Latest news with #railways
Telegraph
21 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
We don't need to nationalise our railways to fix them
One of the new Labour Government's first acts was to hand a big wedge of taxpayer cash to already well-paid train drivers, along with a promise of more as rolling rail renationalisation steadily tightens its grip over the next few years. But it hasn't worked. Train strikes have carried on regardless, and now The Telegraph reports there are calls for even more taxpayer subsidies too. It's a grim comment on how bad our railways have become that going back to the 1970s now seems like a good idea. It doesn't have to be this way. There's a proven alternative that passengers are already using, and which they prefer to the big and increasingly state-run monopoly services which let them down so often. Open Access operators like Lumo, Grand Central and Hull Trains are hugely popular and successful because they're cheaper, more reliable and have happier staff with fewer strikes than their government-mandated rivals. The same is true for rail freight too, which has thrived and prospered under an entirely Open Access regime for years. Rather than renationalising, we should boost Open Access services by allowing them to take on more and more of the timetable, and to add new services as well. The state monopolies would be left running a steadily-shrinking rump of services which Open Access providers hadn't yet replaced with something passengers liked better. Even loss-making services could be covered if Open Access firms bid to run them for a lower subsidy than before. This new approach would transform Britain's railways. Rival rail firms would compete for passengers on each route, offering a variety of different prices, quality and styles of service. This would be driven by the knowledge their customers could switch to a rival's service at any time if it was better. The new world would be more resilient too, because when things went wrong with one provider's services other firms would keep operating. And it would be more future-proof with fewer quangos and less red tape as well, because firms could launch new services quickly, at their own risk, without having to wait and see if officials or politicians would approve. Most fundamentally, it would turn Network Rail from a loss-making, subsidy-hungry public bureaucracy into an efficient, commercially-successful and valuable business, because they'd earn their living from rail firms paying a fair price to use the tracks. Suddenly, Network Rail staff would have strong incentives to boost revenues by using safer new technologies to run more services than today, and to cut bloated costs so they could maintain, improve and expand the network far more efficiently in the future as well. Last but certainly not least: the Chancellor of the Exchequer would like it too. Rail subsidies have mushroomed since the pandemic, creating major headaches for a Labour Government that's facing mounting tax and spending pressures almost everywhere they look, with a particularly vicious public spending settlement due in the next few weeks. But switching to Open Access would cut subsidies for the first time in years, creating much-needed headroom in the Treasury's figures. In spite of all this, Labour won't do it. Partly because they're ideologically wedded to renationalisation anyway, but partly because the last Conservative Government allowed nationalisation to become politically entrenched as the only alternative to the timetable meltdowns and strikes that destroyed the old rail franchises. That was a huge mistake, particularly when Open Access was – and still is – a proven, popular alternative that's standing at the platform and ready to depart. It's an argument which we made repeatedly in the dog days of the last Conservative Government, but failed to prod our successors into action. If we'd successfully established Open Access as the practical, growing alternative to renationalisation, Labour's prejudices might have had closer scrutiny. We would no longer have been offering electors a ghastly choice between dreadful 1970s British Rail or failed noughties franchising. Instead the question would have been: 'do you want our railways to move forward or back?' For anyone who's travelled on an Open Access train, or is just plain fed up with having no alternative when their local service lets them down, the answer is easy. Let's hope we will be brave enough to ask it clearly whenever the next election comes around.
Observer
2 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Oman's presence at Expo Osaka to boost Japanese tourism
Undoubtedly, significant efforts have been made to ensure the country's participation in the international expo currently being held in Osaka, Japan. The expo began on April 13, 2025, and will continue until October 13, 2025. Several government agencies, along with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have contributed to the financial cost of sponsoring Oman's presence at this global event, which is held every five years. Several government delegations have also contributed to organizing the expo and made official visits. Recently, an Omani trade delegation from the Chamber participated in this expo and some of its important activities. The Sultanate of Oman has consistently participated in this international event since the nineties of the last century. Its first participation was at the Expo International Exhibition in Madrid, Spain, in 1992. The expo's theme was "The Global Age of Transportation," given the importance of transportation in bringing peoples together and driving human progress. The expo highlighted the transformation of transportation from ancient maritime routes to modern technology, while also showcasing countries' innovations in infrastructure, railways, aviation, and telecommunications. However, the Japan Expo, held on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka, Japan, is expected to attract millions of visitors, providing a unique global platform bringing together more than 160 countries and international organizations. Government institutions and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry are keen to raise awareness of the importance of these international exhibitions. This requires organizing media trips to raise awareness and educate people about the importance of this event. This requires sending more media professionals to discuss this participation and its benefits at the national level, as well as ways to promote Japanese tourism to Oman in the coming years, given the large number of Japanese tourists who travel to various countries around the world annually. Japanese tourists are among the most organized and detail-oriented, and these traits are reflected in their spending patterns and preferred destinations. The average tourist from Japan spends on tourism for example, in Indonesia, around $1,462 per visit in 2022, and approximately $1,300 per visit to cities in the United States. Japanese tourists stay for extended periods, typically about two weeks in the United States, more than 18 days in France, 12 days in Indonesia, and five days in Korea. Now with direct flights between some Gulf cities, such as Dubai and Doha, and other cities in the region, attracting Japanese tourism has become easier. However, it requires companies that can convince the Japanese public to make these visits to Oman, for example. Japanese tourists also prefer group trips, especially older travelers, due to their need for rest and organization, while young people are also eager to experience unique experiences. In general, such international exhibitions provide a great opportunity for countries to promote their national identity and build their image by showcasing their cultures and creativity, which contributes to strengthening their image on the international stage. Through this participation, Oman will work to foster greater cooperation in achieving sustainable development goals, enhancing economic and trade cooperation, and benefiting from future innovations and technologies. This presence at Expo Japan represents a strategic opportunity to enhance its international presence, expand economic and cultural relations, and contribute to building a sustainable and interconnected future, in addition to significantly promoting Japanese tourism to the country. HAIDER AL LAWATI The writer is a Muscat-based economic analyst who previously worked for CBO and OCCI
