Rail Timetabling
Debate between Lord Young of Cookham and Baroness Sugg(5 years, 11 months ago)
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Baroness Sugg
My Lords, on the constant interference of politicians in the railway system, it is absolutely the department’s responsibility to ensure that the railway is run well. When it is not run well, as in this case, then of course politicians will get involved. I entirely agree that the railways should be run by professionals. With the long-term franchises which the franchising system has brought in, there are five-year or seven-year periods in which to run the railways, and of course Network Rail is run separately. We think the head of the ORR is the right person to carry out the independent inquiry, and I am sure he will consult experts. He will be working very closely with the franchises, the department and Network Rail to try to understand exactly what went wrong.
Lord Young of Cookham (Con)
My Lords, there is a keen appetite to ask questions of the Minister and we will make more progress if the questions are short.