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New Shadow Transport Minister

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pemma

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While the new post holder isn't confirmed yet Michael Dugher has been moved to Shadow communities and local government minister so a new person in the Shadow Transport Minister role is certain.

EDIT: Lilian Greenwood has been promoted to Shadow Transport Minister. It doesn't look like she'll have an understudy.
 
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LNW-GW Joint

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EDIT: Lilian Greenwood has been promoted to Shadow Transport Minister. It doesn't look like she'll have an understudy.

A saner voice than Dugher, and she knows the rail brief.
But what rail policy will emerge from the shadow cabinet?
 

pemma

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Nationalisation would seem to be the obvious one.

This was Corbyn's manifesto pledge for the railways:

Labour leadership contender, Jeremy Corbyn MP will outline his plans for an integrated publicly owned railway network.

Under his leadership he pledges a Labour government will introduce a new Railways Act in 2020 to begin the process of bringing our railways into public control, run in the public interest in line with the other social, economic and environmental goals of his overall Vision For Britain 2020

Jeremy plans to replace the rolling stock companies (ROSCOs) with a long-term procurement strategy based on strategic long-term investment in the railways to boost manufacturing, skills and jobs across the UK.

He will oversee a process which will ensure that all parts of the railway networks work together for the common good – with strategic management representing the industry, government (local and national), passengers and workers.

Once again Jeremy's Vision of a new National Investment Bank is focussed as a source of public investment which will enable a co-operative model of public ownership and fund long-term infrastructure improvements and increased accessibility for disabled passengers.

By re-integrating the UK railways and running them co-operatively for the public good, we can bring social, economic and environmental gains:

  • Provide a more modern and integrated service for all passengers
  • More accessible trains and stations for disabled passengers
  • Better terms and conditions for rail workers
  • Benefit the environment by increasing rail capacity and reducing costs to encourage rail over car and air transport
  • Stimulate the economy by increasing investment in new high speed rail, creating jobs and connecting more towns and cities
  • Give passengers, rail workers and politicians more democratic say over the strategic development of UK railways.
  • Cheaper and more easily understood fare tariffs

"The privatisation of the railways fragmented our rail network meaning the most expensive and confusing ticketing structures in Europe," said Jeremy.

"Our rail network suffers from massive underinvestment, recently cut again by this government, while larcenous levels of profiteering continue.

"We need to rebuild an integrated publicly owned railway network that is run by the people for the people.

"It is important for our economy, society and the environment that our railways are run in the public interest not for private profit.

"Under my leadership Labour will commit to public ownership, run by passengers, workers and government."
 

61653 HTAFC

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Had anyone other than Corbyn won, I'd have expected Lord Adonis to return to the transport brief. But as (a) a Blairite; (b) the "godfather" of HS2; and (c) a member of the Lords, it was never going to happen.

Adonis's spell as Transport Secretary was one of the few highlights of the Brown administration, hopefully he can still be a good voice on transport issues.
 

pemma

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Had anyone other than Corbyn won, I'd have expected Lord Adonis to return to the transport brief. But as (a) a Blairite; (b) the "godfather" of HS2; and (c) a member of the Lords, it was never going to happen.

Adonis's spell as Transport Secretary was one of the few highlights of the Brown administration, hopefully he can still be a good voice on transport issues.

It was suggested when Mary Creagh was moved from the Transport brief no-one wanted to replace her because it was expected that if Labour won the last election Lord Adonis would have been asked if he wanted his old role back. That meant Michael Dugher was the only person Milliband could persuade to take up the role.
 

Robertj21a

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Good idea to have a manifesto pledge - there's at least 9-14 years to perfect it too........
 

TheNewNo2

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Glad to hear that idiot Dugher's gone from the transport brief. Greenwood seems a pretty safe pair of hands.
 

Chris125

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I believe she's pro-HS2, which would seem to confirm that there isn't going to be a significant change in tone on that.
 

HH

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Look for even more money being spent on cycle facilities...

I'm not sure how passengers are going to run the railway.

I wonder what else awaits us in Santa's Grotto?
 

NickBucks

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Look for even more money being spent on cycle facilities...

I'm not sure how passengers are going to run the railway.

I wonder what else awaits us in Santa's Grotto?

Bicycle clips for all commuters perhaps ?
 

yorksrob

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It would be nice if the new opposition adopted a National railcard as a matter of policy.
 

Class 170101

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I believe she's pro-HS2, which would seem to confirm that there isn't going to be a significant change in tone on that.

Answered a question posed by Huw Edwards on BBC News at 5 this afternoon regarding HS2 that she was pro HS2.
 

WatcherZero

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Shes a Nottingham MP so I highly expect her to be a bit more clued up on Northern Transport issues than Corbyn.
 

HH

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So are you unfamiliar with how a cooperative works or just unsure what type of cooperative Corbyn is proposing?

