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What happened to the Williams Review?

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Kilopylae

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It was due to release in autumn 2019, but after spending more time than I'd like to admit scouring the web, I can't work out what happened to it. Everything goes quiet in late 2019 and it just seems to have been kicked into the long grass.

The only recent references to it are in "Marketing Stockport", who just say "In 2018, the government set up the Williams Rail Review to recommend the most appropriate organisational and commercial frameworks to support the delivery of the government’s vision for the railway. Led by independent chair Keith Williams, the Rail Review’s recommendations will be implemented from 2020", which suggests they know about as much as I do, and in the House of Commons library, who say "A review of the railways, chaired by Keith Williams, is ongoing." (https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/insights/on-the-right-track-the-future-of-rail-services/)

Does anyone know more? Is there any good reason why autumn 2019 came and went with no announcement and now it's simply being ignored, or is it just the usual bull****? Or has the report been released and I've just missed it? - It's been known to happen :lol:
 
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LNW-GW Joint

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If it is published (like the delayed HS2 Oakervee report), the government will have to respond to it, and it gives the opposition ammunition.
They don't want policy arguments or to make big decisions until Brexit is out of the way and attention turns to domestic policy.
The budget, which will set the next 5-year spending framework, is now sometime in March.
So it's not surprising they are beck-peddling on publication, until the government machine is ready to take the big decisions.
 

DarloRich

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The Government, as with the HS2 report, are using this interval to prepare the ground for their response. Note what is happening with the "naughty" franchises.
 

dctraindriver

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If it is published (like the delayed HS2 Oakervee report), the government will have to respond to it, and it gives the opposition ammunition.
They don't want policy arguments or to make big decisions until Brexit is out of the way and attention turns to domestic policy.
The budget, which will set the next 5-year spending framework, is now sometime in March.
So it's not surprising they are beck-peddling on publication, until the government machine is ready to take the big decisions.
What can the opposition do when the govt has an 80 majority? I expect the govt will just put 2 fingers up to the opposition. Total sham both sides....
 

Bantamzen

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Its in the same filing cabinet as the Piccadilly P15/16/Castlefield Upgrade proposals, in a darkened basement toilet, with no stairs, and a sign saying "Beware of the Leopard.”.....
 

3141

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What can the opposition do when the govt has an 80 majority? I expect the govt will just put 2 fingers up to the opposition. Total sham both sides....

At this point the opposition cannot do much. But if widespread dissatisfaction with the railways continues - whether it's justified or not - and the government does not take steps to do something about it, public feeling will build up that the government is losing its grip. Labour mayors in the Midlands and the North will encourage that perception. People who live in the area served by South Eastern will become increasingly vocal about the absence of any innovation or growth in the services they get. I think the government is trying to work out its response to the Williams report so that, when it is published, it can very quickly announce how it's going to act and start doing so.
 

Mag_seven

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Thanks - here is a quote from the article:

Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines has said that he expects the Williams Review to be published towards the end of February, and is hoping it will support longer term planning.

Note that he "expects" it will be published - that doesn't guarantee that it will be of course! And he is not the DfT!
 

Dr Hoo

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At a general level the (post election) fact that Britain is now definitely leaving the EU may mean that certain messages relating to ‘state aid’, competition, ownership, regulation, etc. can be nuanced in a way that wouldn’t have been possible if the future was still in doubt.
 

dctraindriver

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At this point the opposition cannot do much. But if widespread dissatisfaction with the railways continues - whether it's justified or not - and the government does not take steps to do something about it, public feeling will build up that the government is losing its grip. Labour mayors in the Midlands and the North will encourage that perception. People who live in the area served by South Eastern will become increasingly vocal about the absence of any innovation or growth in the services they get. I think the government is trying to work out its response to the Williams report so that, when it is published, it can very quickly announce how it's going to act and start doing so.
Not nowadays, govt spin will blame the drivers/guards/companies and the press will love it. Just look at how the police were hung out by the media and so many believed it.
 

Nicholas Lewis

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The government referred to it in the Queens Speech (see p101) in December 19 saying

Last year the Government launched a ‘root and branch’ review of the railways led by Keith Williams. The Review is the first comprehensive assessment of the rail system in a generation and is tasked with making ambitious proposals to reform the rail industry. ● The Review is focused on reforms that will put passengers at the heart of the railway, provide value for taxpayers and deliver economic, social and environmental benefits across Britain ● The Government will publish a White Paper informed by the recommendations next year. Among other things, this will end the complicated franchising model to create a simpler, more effective system.

Doesn't help with when but its a statement of intent
 

Starmill

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Rumours suggest that the report has been with the Transport Secretary for quite a while now, and that they will be publicising it on their own timescale.
 

squizzler

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The more the government delays its publication, the more opportunity there is for the TOC's to seize the initiative and embellish the narrative of government incompetence, as we are now seeing with Stagecoach et. al. airing the dirty laundry of the train franchise system in High Court.
 

HowardGWR

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At a general level the (post election) fact that Britain is now definitely leaving the EU may mean that certain messages relating to ‘state aid’, competition, ownership, regulation, etc. can be nuanced in a way that wouldn’t have been possible if the future was still in doubt.
That 'freedom' (no need for nuance) would only apply to firms that were not seeking contracts in the EU. The EU could not give twopence for what goes on here as long as it stays here.
 

daikilo

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The more the government delays its publication, the more opportunity there is for the TOC's to seize the initiative and embellish the narrative of government incompetence, as we are now seeing with Stagecoach et. al. airing the dirty laundry of the train franchise system in High Court.

In theory, publishing a report commissioned by the DfT themselves could be a case of "shooting themselves in both feet." As it happens I doubt there will be any overlap.
 

hooverboy

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That 'freedom' (no need for nuance) would only apply to firms that were not seeking contracts in the EU. The EU could not give twopence for what goes on here as long as it stays here.
in respect of who actually runs the railways, provides the rolling stock etc, the EU has quite a lot to lose.
I think they will be giving quite a bit more than 2p worth .(likewise with fisheries as it happens)

it's several billion pounds a year in manufacturing contracts, plus a shedload more in maintenance,
Works out not far off the combined EU's defence budget!!...of which US and UK have been paying a disproportionate amount,

nissan might have been playing hardball on brexit fears,but Ghosn has p1ssed off some people in high places an he's on the run now.
Hitachi could mop on rolling stock up if EU play dirty.
Stadler will probably be ok too due to legendary swiss neutrality!
 

Starmill

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in respect of who actually runs the railways, provides the rolling stock etc, the EU has quite a lot to lose.
I think they will be giving quite a bit more than 2p worth .(likewise with fisheries as it happens)
Fishing does indeed have an important thing in common with the sale of railway rolling stock - both are small enough to make up barely noticeable proportions of GDP.
it's several billion pounds a year in manufacturing contracts, plus a shedload more in maintenance,
Works out not far off the combined EU's defence budget!!...
Interesting but I think I'd need to see your working here.
of which US and UK have been paying a disproportionate amount,
This one just plain doesn't make sense. The UK and US have no contributions to the national budgets of the EU 27.
nissan might have been playing hardball on brexit fears,but Ghosn has p1ssed off some people in high places an he's on the run now.
Hm. Hardball isn't the usual Japanese style, and nor does a Japanese firm care more about the UK market than the Single Market, if (when) they're distinct and separate. Nor do they have a preference to manufacture cars in the UK over doing so in Japan, unsurprisingly.
 

Starmill

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Hitachi could mop on rolling stock up if EU play dirty.
Stadler will probably be ok too due to legendary swiss neutrality!
Hitachi have already made the point loud and clear that the assembly of trains in the UK is dependent on a full order book, by threatening job losses. They've also acquired an assembly facility inside the Single Market, in Italy. Just saying...
 
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