A new ‘guiding mind’ for the rail industry has once again been mooted by Labour, with the party’s more detailed proposals for the railways starting to become clearer in the run-up to May’s General Election.

“As we all know, the industry is still too fragmented,” said Lilian Greenwood in a speech released to RAIL that had earlier been delivered to a select group of senior rail industry delegates at a private event in London in early February.

“It can be seen in the cost of running a network that is up to 40% less efficient than some of its European comparators.
“It could also be seen during the Christmas chaos, when passengers paid the price for poor communication between Network Rail and train operators.
“There is a clear need for better co-ordination. And that’s why the next Labour government is committed to establishing a guiding mind for the railways, to contract routes and co-ordinate services and skills in the industry.”

The policy has made its way to an amendment signed off by the party’s National Policy Forum, which agreed that the next Labour government will promise in its manifesto to “create a new guiding mind for the railways”.

  • For more on this story, read RAIL 768, published on February 18.