During Prime Ministers Questions, Boris Johnson has said that ‘the bell is tolling for West Midlands Trains'.
This comes in the House of Commons today after West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin called the service “absolutely woeful”.
West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin said:
“In recent months the performance of West Midlands rail for my constituents and for constituents across the region has been absolutely woeful.
“Will he agree with Andy Street, the West Midlands mayor, that if they do not shape up by the end of January they too should have an inspection by the Secretary of State for Transport and potentially have their franchise taken away?”
In reply to this, the Prime Minister said that the Government is looking at the performance of various franchise holders across the rail network.
What do you think of this? Let us know in the comments below
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Privatisation never worked years ago and it doesn’t now companies are not interested in the public only interested in shareholders.and of course the ridiculous amount the CEO gets .help us all by bringing it back all under public ownership it works in other countries.
Has PM Boris Johnson even mentioned about Northern. I’m sure he hasn’t said anything about Northern franchise to be stripped.
The big problem is the franchising system. Bidders are compelled to put in the best deal and do this by promising new trains and more services, without realising how difficult it is to deliver. The infrastructure can’t cope with the service level and train crew are diagrammed so intensely that there is little slack in the system for training them on the new traction. This coupled with late delivery of new trains and teething problems with them creates a perfect storm.
It’s time people knew just what a disaster privatisation has been. Dozens of Companies, all with Directors being paid inflated, unearned salaries and shareholder dividends to be paid out as well. Public Utilities like gas, water and electric are the same. No public service should ever be in the hands of profiteers and speculators.