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
First passenger steam train Locomotion No.1 heading to Derby
The first steam locomotive to haul a passenger-carrying train on a public railway is set to go on display in Derby. Locomotion No.1 was built 200 years ago by Robert Stephenson and Company, a Newcastle-based firm named after the son of "father of the railways" George became the first locomotive to carry passengers on a public train when it was used on the Stockton and Darlington Railway in September locomotive is now set to go on display at train manufacturer Alstom in Derby at a three-day event called The Greatest Gathering, which is part of Railway 200, a year-long celebration marking the creation of the railways. Locomotion No.1 is one of a number of rail vehicles from the UK National Collection which have been loaned to Alstom by the National Railway Museum, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Stephenson and Company became part of Alstom in 1989 as a result of successive managing director Rob Whyte said: "We are very excited that Locomotion No.1 will be joining an already unprecedented roster of historic and modern rolling stock at The Greatest Gathering. "I want to thank the National Railway Museum – and indeed countless other partners across the UK rail industry – for supporting our mammoth event for Railway 200. "We look forward to welcoming ticketholders to Britain's biggest rail celebration later this year."The Greatest Gathering will take place at Alstom's Litchurch Lane site from Friday 1 August to Sunday 3 August, and will show more than 50 rolling stock exhibits.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Railway 200 book created by Essex and Suffolk enthusiasts
The history of Britain's modern railways has been charted in a book celebrating their 200-year across Essex and Suffolk designed the 45-page text with the help of children from three was designed for Railway 200, which is marking the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway opening on 27 September Sumner, who helped to create the book, said all involved were "absolutely thrilled" with the end product. It has been authored by rail expert David Gibson, with pictures drawn by pupils from Maltings Academy, in Witham, and primary schools in Great Totham and book describes the beginnings of the railway and how it changed the world, including its importance during two world Sumner, of the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership, said it took "months of research and development".She added: "I am so grateful to everyone who helped to put it together."Especially David Gibson for his knowledge and commitment, and all the local schoolchildren whose amazing drawings and designs have added so much to the book and really brought it to life."Copies of the book are available on request by emailing Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Tories won't re-privatise railways, leaked audio reveals
The Conservatives will 'probably not' re-privatise the railways, the shadow transport secretary has said. In a recording obtained by The Telegraph, Gareth Bacon told Tory activists that taking passenger trains back into private control was unlikely to be popular with voters by the time of the next general election. South Western Railway entered full state control last weekend after 29 years but engineering works meant passengers needed to board a rail replacement bus for part of its first service. Labour plans to bring all passenger trains into public ownership over the next three years under its flagship Great British Rail (GBR) scheme. Asked about his party's policy on the railways during an event for party members on May 19, Mr Bacon replied: 'If I'm asked today to say what is likely to be our policy of going into the election in four years' time, it very much depends on how GBR is operating at that time. 'I suspect it won't be going as well as what you might like and one of the things I think we'll certainly be looking to do is looking at how we can make that work better. 'Taking a punt today, am I likely to be recommending that we re-privatise the railway in our next manifesto? I would say probably not, because I don't think it would have been bedded in enough at that time for the public to think that that was a good idea. 'But I do remain open-minded to it, and it depends on how GBR is operating closer to the time.' Tories would offer 'radical' alternative On Tuesday, the Tories attacked Labour's nationalisation plan and suggested they would offer a 'radical' and 'accountable' alternative. A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Nationalisation only serves the unions that bankroll the Labour Party. 'Under new leadership, the Conservative Party is undertaking a radical policy renewal programme, one that will stand up for the needs of passengers and fight for a system that is efficient, accountable, and built to serve Britain.' Mr Bacon last week accused Labour of 'taking us back to the 1970s' as those travelling beyond Surbiton on the first nationalised service had to change onto a rail replacement bus. At the same event, he also said it was unlikely that his party would be able to cut the price of rail travel if it returned to power in the future. Asked how the Tories could work to reduce railway fares for the consumer, he said: 'I don't think that is a likely proposition and the reason for that is that inflation doesn't go backwards. 'And I'm afraid that the costs of rail maintenance will constantly go up.' Train drivers received a 15 per cent pay rise from the Labour Government last year, a deal that meant some are receiving payments of up to £600 to work weekend overtime shifts. It represented an olive branch to the unions and brought an end to rail strikes that had been taking place since 2022 at an estimated cost of £850 million to the taxpayer. Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said at the end of last year that the double-digit pay rise for train drivers had made delays and cancellations worse. Mr Bacon's comments come after Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, launched her policy renewal programme in March which aims to rebuild her party's electoral fortunes. The scheme will include a number of policy commissions aimed at drawing up more specific pledges in the coming months and years. Mrs Badenoch's time as leader to date has been overshadowed by the ongoing rise of Reform UK, which has outperformed the Tories in the polls for several months. The success of Reform has prompted internal criticism of Mrs Badenoch from those who believe that she must be more visible and announce a greater number of detailed policies. But the Tory leader has insisted it will take time to rebuild after her party suffered a historic drubbing at last year's general election. In her first major speech, Mrs Badenoch apologised for her party's record on immigration and vowed to take sweeping measures to significantly reduce numbers. She has since declared her opposition to the legally binding 2050 net zero target signed into law by Baroness May, the former Tory prime minister, and backed by all of her predecessors.
