Is it the end for GBR??

[Railman]

Article in the Guardian newspaper seems to think the GBR bill might not get through in time for 2024, with the demise of Schapps and the slow progress is it really just another plan to be put in the Bin??

 

[Bletchleyite]

Seems like. Now can we get rid of those manky 1970s designs, that clumsy font, the overuse of the red double arrow on every other sign etc and get a decent agency in to design a modern look for the railway?

 

[dk1]

Can’t say personally that it’ll be a loss.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The new Transport Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, has made her first speech in the job, at the Tory Conference.
No mention of any of the big issues like GBR.
Her big idea, it seems, is to solve the national road pothole problem.

In her speech to the Conservative Party conference Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan told members she plans to fix "10 million potholes a year".
She said this pledge will be achieved through a special "pothole fund".
Earlier this year, the AA said that from April 2018 to June 2021, there were over 1.5m potholes on local roads reported to the 51 UK councils the firm spoke to.
A statement along with the data added: "The total number is likely to be much higher than that due to this figure not including potholes on motorways and major roads, and many being unreported."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-63114183 (1635)

 

[43066]

Article in the Guardian newspaper seems to think the GBR bill might not get through in time for 2024, with the demise of Schapps and the slow progress is it really just another plan to be put in the Bin??

If so, it won’t be the first brave new beginning that hasn’t really led anywhere. A bit like the “Digital Railway” a few years ago that we were told would be expanded over the entire network within a few years, only to go very quiet and sink without trace.

 

[100andthirty]

Isn't the pothole fund a staple for all Transport Secretaries irrespective of their political persuasion?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Anne Marie Trevalyn spoke at Tory conference today didn't specifically raise GBR but said

We want to transform the rail industry to make it sustainable for the next hundred years, so the very last thing that the country needs right now is more damaging industrial disputes

at least acknowledges something needs to change and she seems to want to get the strikes resolved although without saying anything about whether more money is on offer

My message to the trade union membership is simple: please take your seats at the negotiating table and let’s find a landing zone which we can all work with. Punishing passengers and inflicting damage on our economy by striking is not the answer.

I can tell you there is a deal to be done between the unions and our train operators, it’s a deal that will require compromise. So, I want to see positive proposals to bridge those differences.

reported by Evening Standard

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/pol...association-transport-secretary-b1030211.html

 

[DarloRich]

Delayed certainly. How long that delay is remains to be seen. It may be permanent.

 

[dorsetdesiro]

Maybe move this to the Speculative thread?

I reckon the current government may prioritise on sorting the strike action, also depending on Covid this winter whether commuters will return also everyone tightening their wallets what with the energy crisis and spending less on rail travel.

They may also focus on the smart motorway fiasco?

If a general election is to occur in the near future, due to discontent with new PM and Chancellor, then a possible change of government (different party) could change policy so the new entity may not be called GBR at all.

 

[8A Rail]

Seems like. Now can we get rid of those manky 1970s designs, that clumsy font, the overuse of the red double arrow on every other sign etc and get a decent agency in to design a modern look for the railway?

Why waste more money on something like that when there are far more important things that are needed on the railways, including reinstating some trains post Covid! The existing Double Arrow sign does its job and everyone knows what is stands for too. Likewise a 'decent agency' will no doubt charge the earth for something will still resemble what we have now, words that we are able to read regardless of font, colour etc.

 

[ymbongo]

This article in Modern Railways appeared recently:

The legislation within the Government’s Transport Bill which will enact the implementation of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail and formally create the new Great British Railways organisation has been deferred, Modern Railways understands.

According to a document issued by the Great British Railways Transition Team, seen by Modern Railways, the reason for the deferral is that the Government is prioritising emergency legislation in response to the cost of living and energy price situation. The document adds that further details on the timing of the planned legislation on rail reform and the Future of Transport ‘will need to be confirmed in light of this’, and legislation will be taken forward when Parliamentary time allows.

Modern Railways understands the Transport Bill may proceed, but without the rail reform elements, as there are other aspects of the Bill which may remain a Government priority. The Bill was announced in the Queen’s Speech which opened the current Parliament on 10 May, and a consultation on the proposed legislation ran from 9 June to 4 August. However, unfolding events and the appointment of a new Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Transport and Rail Minister have changed Government priorities.

A Department for Transport spokesperson told Modern Railways the Parliamentary timetable was still to be confirmed. In an interview with Modern Railways in May, former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had emphasised the importance of the legislation being passed in the current Parliamentary session if GBR was to acquire if powers in 2024 as planned.

https://www.modernrailways.com/article/legislation-create-gbr-deferred

 

[gmaguire]

I’ll be glad if I never have to see that gaudy union jack double arrow again.

