Retain the franchises

In RAIL 818, Christian Wolmar again asked the question: “What is franchising for?” The same question has been asked again in a different way by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee.

Rail franchising was designed to put a system in place whereby Transport Ministers were not directly responsible for the railways. They would not have to answer to MPs allegedly representing the travelling public. Even when Labour returned to power in 1997 there was no return to public ownership, despite pledges otherwise.

The RMT union wishes to return to those far-off days of public ownership and TV appearances on the steps of Downing Street. And the RMT is not alone. If some UK scientist were to design a Starship

Enterprise ‘transporter’, then the trade unions would demand that the Government operated the railways.

Franchising has contributed in part to the quite amazing rise in UK rail patronage since 1994, although I am quite prepared to admit that the system is creaking.

I am amazed that British companies are pulling out of the system, but other state rail operators are willing to participate. Somebody must be making money somewhere - or perhaps not!

Whatever happens I doubt if anybody sensible wishes to go back to a ‘nationalised railway’, remembering the dark days of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The exceptions are the left wing members of the Labour Party and the rail trade unions. A J Slatter, Reigate