Cleopatra Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has thrown himself down at the feet of Richard Branson, apologising profusely for giving Virgin the push from the West Coast Mainline, saying that his department got their sums wrong when deciding who to award the franchise to. The deal to award it to FirstGroup has been scrapped. An appalled Mr Mcloughlin accepted that deeply regrettable and unacceptable mistakes were made by his department. The government will no longer contest the judicial review. However that does not mean that Richard Branson will be able to continue playing with his train set because it is likely that the line will be nationalised until a new bid process can begin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has thrown himself down at the feet of Richard Branson, apologising profusely for giving Virgin the push from the West Coast Mainline, saying that his department got their sums wrong when deciding who to award the franchise to. The deal to award it to FirstGroup has been scrapped. An appalled Mr Mcloughlin accepted that deeply regrettable and unacceptable mistakes were made by his department. The government will no longer contest the judicial review. However that does not mean that Richard Branson will be able to continue playing with his train set because it is likely that the line will be nationalised until a new bid process can begin. Yet another "faux pas" by the 'Billy Blunders' of the present government 'comedy show!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 They are having two,count them, two independent reviews into what went wrong and what lessons can be learnt from this. we may even get to find out who is to blame.(or who got the brown envelopes at least). In the meantime it is business as usual for Mr Branson until they get the next round of bids in and award the contract properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egbert Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 The blame appears to lie with civil servants, who are probably the same people who made similar mistakes under the last Government. One would hope they will not remain in their jobs. While this is clearly a regrettable situation, it is obviously better than doing nothing and pretending nothing was wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 The blame appears to lie with civil servants, who are probably the same people who made similar mistakes under the last Government. One would hope they will not remain in their jobs. While this is clearly a regrettable situation, it is obviously better than doing nothing and pretending nothing was wrong. Civil servants or not, they work for the government and irrespective of the party the government shoulders the blame!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Given that opinion polls have consistently supported re-nationalisation - why not just nationalise it? Ooops forgot, the same civil servants would probably finish up running it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Three DfT officials have been suspended (no doubt on full pay) while investigations are being carried out. The fiasco of scrapping the process of the franchise will cost the taxpayers 40 million pounds. I think the UK needs an overlord to curtail the excessive spending of the government and governmental departments. Not forgetting local governments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianR Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 2 franchises and the whole infracstructure (network rail) are nationalised and run by government albeit at arms length. Oh and some of the train leasing companies are owned by banks majority owned by UK government. Wouldnt be a big step to go the whole hog especially if First dropped out mid contract on the West Coast. (see GNER for previous example now run as East Coast by the government). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza1946 Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 From all accounts, most people seem to think Richard Branson's train set is quite a good one (or maybe the best of a bad bunch ) I would make sense to allow him to continue until its sorted out imho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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