Railways under Theresa May administration

[thenorthern]

Given that Theresa May is now the prime minister I was wondering what her government's policy on railways will be.

From what I have heard the government may look at scrapping HS2 which I think could be a strong possibility.

There are also a number of franchises coming up for renewal soon and I wonder who they will be awarded to.

Has anyone else heard any talk of changes to railway policy coming in the next government?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I think we can expect a change of ministers at the DfT.
Patrick McLoughlin has done 4 years (he arrived just before the ICWC debacle).
This is a much longer time than normal, I think he has done well to keep the ship upright despite several storms.
Next most important is the Chancellor (Northern Powerhouse etc), and that may change too.
Easing up on "austerity" might mean less money for infrastructure.

As far as I can tell, Theresa herself is not anti-HS2 (Andrea Leadsom was).
I think HS2 is too far down the road to cancel, given it has got through the Commons and contracts are about to be let.
Doubtless it will take a week or two until the new team starts making decisions.
Rail is hardly the priority of the moment, compared to Brexit negotiation.
Network Rail might be affected if there is any big change in spending priorities.
Franchising policy or its timetable isn't going to change.

 

[Servotech Rail]

I think HS2 will still go ahead, and after the last series of trains being supplied by Siemens Hitachi and Caf , I would be amazed if Alstom and Bombardier miss out this time around.

 

[northwichcat]

I think HS2 will still go ahead, and after the last series of trains being supplied by Siemens Hitachi and Caf , I would be amazed if Alstom and Bombardier miss out this time around.

Bombardier missed out to CAF for both TPE and Northern because they didn't offer a self-powered option, only an electric only Aventra.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

... and after the last series of trains being supplied by Siemens Hitachi and Caf , I would be amazed if Alstom and Bombardier miss out this time around.

Bombardier missed out to CAF for both TPE and Northern because they didn't offer a self-powered option, only an electric only Aventra.

What's that got to do with the change of PM?
Procurement policy won't change until we actually leave the EU (2019?) and even then is unlikely to exclude foreign bidders (like Hitachi and Bombardier).

 

[Philip Phlopp]

I should imagine HS2 is probably a little safer after today's UK Debt Management Office auction results.

UK Government 10 Year bonds have gone negative, with a yield of -1.578%, which means we're being paid by investors to borrow money.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Bombardier missed out to CAF for both TPE and Northern because they didn't offer a self-powered option, only an electric only Aventra.

Bombardier keeps busy by work on contracts and add-ons that avoid going out to tender or by working on those that go out to tender that can only be won by Bombardier (by requiring compatibility with existing stock or some other technical requirement only their stock meets).

It took UK buyers long enough to realise you can meet EU tendering rules whilst excluding everybody but the company you want to win.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What's that got to do with the change of PM?
Procurement policy won't change until we actually leave the EU (2019?) and even then is unlikely to exclude foreign bidders (like Hitachi and Bombardier).

There *is* no UK owned bidder. Therefore it is likely to go to the cheapest, possibly with a condition of being manufactured in the UK.

 

[me123]

I wouldn't expect Mrs May to hugely change the railways policy, at least not any time before 2020. There's a lot happening in British Politics as of late, and I expect the government's approach to the railways to be largely unchanged over the next few years.

In terms of the 2020 election... if somehow she manages to steer us through Brexit and come out the other side electable (in which case she could possibly become one of our greatest PMs, as much as it loathes me to say that), that's when I think any changes to the railways will materialise.

 

[MidlandMainlie]

I think we can expect a change of ministers at the DfT.
Patrick McLoughlin has done 4 years (he arrived just before the ICWC debacle).
This is a much longer time than normal, I think he has done well to keep the ship upright despite several storms.
Next most important is the Chancellor (Northern Powerhouse etc), and that may change too.
Easing up on "austerity" might mean less money for infrastructure.

As far as I can tell, Theresa herself is not anti-HS2 (Andrea Leadsom was).
I think HS2 is too far down the road to cancel, given it has got through the Commons and contracts are about to be let.
Doubtless it will take a week or two until the new team starts making decisions.
Rail is hardly the priority of the moment, compared to Brexit negotiation.
Network Rail might be affected if there is any big change in spending priorities.
Franchising policy or its timetable isn't going to change.

Patrick McLoughlin said a few weeks ago in the Derby Telegraph when he backed her leadership that Theresa May has been a strong supporter of HS2 in cabinet. The Telgraph (national) has also reported she is keen to press ahead with the scheme to provide an economic stimulus. If the rumours are true and Philip Hammond becomes the next Chancellor then that is also good news as former transport secretary who oversaw the early stages of HS2.

In terms of general rail policy/Network Rail nothing much will change, franchises will continue to be let and the CP5 programme will continue to the revised Hendy schedule.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Rail is hardly the priority of the moment, compared to Brexit negotiation.

Rail is seen naturally as the be-all and end-all on this particular website, not surprisingly, but if the electorate were given a hypothetic opportunity to give a list of their ten top priorities, where do website members, hands on heart, really think where rail would be placed?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

What's that got to do with the change of PM?
Procurement policy won't change until we actually leave the EU (2019?) and even then is unlikely to exclude foreign bidders (like Hitachi and Bombardier).

Well said. Thanks for bringing the actuality of reality into play on that particular matter.

 

[bnm]

Rail is seen naturally as the be-all and end-all on this particular website, not surprisingly, but if the electorate were given a hypothetic opportunity to give a list of their ten top priorities, where do website members, hands on heart, really think where rail would be placed?

Eleventh.

