David Cameron’s reshuffle has removed the two senior ministers at the Department for Transport. Theresa Villiers goes off to Northern Ireland – a completely new portfolio for her. Everyone should wish her well. Writes industry commentator
Meanwhile Justine Greening gives up the Secretary of State for Transport job to be International Development Secretary. Much is being made of the Heathrow Airport question, with London mayor Boris Johnson sounding off about that.
But will the rail industry miss Justine Greening?
Industry insiders say not. Justine Greening seemed to view railways as trains filled with voters. So she was always happy to be seen doing things at stations, where passengers would notice her and, perhaps, vote for her.
But the rail industry, that employs 200,000 people and is worth billions of pounds a year, didn’t interest her. The shiny trains full of voters did, but the dirty tracks and bridges and engineering didn’t. She would go to events organised by enthusiasts, but not ones organised by engineers.
The HLOS – the Government’s statement of funds that will be spent on the railway – was launched at a train depot. Greening didn’t go – she let Cameron and Clegg do it.
So the industry didn’t take to her, just as she hadn’t taken to them.
So no – Greening won’t be missed. Can the new bloke start tomorrow?
The new bloke has a record in aviation. All he will see is voters in planes, and hoardes of businessmen lobbying for the third runway at Heathrow.
Who the hell is your industry commentator? That’s hardly insightful and enlightening, is it? Wouldn’t go to events organised by engineers, eh? Sounds like your contributor has an axe to grind.
“The HLOS – the Government’s statement of funds that will be spent on the railway – was launched at a train depot. Greening didn’t go – she let Cameron and Clegg do it.”
Really? Or did the Prime Minister (that’s her boss, you know) and his deputy pull rank to get the kudos?
So can we now save some money and time by scrapping the pointless quango for trainspotters at the public’s expense, the Rail Delivery Group?
To Andy Wood on the faceache comments;
But didn’t the Thatcher administration oversee a period of massive investement in the Railways?
The ECML Electrification for example was, from authorisation to completion, totally overseen by her administration as was the building of the bulk of the 2nd generation DMU fleet.
And, as a local resident, could I point out that the Manchester line beyond Matlock was closed in 1968, under a Labour administration.