Chris

Nationalised/privatised has always been a bit simplistic when it comes to the way British railways are run.

All the key paths have always been subject to franchise, with the details controlled by government. Rolling stock is mostly privately financed and leased to operators but that’s frequently the case with large public buildings these days. Railtrack was the one, practically irreversible privatisation that occurred on the railways, because the railway itself was sold off and by any normal measure should have been far too expensive for any government to contemplate buying back. The nation should quietly be thankful to Stephen Byers for orchestrating the effective confiscation of it from the private owner and handing it to the publicly owned Network Rail (quietly, because like so many things Byers did in office, the way it came about was somewhat irregular and may have been affected by Byers’ sometimes casual acquaintance with the expression of facts).

The status of the British railway as “privatised” has in truth been only paper-thin since Railtrack gave way to Nework Rail, and now even the franchises have now gone, and I don’t see anyone protesting too hard. It may only be a temporary suspension on paper but it’s difficult to see them coming back. Any new system based on management contracts or concessions to operate will only further expose the level of involvement government has (arguably, has always had) in our “privatised” system.

I see the RMT kicking off this morning, hankering after a return of British Rail, however this has to be resisted if only because the present structure of railway operations makes it illegal for them to orchestrate a national strike based on a dispute in one part of the network. I have no doubt they would absolutely love to have the level of influence they once had; that should not be allowed to happen.