ashkeba
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 May 2019
- Messages
- 2,171
Wasn't GB Railways bought by FirstGroup? GBR Group Limited is still an active company and parent of East West Rail Limited.
Something suggests to me that that is unlikely.Best news I've heard in my 22 years on the railway. Now maybe I'll get my free travel back that I had to hand back when I moved from Central Trains to Railtrack (and then NR)
Yes. Quite liked working for GB Railways under the Anglia Railways banner.Wasn't GB Railways bought by FirstGroup? GBR Group Limited is still an active company and parent of East West Rail Limited.
Good to see electrification got mentioned
The government says the new system should look more like Transport for London, with multiple operators under one brand.
I presume that this proposed reorganisation, with direct state control of what passenger rail services are run and ticket prices, has only been possible as the UK is no longer a member of the EU, given their policy on rail competition.
The "no magic money tree" thing only applies when Labour want to improve things for the people. When it's the Tories, there is definitely a magic money tree.With the country being effectively skint following Covid where on earth is the money coming from to implement this?
Change isn't cheap. If they do go down the route of a rebrand across the whole network it will cost millions.
Haven't seen any word on who will lead it- although the the money is on the 2 H double act and I wonder where the RDG will sit in this, if at all?
The bit that is broken is Network Rail. Overpriced, slow and inefficient. I can't see how GBR will change that."If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
The current privatised system is broken. I can't help but shake the feeling, however, that they're leaving the broken bits alone, and 'fixing' the stuff that already works.
Unusual for something to be de-embargoed at 11 at night rather than 0800 or 0900!
Does anyone have a link to the actual report?
The report has been published and can be downloaded hereHas the report been bushed yet? If so, please can someone send a link here ASAP?
How is creating a single national monolith a 'passenger focussed model'?The journey to this new passenger-focused model has begun today. New National Rail Contracts will be announced this year. They will be in operation for 2 years and act as a bridge to reform.
Hi,The bit that is broken is Network Rail. Overpriced, slow and inefficient. I can't see how GBR will change that.
I wouldn't be so optmistic - I'm yet to see any suggestion that the withdrawal of the 442s will be "reviewed"Note a review into ‘ironing board seating’ and also to look into fewer ‘repetitious and annoying’ pre recorded announcements.
You see, people do read this forum
Being someone that worked for the gas supply section (BG Transco) in the late 1990's after the splitting up of British Gas, there was many people made redundant by British Gas, who then turned up on contract to BG Transco for about two times the salary that they had at British Gas. I can see the same happening between Network Rail and Great British Railway!Hi,
There are many rumours and bits of information from union reps who attended the talks with NR
What is clear, NR mid negotiation walked away and refused to discuss job cut reduction any further
The main theories from the signalling world is -
Aside from the compulsory redundancies which are set for this summer/autumn (there is a headcount target per devolved region)., all NR remaining staff will have their contracts cease at the end of 2021.
They will be offered GBR contracts on different (worse) T&Cs.
NR have let slip in one of the negotiations they are taking a keen interest in how British Gas carried out their fire and re hire re-organisation.
TSSA are asking questions which consultancy NR are using for this re-org, it’s rumoured to be the same one British Gas had hired for advise.
One thing is certain, signalling world are set to strike and the frontline is happy to work to rule.
I have spoke with a good few NR staff in both worlds who are fed up with how the company has been ran badly.
No pay rise while working throughout Covid combined with the latest disaster re organisation called PPF (correct me if that is the wrong acronym) which created more senior management jobs and added more restrictions and bureaucracy.
The removal of red zone working also angered staff, now having to work more nights or in a green zone between trains making them less productive.
One gang told me they normally can patrol the area in 3 hours, now it takes all day as they have to take line blocks.
Yes, that bit made me smile.Note a review into ‘ironing board seating’ and also to look into fewer ‘repetitious and annoying’ pre recorded announcements.
You see, people do read this forum
Ah that's where they got the name from!I wonder if Mr Portillo will have to rename his 'Great British Railway Journeys' programme
Not at all.Have the railways just been nationalised?
No more than they were already. The big change is that now the overall oversight is now mostly under 1 body, rather than split between several as was the case previously.Have the railways just been nationalised?