Please don’t get rail wrong
“What a way to run a railroad” was coined in the United States, as a way of remarking on organised chaos.
But why does rail always appear so complicated?
Talk to anyone in rail, and they’ll tell you that Britain has one of the safest railways in the world. I know that in Network Rail, the train and freight operators and across the industry, there are many talented people who make it all happen, and are doing the right thing.
That safety and performance are because they all care about the right checks and balances. Complexity is par for the course. But that doesn’t mean there is no room for improvement. It means we need to capitalise, not cheapen, the potential of rail.
People often mistake rail as a “drain” on public finances, but in reality it helps mobilise people, create economic opportunity and improve the environment. A railway is bought by the taxpayer as a public investment that benefits everyone, not just those that buy a ticket.
We have an opportunity to grow this investment, and deliver the railway that everyone wants and needs. But the government must avoid three pitfalls. First and foremost, rail needs everyone on board – let’s get past disagreements and move forward; compromise and grow. Without that, we won’t get the railway that people need. There is no point lowering people’s taxes to enable and encourage spending if your local railway can’t get them where they need to be. There is no point encouraging trade and investment if the trains can’t carry the freight and people required.
Second, let’s accelerate reform; but get it right! The role of Great British Railways is a guiding mind, not a controller or micro-manager. Let’s make sure industry has the resources it needs to deliver a customer-focussed railway that is safe and efficient. Rail is part of a multi-modal transport system and will always be complicated when it comes to funding and delivery, across the whole United Kingdom. But get it right, and the potential is endless. Third, we have to make sure that the private sector is not locked out. This is where innovation, technology and taking some risks will help drive us forward. Reform is a great opportunity, but we need to avoid solving yesterday’s problems. Rail needs the freedom to make some quick-win practical changes that suit today’s customers, that also enable a more affordable, attractive and future looking industry. This can be achieved if industry is allowed to just get on with it.
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has a history of helping industry and government getting to these answers quicker. Better data can help rail cut out risk, keep trains moving and design better timetables. Engineering assumptions can be challenged to allow faster and longer freight trains. We can reduce emissions, we can generate more network capacity and we can improve the health and wellbeing of the workforce, which tackles the colossal costs of sickness and absence.
There is more that can be done, all which enables rail to play its part in the country’s economic potential. It takes a bit of courage, but it’s vital we get it right. Please, don’t get it wrong…
safe from Russian aggression. However, this comes at a cost to both our wallet and our capabilities. Accelerating the pace at which we replace weaponry is essential.
We are continuing to examine the impact of Afghanistan and Ukraine on Nato, considering the role of artillery and heavy armour on the battlefield and exploring concerns around defence industry supply chain delays through the prism of our “US, UK and Nato” inquiry.
Cash injections must not be limited to procurement programmes for traditional warfare across land, air and sea. To ensure we remain a formidable fighting force, we must also invest in personnel and be willing to innovate.
Grappling with the newest frontiers of defence and funding innovation in the most up-to-date technologies is key to future-proofing our forces.
Investing in those who serve and protect us is also vital. Last summer the Sub-Committee on Women in the Armed Forces published its report calling for the government to address the additional barriers and challenges women in the forces face. The Ministry of Defence response has been positive and swift, but more must be done.
Our troops are our greatest asset. We cannot afford for our services to become poorer and weaker. At a time of heightened threat, cuts to our troop numbers fly in the face of common sense. Instead, investing in talent will pay dividends for years. Increased and targeted funding is how we maintain peace and protect the international rules-based order.
Aggressive powers, who readily use force against neighbours and pursue their own agendas, no matter the cost or bloodshed, cannot be allowed to prevail.
We can be sure our adversaries are sparing no expense to achieve their own goals.