King's Speech - Rail

[LNW-GW Joint]

Rail was mentioned twice in the King's Speech today.

The first mention was Network North, confirming what we already know about spend on local rail and other transport projects in the Midlands and North, notionally using money from the cancellation of HS2 Phase 2.

My government will invest in Network North to deliver faster and more reliable journeys between, and within, the cities and towns of the North and Midlands, prioritising improving the journeys that people make most often.

The second was a reference to a Draft Railway Reform Bill, which will be for consultation on the future structure of the rail industry, previously trailed as Great British Railways.
This is effectively a Green Paper and will not directly lead to legislation like a White Paper would.
But at least we ought to get a fully worked proposal for industry reorganisation, even if it is "watered down".
The next election will intervene before any of it can be legislated for, of course.

From goat exports to driverless vehicles: the 21 bills in the king’s speech

Proposed measures that made it into Rishi Sunak’s pre-election legislative programme – and those that didn’t

www.theguardian.com

Draft rail reform bill
After the prime minister scrapped the northern section of the HS2 high-speed rail line last month, this draft bill seeks to allow parliamentarians and experts to review and test the legislation draft of establishing a watered-down version of Boris Johnson’s Great British Railways.

 

[YorkRailFan]

It feels like the Government further postponing having to deal with the rail network and the mess it is in.

 

[GWVillager]

At least we got something. I was rather fearing that it would have been entirely forgotten about.

 

[HSTEd]

Well that puts an end to discussions about whether a bill to extinguish the compulsory purchase powers for Phase 2A is forthcoming.

It isn't.

 

[Energy]

Well that puts an end to discussions about whether a bill to extinguish the compulsory purchase powers for Phase 2A is forthcoming.

It isn't.

The supposed land sell-off seems to have thankfully gone quiet for now, Rishi's got bigger problems and I doubt the DfT is in a rush.

 

[Bartsimho]

The supposed land sell-off seems to have thankfully gone quiet for now, Rishi's got bigger problems and I doubt the DfT is in a rush.

I think that was having legal challenges as the bill detailing Phase 2a hasn't been repealed so the ideas of selling the land while the bill needing it was still active. Anyway it's in the courts I think: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/f...nak-faces-very-likely-legal-challenge-2727276

 

[Energy]

I think that was having legal challenges as the bill detailing Phase 2a hasn't been repealed so the ideas of selling the land while the bill needing it was still active. Anyway it's in the courts I think: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/f...nak-faces-very-likely-legal-challenge-2727276

Yes, it isn't in courts yet though.

 

[CastlebarKeith]

My perception, for what it's worth, is that for the first time ever, a year before a general election, the government is so obviously running out of money, that it is reigning in on "things" that it wishes us to believe will happen if they are re-elected.
There is no money for projects which as we have seen get cancelled because the cash has run out. There is at last a reality that money is finite and cannot simply be printed without 'consequences'.
Re-nationalisation of the railways will cost money, and it simply isn't there. Many things on our 'wish lists' are never going to happen, partly, but not exclusively caused by expensive mistakes made in the past.
So, don't expect too many pre-election promises over the next 12 months, and don't expect many of those that are made to be fulfilled.
At last, there is reality and acceptance, that there is NO MONEY..

 

[billio]

My perception, for what it's worth, is that for the first time ever, a year before a general election, the government is so obviously running out of money, that it is reigning in on "things" that it wishes us to believe will happen if they are re-elected.
There is no money for projects which as we have seen get cancelled because the cash has run out. There is at last a reality that money is finite and cannot simply be printed without 'consequences'.
Re-nationalisation of the railways will cost money, and it simply isn't there. Many things on our 'wish lists' are never going to happen, partly, but not exclusively caused by expensive mistakes made in the past.
So, don't expect too many pre-election promises over the next 12 months, and don't expect many of those that are made to be fulfilled.
At last, there is reality and acceptance, that there is NO MONEY..

There is an alternative viewpoint, a different understanding of what money is and how governments can use it creatively to increase the economy and improve the lives of the general population. You will find an explanation here Funding the Future, a blog by Richard Murphy
No government investment is 'printed' it is just a number recorded in a computer system.
If the government doesn't spend money through investing in updating or building new infrastructure the economy will grind to a halt and decline. Some people believe this is proved through the outcome of 'austerity'.
Bearing in mind that much of the railway industry is already 'nationalised', under direct control of the government or devolved through limited-term contracts, further transfer to full government control should not be too difficult or expensive.