| Topic: | Re:Ruth Cadbury's Call to Nationalise the Railways | |
| Posted by: | Michael Robinson | |
| Date/Time: | 29/01/20 13:21:00 |
| There is an in-depth analysis of the point about guards and control of train doors here: https://www.londonreconnections.com/2020/guards-in-name-only-dwell-times-and-the-swr-guards-dispute/ There is already precedent for re-nationalisation and privatisation. East Coast main line was taken back under public ownership when National Express walked away from the contract then it was tendered out again 5 or 6 years later. Also in the past the government has put in place commercial arrangements that has allowed them to deal with industrial disputes "at arms length". Generally speaking train operating companies won't want to pick a fight with unions as service disruption will affect their profits. However the government put in place arrangements with Southern that guaranteed them money even through industrial disputes hence the battle about staffing arrangements on Southern trains a few years ago. |