday and Aslef drivers are waging an overtime ban in protest at the introduction of driver-only trains.
Aslef will walk out next week, bringing all Southern trains to a halt.
But Mr Grayling, whose own Surrey constituents are among the victims of the strikes, insisted: “I don’t think it is right and proper for me to insert myself into a negotiation between a private company and a trade union over a strike which I think is politically motivated.”
He told BBC Radio 4: “Nobody is losing their job, nobody’s having their pay cut, they are carrying on with job guarantees in the same workplace.”
Even the bishops of Sussex joined in the call for peace to be restored, issuing a public letter calling for an end to the “circle of blame” in the row.
And RMT general secretary Mick Cash called on Mr Grayling and his rail minister “to get out of their bunker”.
The Southern Railways row overshadowed Mr Grayling’s announcement at London’s Policy Exchange think tank of his plans to start giving control of the tracks to the train firms that use them.
He said his goal by setting up joint management teams was to improve services for passengers by bringing trains and tracks “back together”.
He added: “In my experience passengers don’t understand the division between the two.”
Labour said train companies which ran “abysmal services” should not be invited to take responsibility for railway repairs and maintenance.
Lianna Etkind, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Passengers are not interested in the finer details of the structure of the railways. They just want trains that are punctual, reliable and don’t cost the earth.”
THE crisis on Southern Rail continues with the RMT taking further industrial action. For years commuters have suffered real hardship as a result of this appalling situation. Jobs have been lost and relationships have foundered because spending half your working day getting to and from your place of work is horrible. And to add insult to injury commuters will still be spending several thousand pounds for the privilege of having no seat and often no train.
Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, has offered to meet the RMT union if they suspend their action. The issue of having driver-only operated trains is at the heart of all this. The union says it compromises safety and they have a point. Most passengers would prefer to have a train with a guard, especially in the evening.
Sort this out Mr Grayling. This is your top priority.