http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "Soaring rail costs prompts call for Holyrood control of Network Rail" en Sun, 31 May 2026 18:59:58 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17074#post-234799 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 15:23:15 +0000 chdot 234799@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>The Scottish Government has a plan in place to take over the running of the country’s railways if ScotRail fails to hit improvement targets. </p> <p>Government agency Transport Scotland has instructed the operator to draw up an improvement plan after the public performance measure (PPM) on trains which arrive within five minutes of timetable fell below 90.3 per cent.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/ministers-ready-to-step-in-if-scotrail-misses-targets-1-4270554" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/ministers-ready-to-step-in-if-scotrail-misses-targets-1-4270554</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17074#post-234768 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 11:27:20 +0000 crowriver 234768@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I suspect there are a few Sir Humphreys in the mix, certainly. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17074#post-234758 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 10:21:50 +0000 chdot 234758@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Which rather raises the question of his own competence..."</p> <p>Possibly, but it partly depends whether is able/willing to do something with/about TS (predecessors clearly were 'content' with the reality/'convenience' of the arms-length relationship).</p> <p>Of course he may not realise the contradictions or possibilities of his job.</p> <p>Or he may just be listening to 'yes minister, but the way it is means you get to blame someone else'...</p> <p>(And the press won't notice.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17074#post-234756 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 10:14:30 +0000 crowriver 234756@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot, indeed! Which rather raises the question of his own competence... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17074#post-234755 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 10:11:56 +0000 chdot 234755@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"and the whinge about lack of 'control' is just a smokescreen"</p> <p>Or an accidental (or deliberate?) admission that he's not in control of Transport Scotland! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17074#post-234753 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 10:09:10 +0000 crowriver 234753@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Transport Scotland should have been keeping a closer eye on project delivery."</p> <p>Exactly. Ultimately it's the minister's responsibility. He's just passing the buck here, and the whinge about lack of 'control' is just a smokescreen. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17074#post-234736 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 09:29:11 +0000 Morningsider 234736@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Scottish Government already has effective control of Network Rail Scotland. They set its strategic goals through the High Level Output Specification, fund its Scottish operations and are the client for major Scottish infrastructure enhancements.</p> <p>Network Rail might have dropped the ball on EGIP and other Scottish projects - but that can't be blamed on the UK Government. Transport Scotland should have been keeping a closer eye on project delivery. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17074#post-234685 Wed, 26 Oct 2016 17:30:28 +0000 Klaxon 234685@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's been on the cards for a long time. The past few years have been spent quietly restructuring Network Rail Scotland (and the other regional areas) into their own little businesses ready to be split up again. Network Rail Scotland's current chief is Phil Verster, head of Abellio Scotrail. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17074#post-234680 Wed, 26 Oct 2016 17:00:03 +0000 chdot 234680@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Transport minister Humza Yousaf today called for full control of Network Rail after it was revealed the cost of some major upgrades had doubled. </p> <p>The total cost of five key schemes has increased by £379 million to more than £1.5 billion, a Scottish Government-commissioned report showed.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/soaring-rail-costs-prompts-call-for-holyrood-control-of-network-rail-1-4269737" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/soaring-rail-costs-prompts-call-for-holyrood-control-of-network-rail-1-4269737</a> </p>