Mixed responses on Shaw report

Labour has slammed the Shaw Review’s scoping document, with Shadow Transport Secretary Lilian Greenwood promising to oppose any privatisation of Network Rail.

“This report opens the door to the total privatisation of Britain’s railways. Network Rail needs to improve, but more fragmentation and more privatisation are the last things we need,” she said.

“The last time the Tories sold off our rail infrastructure it was a disaster that put passengers in danger. There can be no going back to the dark days of Railtrack.”

Greenwood called for a plan based around “more integration and taking the franchises into public ownership”.

She was backed by Trades Union Congress General Secretary Frances O’Grady, who said: “Our message to policymakers is clear - we would warn against a return to the days of privatised rail infrastructure, which resulted in years of underinvestment. The last thing the travelling public needs is more fragmentation of our rail network and more money being siphoned off to shareholders.”

• For more on this, read RAIL 788, published on November 25.