“There are welcome steps like the abolition of the SRA,
devolution to Wales, Scotland and London and the transfer of some
operational responsibilities to Network Rail.
However the review was designed to end the fragmentation of
the railway network that resulted from the disastrous Tory
privatisation. The review has not done so. We will still have ten or
more train operating companies, Network Rail, the franchising body,
the rail regulator, 6 track renewal companies, 200 contractors and 3
rolling stock companies.
At the end of the review we will continue to have a patchwork of
competing interests, with private profits soaking up billions of
taxpayers money.
RMT fundamentally disagrees with the proposal to transfer
responsibility for passenger safety to the regulator and away from HSE
because of the economic conflicts of interest involved. There will
also be the fragmentation of responsibility for safety since HSE will
still be responsible for rail workers safety.
At the end of the day we will never get a proper railway network
in Britain until the railways are re-nationalised. RMT will continue
to campaign for this”