 

[eldomtom2]

Anne Marie Trevalyn spoke at Tory conference today didn't specifically raise GBR but said



at least acknowledges something needs to change and she seems to want to get the strikes resolved although without saying anything about whether more money is on offer

I'm fairly certain Truss has repeatedly stated she plans to introduce minimum service legislation.

 

[TurboMan]

Now can we get rid of those manky 1970s designs, that clumsy font, the overuse of the red double arrow on every other sign etc and get a decent agency in to design a modern look for the railway?

The DRU, Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert - some of the most celebrated graphic designers of the 20th century - not decent enough for you?

 

[Bletchleyite]

The DRU, Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert - some of the most celebrated graphic designers of the 20th century - not decent enough for you?

Not unless you want it to look straight out of the 1980s, no. And RA2 and the associated signage, I'm afraid, does.

 

[Energy]

Anne Marie Trevalyn spoke at Tory conference today didn't specifically raise GBR but said



at least acknowledges something needs to change and she seems to want to get the strikes resolved although without saying anything about whether more money is on offer



reported by Evening Standard

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/pol...association-transport-secretary-b1030211.html

While the railway is still in dispute with the unions I expect not too many big announcements which the unions could take interest in (e.g GBR) with it being played safe for now.

Much better than Shapps with his "unofficial strike action".

 

[yorksrob]

The railway priority for this Government (however long it lasts) ought to be getting the trains running to some semblance of normality. That seems enough of a challenge right now.

 

[Thirteen]

I reckon GBR will be put on ice for now but I could see it being revived by Labour in some form if they get at the next election.

I'm fairly certain Truss has repeatedly stated she plans to introduce minimum service legislation.

It's been touted by the Conservatives since 2019 and it still hasn't happened.

Anne Marie Trevalyn spoke at Tory conference today didn't specifically raise GBR but said



at least acknowledges something needs to change and she seems to want to get the strikes resolved although without saying anything about whether more money is on offer



reported by Evening Standard

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/pol...association-transport-secretary-b1030211.html

Anne-Marie Trevelyan does seem a lot less confrontational compared to Shapps who was always picking a fight, whether it was with the unions or with Sadiq Khan and TfL.

 

[RobShipway]

I doubt that it will happen, but hopefully with Anne-Marie Trevelyan as Transport Secretary there will be a lot less conflicts between Government, Unions and the local transport authorities which are not run by conservative members of party.

To be honest I never saw the point of GBR and did think it was a waste of money when you have already got in many ways a good platform with using BR, especially with using the existing signs at stations.

 

[yorksrob]

Anne-Marie Trevelyan does seem a lot less confrontational compared to Shapps who was always picking a fight, whether it was with the unions or with Sadiq Khan and TfL.

That's one of the few elements of hope with this government.

 

[Bald Rick]

It's been touted by the Conservatives since 2019 and it still hasn't happened.

Its coming this time though.

 

[yorksrob]

Its coming this time though.

Having experienced this Saturday just gone, I'm becoming more sympathetic to the idea. Afterall, if the passenger railway is so insignificant that we can let vast swathes of the country go without a train service several times a year, why did we bother keeping it going during lockdown.

 

[Energy]

Having experienced this Saturday just gone, I'm becoming more sympathetic to the idea. Afterall, if the passenger railway is so insignificant that we can let vast swathes of the country go without a train service several times a year, why did we bother keeping it going during lockdown.

Ideally we'd adopt a similar method to other countries with barriers being locked open and no ticket checks on strike days.

 

[yorksrob]

Ideally we'd adopt a similar method to other countries with barriers being locked open and no ticket checks on strike days.

That would be the best solution. Maximum disruption to Government/management, less to third parties.

 

[Energy]

That would be the best solution. Maximum disruption to Government/management, less to third parties.

Mass disruption to everyone gets them PR, which the unions currently want. Currently the public's perspective is more positive though I suspect this will shift with more strikes.

 

[eldomtom2]

Ideally we'd adopt a similar method to other countries with barriers being locked open and no ticket checks on strike days.

Unfortunately I believe that is illegal in the UK.

 

[yorksrob]

Unfortunately I believe that is illegal in the UK.

Fundamentally, the Government isn't an impartial bystander, so it's not in its interest to change it. It would shift the inconvenience away from passengers onto itself.

It's telling that other, more sensible countries have this option.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Its coming this time though.

Maybe but surely depends on whether the back seat drivers now running the Tory party agree!!

 

[eldomtom2]

Maybe but surely depends on whether the back seat drivers now running the Tory party agree!!

Tufton Street is all for minimum service levels, and some have even proposed going further...

 

[Mag_seven]

Can we try and keep this thread discussing the likelihood of GBR not happening and not go down the current rail strikes rabbit hole.

thanks