Protesters voice anger to Transport Secretary
ON his arrival to the conference, Mr McLoughlin was greeted by a small group of protesters angry at proposed cuts to the rail industry.
The McNulty Report tasked the industry to make billions of pounds worth of cost savings to make rail better value for money. It found that UK railways were 20% more expensive than their European counterparts.
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Mr McLoughlin at the entrance of Derbyshire County Cricket Ground, where he was greeted by protesters.
But the Rail, Maritime and Transport union fears that the cuts could lead to job losses and station closures.
Richie Veitch, from the RMT, who was among yesterday's protesters, said: "The McNulty Report will destroy 20,000 jobs, close stations and ticket offices, reduce services and cause hefty price rises."
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But speaking at the rail forum event, Mr McLoughlin said: "We inherited a rail industry network that was too expensive – £3.5 billion too expensive.
"The protesters were particularly concerned at the possibility of ticket office closures. We have got to serve the passengers well. We need to look at the whole area of ticketing. That is why we are carrying out a major review which we will report on in the summer."
7 Comments
by dianae
Sunday, February 10 2013, 3:07PM
“barmyburke
The well paid civil servants are the ones that messed up the First/ Virgin franchise bid - the case that has wasted hundreds of thousands of tax payers money already.”
by Neo_MadBadger
Saturday, February 09 2013, 6:04PM
“Hmm, politicians are generally smart people. They use civil servants for sure, but let's not forget they have to deal with strategic issues rather than tactical ones, such as Janine experienced in her job.”
by janine2011
Saturday, February 09 2013, 5:22PM
“As a former Transport Manager responsible for hundreds of lorries and their drivers from 7.5 tonnes up to artics getting them from A to B and back again, along with booking them in for services/inspections and MOTs therefore I have more experience than Patrick McLoughlin in respect of transport and I didn't need anyone holding my hand to do my job for over 20 years either. Without the ones in the background feeding him everything he needs to know he wouldn't have a clue. Transport Secretary, don't make me laugh.”
by WillCroft3
Saturday, February 09 2013, 3:48PM
“The problem is if you close ticket offices then vandals move in and deter customers from using that station, I can remember when Spondon station had staff, and you had someone to ask if you were unsure of train times; and it was nice to wait in a heated waiting room on a cold day.”
by Tamas
Saturday, February 09 2013, 10:23AM
“And how many of these civil servants are ex-wagon drivers, transport managers, road workers etc I wonder?
Pen pushers running our country using paperwork as a guide.”
by barmyburke
Saturday, February 09 2013, 9:40AM
“As a minister he is just the stooge, or front man. He has an army of well paid civil servants behind him to tell him what to say and do.”
by Tamas
Saturday, February 09 2013, 8:43AM
“This is my biggest problem with politics and politicians. Patrick McLoughlin has a background as a farmer and miner, so what qualifies him to be 'Transport Secretary'? I just don't get it.”