The only Public Transport Cooperative I'm aware of is Go-op; not exactly a rip-roaring success. Their setup proposes passengers 50% of the votes in running the company. Just imagine applying that to UK Rail; you only have to read some of the views on this forum to understand what an unmitigated disaster it would be, with everyone fighting for their own special interest.
 

pemma

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The only Public Transport Cooperative I'm aware of is Go-op; not exactly a rip-roaring success. Their setup proposes passengers 50% of the votes in running the company. Just imagine applying that to UK Rail; you only have to read some of the views on this forum to understand what an unmitigated disaster it would be, with everyone fighting for their own special interest.

I imagine it would more like Cooperative stores than any proposed small scale transport co-ops which have never started.

Working on the Cooperative store basis:

  • There would be membership card for passengers who get a loyalty bonus depending on how big the profits are and how much they've spent in the last year.
  • Passengers can nominate community projects to benefit from profits from railways.
  • Members can vote on certain issues but issues put forward by the board but there wouldn't be a vote on every issue that any member thinks up. Board members would be elected by members.
 

Domh245

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Passengers can nominate community projects to benefit from profits from railways.

Are these community projects such as train and platform lengthening, electrification, resignalling etc, because even without those nasty TOCs, I don't think you'd have a lot of profit to reinvest in the railways, let alone community projects!
 

Clip

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It would be nice if the new opposition adopted a National railcard as a matter of policy.

you don't need a national railcard. Just lop 1/3 off off peak fares as I guarantee that the disputes forum would explode with people forgetting their railcard.

Or just buy a blow up doll and get a two together railcard :)
 

pemma

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Are these community projects such as train and platform lengthening, electrification, resignalling etc, because even without those nasty TOCs, I don't think you'd have a lot of profit to reinvest in the railways, let alone community projects!

Well as Corbyn's plan is for a nationalised operator with lower fares I imagine profits will be very low and infrastructure work will have been accounted for before profits, so maybe £50 for some new plants and containers which volunteers then would plant?
 

yorksrob

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you don't need a national railcard. Just lop 1/3 off off peak fares as I guarantee that the disputes forum would explode with people forgetting their railcard.

Or just buy a blow up doll and get a two together railcard :)

Oh goodness, my love life really needs an overhaul :lol:

As for lopping a third off, nice idea, but it's that psychological desire of people to make back the sunken cost that the railway should exploit - you wouldn't get that with a straightforward discount.

Plus for a policy maker, the railcard is something that can be referred to whatever the underlying price of tickets, whereas a simple reduction would soon be disguised by inflation (although some fares undoubtedly should be reduced due to being individually extortionate).
 

route:oxford

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It would be nice if the new opposition adopted a National railcard as a matter of policy.

I'd be just as happy if the current government adopted one.

All we need is the Conservatives and Labour to agree that it would be good to have a new UK Rail smartcard with a clear Union Flag background that offered 20% discount off all off-peak rail journeys and 1% return in rail points on full price fares that were loaded electronically.

Not only would it be really useful - but it would really wind up The Sturgeon.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh goodness, my love life really needs an overhaul :lol:

You need to catch up with the times:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-34118482
 

6Gman

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Well as Corbyn's plan is for a nationalised operator with lower fares I imagine profits will be very low and infrastructure work will have been accounted for before profits, so maybe £50 for some new plants and containers which volunteers then would plant?


He's also saying rail staff will be better paid so £50 may be a bit optimistic.

:D
 

yorksrob

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I'd be just as happy if the current government adopted one.

All we need is the Conservatives and Labour to agree that it would be good to have a new UK Rail smartcard with a clear Union Flag background that offered 20% discount off all off-peak rail journeys and 1% return in rail points on full price fares that were loaded electronically.

Not only would it be really useful - but it would really wind up The Sturgeon.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


You need to catch up with the times:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-34118482

Such a smart card development would be very desirable (and it would be nice to see the Union Flag design adopted, inspite of nationalist objections).

As for the other thing, they ought to be a bit more concerned about AI replacing everyone's jobs than a few sex robots!
 

pemma

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He's also saying rail staff will be better paid so £50 may be a bit optimistic.

:D

Better terms and conditions doesn`t have to mean more money. It could mean you`d be given the option of working less hours with a pro rata pay cut.

You could argue train crews who sign certain types of trains will be provided better working conditions as a result of new trains being introduced.
 

adrock1976

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What's it called? It's called Cumbernauld
The smart card could have images of famous landmarks of major cities relating to where the card is issued.

For example, London could have St Pauls Cathedral, Birmingham could have the Rotunda, Manchester could have Cheetham's Music School, Liverpool could have the Cavern, Sheffield could have the Crucible Theatre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne could have the High Level Bridge, York could have the Minster, Carlisle could have the Citadel, Lancaster could have the Castle, Glasgow could have Finnieston Crane, Edinburgh could have the castle, etc.

These would be far better than having an image of the butcher's apron carried around in a trouser pocket.
 

HH

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I imagine it would more like Cooperative stores than any proposed small scale transport co-ops which have never started.

But that doesn't translate into passengers "running" the railway.

Anyway not sure how there will be a 'divvy' when the railways are subsidised by the government. Or will Southwestern passengers get a divvy, while Northern passengers are asked to stump up for the funding shortfall?

No, I'd forgotten. The shortfall will be covered by the people's QE. It's all so simple in Corbynomics.
 
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