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Topic: Call To Bring GNER Back "In - House" (Read 11758 times)
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Graham Ellis
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Quoting a part of that article ... ..... mainline franchise ...... should be brought back under public control immediately to stop jobs and rail services falling victim to the financial ......
The call was made by RMT as speculation grew that .......... rail operations would mean further sharp fares hikes, service cuts and a wholesale attack on jobs and conditions.
“The number-one priority is to ensure that our members’ jobs and the services they provide do not fall victim to .......’ deepening financial crisis,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.
“We warned when the ...... franchise was let that the enormous price-tag raised the threat of service cuts, massive fares rises and a squeeze on jobs and conditions, and it gives no pleasure to be proved right. This is NOT referring to the First group, nor to anywhere West of London. And yet by cutting out the specifics, so much of it could apply to the new Great Western franchise. We're already seeing hidden fare rises via the back door, with many of the lower cost fares withdrawn within months, and with the slashing back of services and rolling stock, no doubt there will be a cut back in staff too. Just as on the East Coast, the enormous tag is bleeding the services to the West dry. As a Union general secretary, Bob Crow is rightly looking after his members, and putting the view for them and their jobs. But it's also a tragedy for the passengers. In my business, we refer to passengers as "customers" - and I like this term as it reminds everyone who works for the business that these are the people who, in the end, pay our wages. It's high time that the railway companies gave their customers as much consideration as they give their shareholders and as they give the rule makers at the Department for Transport and, yes Bob, if that involves changing the whole principle of finance and operation then it's a move to be seriously considered. |
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Lee
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Pensioners 'refused' first class train seats (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/pensioners_refused_first_class.html#morePoor timekeeping on First Great Western's long-distance express services is under investigation by the Office for Rail Regulation (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/08/great_western_running_late.html#moreQuotes from the above link : "The ORR said that part of the cause of delays to FGW's express services was the large-scale track renewal programme on lines from London Paddington." "However, it said that track and signals operator Network Rail and FGW had drawn up joint plans to tackle the problems, which should be in place next month." "Among the ideas already implemented is for teams of FGW and Network Rail managers to 'adopt' poorly-performing services to identify why they are suffering delays and tackle the causes." |
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Graham Ellis
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The franchise system is, unfortunatley, set up to allow for "staggeringly ambitious" bids to be accepted. Not only do you see the problems that GNER is having according to the press, but you also see FGW reducing services all it can, slashing out all sorts of cheap fares, cutting out buffet cars, and running trains of the oldest average age in the country in order to be paying the government its premium. "We have no choice" they say. Wrong - they could each have chosen to bid 100 million less, each would have almost certainly still got the contract, and each would have had 100 million more to split, 50 / 50, between their shareholders and providing services. |
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Lee
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The franchise system is, unfortunatley, set up to allow for "staggeringly ambitious" bids to be accepted. Not only do you see the problems that GNER is having according to the press, but you also see FGW reducing services all it can, slashing out all sorts of cheap fares, cutting out buffet cars, and running trains of the oldest average age in the country in order to be paying the government its premium. "We have no choice" they say. Wrong - they could each have chosen to bid 100 million less, each would have almost certainly still got the contract, and each would have had 100 million more to split, 50 / 50, between their shareholders and providing services. Does the GNER debacle marks the end of an era? (link below.) http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/articles/tt/aug24,06.shtmlQuotes from the above link : "Other suicidal deals, such as First’s latest two franchises, are also likely to prove unrealistic, putting further pressure on the budget. Moreover, bidders for new franchises will never commit themselves to such onerous deals and therefore the whole issue begs the question, again, as to the purpose of the franchising arrangements." "Are they a sensible way of running the railway given the uncertainties and instabilities they cause in an industry which, above all, needs a stable climate to stimulate investment?" |
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Lee
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GNER last night insisted it had no intention of walking away from the East Coast rail franchise - despite speculation it was trying to renegotiate the £1.3 billion deal with the government (link below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2006/09/gner_denies_plan_to_quit_east_2.html#moreBut a spokeswoman confirmed that newly installed executive chairman Bob MacKenzie was carrying out a "top-to-bottom" review of the entire operation - including staffing levels and ticket prices - and admitted nothing could be ruled out. |
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Lee
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Rail passengers waiting for the last southbound train of the day at a North East station were left stranded when the driver failed to stop (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5349620.stmGNER's Edinburgh to York Service sped through Durham station after the driver was given the wrong instructions. |
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