 

[PeterC]

Actually Cameron remains PM until he goes to the palace. We are still waiting for that

/PEDANT

Hopefully with the government's attention on Brexit they will be too preoccupied to interfere too much with the railways.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Philip Hammond replaces George Osborne as Chancellor.
Was Transport Secretary when the current major projects were given the final go-ahead (Crossrail, GW/NW electrification), after being "paused".
But he killed off Airtrack.
Not known for what we might call the "vision thing".

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Philip Hammond replaces George Osborne as Chancellor.
Was Transport Secretary when the current major projects were given the go-ahead (Crossrail, GW/NW electrification).
But he killed off Airtrack.
Not known for what we might call the "vision thing".

Airtrack was a walking corpse from the day the daft thing was first thought of - there were simply too many level crossings for it ever to be viable.

The proper scheme is North Downs Line electrification + Western Rail Access to Heathrow (WRATH).

 

[G136GREYHOUND]

Rail is seen naturally as the be-all and end-all on this particular website, not surprisingly, but if the electorate were given a hypothetic opportunity to give a list of their ten top priorities, where do website members, hands on heart, really think where rail would be placed?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Well said. Thanks for bringing the actuality of reality into play on that particular matter.

That's a very accurate posting, hand on heart, almost nowhere

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Which electrification schemes might get pushed back or axed?

 

[Harbornite]

Which electrification schemes might get pushed back or axed?

Maybe the MML will be postponed again?

 

[thenorthern]

Maybe the MML will be postponed again?

No East Midlands MPs in the cabinet yet so maybe.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Maybe the MML will be postponed again?

Very unlikely, given the focus Theresa has already placed on infrastructure, and the talk of infrastructure bonds.

The UK Government might want to cut back on infrastructure spending in future years, but they need to show the UK is open for business and still spending to improve productivity.

I'd say we really need to increase infrastructure spending right now, it's too low in comparison to other countries, as is R&D spending, thought the recent uplift in rail spending has earned the UK considerable positive attention globally.

Electrification is now taking a position within Network Rail spending that makes any cancellations virtually impossible for a number of reasons: it can increase capacity on lines, it allows more reliable trains, it allows lighter trains with lower track access costs, it reduces particulate emissions and it cuts transport carbon emissions.

 

[Esmenfif]

Can someone please quash the 'administration' and give us a proper government?

 

[Harbornite]

Electrification is now taking a position within Network Rail spending that makes any cancellations virtually impossible for a number of reasons: it can increase capacity on lines, it allows more reliable trains, it allows lighter trains with lower track access costs, it reduces particulate emissions and it cuts transport carbon emissions.

It is hard to argue against infrastructure works such as electrification. I'm rather biased towards the West Midlands on the issue and would rather see Nuneaton/ Derby- Birmingham- Bristol and Wolverhampton- Shrewsbury- Crewe/ Manchester being done first.

 

[Trog]

Rail is seen naturally as the be-all and end-all on this particular website, not surprisingly, but if the electorate were given a hypothetic opportunity to give a list of their ten top priorities, where do website members, hands on heart, really think where rail would be placed?

But looking at it the other way which 1960's industrial/political figure is still a household name, for making the railway smaller. When all his contemporaries are long forgotten.

 

[swt_passenger]

Isn't the whole point of control periods, HLOS etc that things don't change on the whim of a new SofS or Minister?

 

[thenorthern]

Not necessarily associated with Westminster an interesting thing I was talking about with a senor politician who is trying to bring devolution to Greater Manchester is that there is no denying it many of the city regions in England asking for devolution so they can "spend their own money" are areas that receive a much greater spending to taxation ratio which will have to change meaning that if these areas want devolution can't expect to receive the amount of public spending they do today as it would be unfair on areas that pay more in tax than what they take out.

Regarding the railways in Greater Manchester it would mean things like the Northern Hub would still get Westminster funding as it benefit the whole region but things like Metolink extensions may not get Westminster funding the same as if the area wants to spend its own money it has to get its own money in the first place.

 

[CosherB]

Regarding the railways in Greater Manchester it would mean things like the Northern Hub would still get Westminster funding as it benefit the whole region but things like Metolink extensions may not get Westminster funding the same as if the area wants to spend its own money it has to get its own money in the first place.

And no EU funding.

 

[AM9]

And no EU funding.

Well all that which would have been EU funded can come out of the £350m that we will have sloshing around in the Treasury. Problem solved, Brexit is the ultimate panacea to all of our problems.

 

[blotred]

Rail is seen naturally as the be-all and end-all on this particular website, not surprisingly, but if the electorate were given a hypothetic opportunity to give a list of their ten top priorities, where do website members, hands on heart, really think where rail would be placed?

You say that, but I am pretty sure the commuters of Sussex/Surrey/South London etc would have something to say about the current debacle on GTR, and that may rate in the 5-10 range of their list of priorities....

My mum, dad and sister (not rail enthusiasts, daily Southern users) put the blame squarely on the Government, and I am sure we are not the only ones. Its hard to worry about the economy or taxation when you spend hours delayed weekly getting to place of work to contribute to tax or the economy.

 

[miami]

Perhaps Simon Kirby could be transport minister? Brighton MP with a slim majority = plenty of incentive to get it fixed

 

[najaB]

Well all that which would have been EU funded can come out of the £350m that we will have sloshing around in the Treasury.

Oh... Didn't you get the memo?

 

[najaB]

Can someone please quash the 'administration' and give us a proper government?

Something that I think we've all been asking for since the mid-1990's!