Comments on: Can anyone make the train take the strain? http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/01/30/can-anyone-make-the-train-take-the-strain/ Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Wokingham Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:09:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Rose http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/01/30/can-anyone-make-the-train-take-the-strain/#comment-16878 Rose Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:13:13 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/01/30/can-anyone-make-the-train-take-the-strain/#comment-16878 Japan sets the best example in providing clean, safe, frequent, and quiet trains and trams, at all levels of speed and weight. Privately owned and run, of course. They are also meticulous in their engineering, on which it all depends, and heavily manned. If only we could emulate them in this. But where do we get our engineers from, let alone meticulous ones, now that we have thrown away our grammar and technical schools, and no longer have large numbers of apprentices? Japan sets the best example in providing clean, safe, frequent, and quiet trains and trams, at all levels of speed and weight. Privately owned and run, of course. They are also meticulous in their engineering, on which it all depends, and heavily manned. If only we could emulate them in this. But where do we get our engineers from, let alone meticulous ones, now that we have thrown away our grammar and technical schools, and no longer have large numbers of apprentices?

]]> By: mikestallard http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/01/30/can-anyone-make-the-train-take-the-strain/#comment-16864 mikestallard Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:01:34 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/01/30/can-anyone-make-the-train-take-the-strain/#comment-16864 At the end of the day, Europe will decide. The plan has already been consummated. "The Trans-European high-speed rail network is one of the European Union's three Trans-European transport networks, along with road and waterways. It was defined by the Council Directive 96/48/EC of 23 July 1996." For the details of the West coast Main Line and the route to Ireland, see: http://ec.europa.eu/ten/transport/priority_projects_minisite/map_en.htm What you have been discussing is a minor line which really does not matter much to the Commissioners. It was no doubt an stimulating conversation and I very much hope that you all enjoyed talking about railways and some excellent food, wine and company. But you won;t get anywhere: the caravan has moved on. Transport was - until Lisbon - the first Pillar and run by the vice president of the Commission. And, as they remind us, they hold the purse strings. At the end of the day, Europe will decide. The plan has already been consummated.
“The Trans-European high-speed rail network is one of the European Union’s three Trans-European transport networks, along with road and waterways. It was defined by the Council Directive 96/48/EC of 23 July 1996.”
For the details of the West coast Main Line and the route to Ireland, see:
http://ec.europa.eu/ten/transport/priority_projects_minisite/map_en.htm

What you have been discussing is a minor line which really does not matter much to the Commissioners. It was no doubt an stimulating conversation and I very much hope that you all enjoyed talking about railways and some excellent food, wine and company.
But you won;t get anywhere: the caravan has moved on.
Transport was - until Lisbon - the first Pillar and run by the vice president of the Commission.
And, as they remind us, they hold the purse strings.

]]> By: Neil Craig http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/01/30/can-anyone-make-the-train-take-the-strain/#comment-16856 Neil Craig Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:22:02 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/01/30/can-anyone-make-the-train-take-the-strain/#comment-16856 That sounds like a very useful do. I believe that the long term future of rail should be automated driverless transport but everything you suggest is part of the route there. Before nationalisation the railways were what is called "natural monopolies" - big companies with no real competition on their particular routes - which is probably why they were far less innovative than motor vehicle manufacturers even back then. Railtrack was a serious attempt to overcome the natural monopoly problem & Labour's decision to use regulations to bankrupt it & thereby nationalise it (which, despite the evidence never happened, as the court declared) has been immensely costly to us all. That sounds like a very useful do. I believe that the long term future of rail should be automated driverless transport but everything you suggest is part of the route there.

Before nationalisation the railways were what is called “natural monopolies” - big companies with no real competition on their particular routes - which is probably why they were far less innovative than motor vehicle manufacturers even back then.

Railtrack was a serious attempt to overcome the natural monopoly problem & Labour’s decision to use regulations to bankrupt it & thereby nationalise it (which, despite the evidence never happened, as the court declared) has been immensely costly to us all.

]]> By: James Strachan http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/01/30/can-anyone-make-the-train-take-the-strain/#comment-16837 James Strachan Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:34:30 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/01/30/can-anyone-make-the-train-take-the-strain/#comment-16837 I agree with your views and the comments that you have received. What I hear on the grapevine about Network Rail is (a) very low productivity amongst maintenance employees and (b) layers and layers of ineffective middle management. The trouble is that they are New Labour's favoured child. I agree with your views and the comments that you have received.

What I hear on the grapevine about Network Rail is (a) very low productivity amongst maintenance employees and (b) layers and layers of ineffective middle management.

The trouble is that they are New Labour’s favoured child.

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