Labour have talked about Nationalisation for years, and by next summer will have been in power 2 years.   

It's good there will be a longer term strategy, but theses 2 years should not have been paralysis and limbo status with no interim short term plan.

Not even anything ordered for these oldest stock :
Bakerloo now 50-53 years old, maybe a similar batch to Piccadilly line fleet in 2028-29, but nothing yet decided.

Scotrail HST fleet 43-48 years old, there is a tender but still unclear if interim fleet (possibly 222s ex East Midlands), or new bi-mode trains.  This is Scottish Government not Westminster Government.

GWR night stock, over 40 years old, with locos originally built nearer 60 years ago, but no agreed plan for replacement.

Class 318s, about 40 years old, originally built for Ayrshire electrification.  Scotland has tender for new EMUs and BEMUs

Class 150, now 38-40 years old. Used by multiple operators, only Wales seems to have a plan (when class 398 tram trains enter service, and stock is displaced)

Class 153 & 155, will put these together as some were reclassified, now around 36-37 years old, like 150s not a specific plan for most of remainder

Class 320 (and incorporating some shortened class 321), around 35-38 years old, covered by same tender as class 318

Class 156, another diesel class, 36-37 years old.  Northern has a tender, Scotrail has BEMUs in tender with 318 replacements. But to date no idea has been signed off.

Class 158 & 159, now 33-36 years old with multiple operators, but looking like any replacements won't be in service before 2030.  Dft seems to consider this as Northern phase 2 or part of GWR (and other operators) replacement.

Class 165 & 166, now 33-35 years old, a project Churchward exists, to replace them, but remains more an idea, as no tender has yet been issued. It does however exist on DfT procurement spreadsheet.

Class 465 & 466 the Networkers in South East London, now 32-35 years old, some already gone (indirectly replaced by 707s), there is a proposed tender on DfT procurement spreadsheet, but not issued yet.

For the record, here is link to DfT procurement spreadsheet
https://www.gov.uk/csv-preview/68ba8970d723ba6f74dbaa47/dft-future-commercial-contracts-dft-partners.csv

 

While having a national rolling stock strategy is one benefit of re-nationalisation, it's difficult to see how this can be produced without also having a strategy for electrification, and ensuring it is implemented.

 
My judgment is still well & truly reserved; at the recent Transport Select Committee (TSC) Ms Alexander said that the c. £2bn annual passenger service subsidy absolutely had to be reduced. Shortly thereafter a national rail fare freeze, which she must have sanctioned, was announced. Doesn't exactly smell of joined up thinking does it?

At the same TSC she also stated that fare evasion was an issue that needed to be addressed. In which case a word with GWR wouldn't be a bad start; their repeated failure to check tickets/railcards has become a joke.

 
That rolling stock strategy is due out next summer, according to Lord Hendy. It sounds as though she actually knows about it, which is encouraging in a transport minister.

 


And at least she had a train to sit on the floor of.

From her own constituency:


Previous train - 15:14, next train 21:10, no instructions as to how to get home if - for example - you live in Melksham

 
Well, at least she had some company!

 
From the BBC:

 

If the likes of that sort of source have gone straight on the attack, this implies that her work as transport secretary will be effective, but *looks around* someone needs to buy some trains.

That aside, for Bristol, the Portishead quick win, but with a Leven-style 2 platform terminus pls and thq.

Oh and direct trains between Bristol and Waterloo and sort out London Bridge so travel from various stations in her previous constituency doesn't involve using it as the interchange for which it is most definitely not suited.

Mark

 

I'd rather hear thoughts about how she's going to be better, rather than more "yeah but the Tories"

Guido is hardly the most objective or unbiased of sources, are any of the points he makes inaccurate?

 

You could say the same about any Tory Secretary of State in recent years, except perhaps Anne-Marie Trevelyan who wasn't in post long enough to anything much good or bad. 

 
Guido Fawkes is not impressed by her record to date, describes it as a "train wreck transport career".

 
Welcome, Minister. If I promise not to start searching for skellingtons in your closet, will you sign off the Portishead reopening and send the cheque?

 

Now if only she would reopen Swindon Works   

 

Indeed - I would need to check new boundaries, but I think Swindon Station is half in her constituency?

 
Also represents the Labour constituency closest to Melksham! 

 
A Swindon MP, former deputy mayor for transport in London, and a (newcomer) cyclist. That's a promising CV.

 
From Downing Street: