How fruitful will rail alliances be?

摘要

Steve King's analysis (NCE_9 August) provides a more thorough summary of the pitfalls of Alliances within the UK's dysfunctional railway industry than I have seen anywhere else. One point not mentioned is how, when Network Rail and the Train Operating Companies become "one", do we ever get fair competition when the franchise comes up for renewal again? That will no doubt provide plenty to exercise the minds of numerous civil servants and their lawyers in 15 years' time?