By an RMT member *BACK to the Golden Age of Trains' ran the headline in the Daily Mail, reporting that the government is 'planning a rebirth of the fiercely proud and independent Victorian railway companies.
According to this report the overnment is planning to privatise on the basis of regional firms. Just like the 'good old days!
This will no doubt infuriate BR management waka has mooooood the now business structure (Inter City Network South East, Regional Rail ways, Freight etc) in preparation for privatisation on the basis of the dil. ferent services rather than regional areas.
The differinces the covernment have with Bob Reid (BR Chairman) are not over the question of whether to privatise, but over how to do R.
Cutbacks
Although the cabinet has yet to rash a mal decision on the nature of the proposals, one thing is certain; there wil be big cut-backs in provincial services. Indeed a leaked BR report indicates that there are alwhich services would be struck off the list of Inter City routes should it be privatised.
The dithering over how to privatise is a result of the sheer complexities which will result from breaking up the system.
Aiready the justments to the business structure have created chaos, with arguments between diferent managements over who pays for what stance, wouk inter City have to pay to any track authorty of regional tas way for travelling over their tracks?
On the other hand, dividing the system on a regional basis could lead to just as many problems. Wil a passenger traveling from Bnghton to Glasgow be forced to buy a separate ticket for each of the areas she passes through?
It's clear from the changes already in place that breaking up BR will not provide a better service for travellers. of the new business structures - has come under intense articism, even from Tory stalwarts.
Labour government
The union leaders tell us we shall be OK with the return of a Labour government. The privatisation plans will of course be scuppered if the Waiting for Labour? RMT chief Jimmy Knapp However, the Labour Party isnt exactly brimming over with ideas to improve the lot of rail workers of travellers.
To make things even worse, the curopean communky nas passed d directive, due for implementation in 1902. whereby the ral networks ol member countries are supposedtobe opened co to carpoval Open access Operators, other than the national networks are to have open access" to Would a Labour government accode to this directive? Clearty the rai untons snow demand that they do not allow the implementation of this More than this, however, the RMT should take the intiative in drawing together the European rail unions in a Europe-wide campaign against it, and No. 14 Jan. 18, 1992 Page 5
After last term's explosion of militancy - Features THE RACGREGOR