I'm inclined to agree with the original comment that Stephen Byers objects to ... that a number of DfT ministers have indeed (and perhaps still are) largely puppets on a Treasury string. Certainly they look to have been out to score financial "brownie points" by cutting small but headline-grabbing services where the savings are short term only.  Yet at the same time there's a "big schemes are good" attitude that sets up a quasi-narionalised Network Rail and throws money that could save our service in Melksham 100 times over at a scheme that ... no, I'm NOT going to choose; there are lots of rum 'uns about at the moment.