It looks as if the Conservatives are at it yet again; they do seem to live in a dream world in which the EU does not exist and can therefore be ignored, because the EU is a constant source of conflict within the party, the Conservative leadership wish it not be above the political horizon and do everything possible to make that happen.

The problem is that they then offer up for public consumption some plan or other that conflicts with EU directives or EU treaties, they then ignore the conflicts, as if they, along with the EU did not exist, and refuse to offer an explanation of exatly how they will put into practice their plans which would either break an EU treaty or run directly against an EU directive, or tell us what they would do when the ECJ fines the UK for breaking an EU directive.

With such half-brained ideas it must be hoped that they do not gain power, because if they did they would either have to rethink or drop many of their policies or face the consequences.

Acording to ConservativeHome.com

“The Conservatives have admitted their decision to divide the track and train components of the rail network in 1996 was a mistake which increased costs.” - BBC

“David Cameron, the Tory leader, and Chris Grayling, the Shadow Transport Secretary, will visit Clapham Junction in South London to announce a review of the rail industry that will focus on reuniting wheel and rail.” - The Times

The BBC article says “He will add that the Tories do not want a return to a British Rail structure.” Just as well, as according to Professor Lewis Lesley that would contravene the EU Directives (see below). The Times article says “The party will propose that train operators should be allowed to run their own tracks, with one option being to create regional companies like those that dominated the network before the Second World War.” - presumably with separated accounts inside each regional company. Thanks to all those who have sent me various pieces of information on this in the past - they get filed away!

Comments

I thought the separation of track and trains was an EU requirement.(It is also enshrined in the list of duties for members of Network Rail that they comply with this.)

Posted by: michael mcgough | 17 July 2006 at 08:26

The Major government was excessively euro-enthusiastic over the railways.

Article 1 of the relevant EU Directive 91/440/EEC, of July 29th 1991 stated:

“The aim of this Directive is to facilitate the adoption of the Community railways to the needs of the Single Market and to increase their efficiency … by separating the management of railway operation and infrastructure from the provision of railway transport services, separation of accounts being compulsory and organizational or institutional separation being optional ..”

In any case, it was arguable that under Article 2, all railways in Great Britain were outside the scope of the Directive, with the sole exception of Eurostar.

Since then there has been a clutch of further Directives, and I hope that Grayling has checked these out. According to Lewis Lesley, Professor of Transport at Liverpool John Moores University, writing in the Independent on April 6th 2004:

“… the Railways Directives will prevent a new single BR being formed. This is because railway economics are being put on the same “playing field” as road transport, in order to win traffic back to rail. “Open access” will allow competition to improve services, in place since 2003 for freight and from 2008 for passengers.”

Some at least of the additional Directives were mentioned in this reply from Lord Davies of Oldham to a question from Lord Dykes, February 4th 2005:

“The Government currently expect to transpose the directives (2001/12/EC, 2001/13/EC and 2001/14/EC) by the end of 2005.

Transposing these directives is not expected to have a substantive impact on the railways in Great Britain, which already comply with the vast majority of the directives’ requirements, aiming to open up the European rail market to competition.”

Sorry to be “talking about Europe” so early in the morning.

Posted by: Denis Cooper | 17 July 2006 at 08:37

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 91/440/EEC of 29 July 1991

Whereas the future development and efficient operation of the railway system may be made easier if a distinction is made between the provision of transport services and the operation of infrastructure; whereas given this situation, it is necessary for these two activities to be separately managed and have separate accounts;

SECTION 1

Objective and scope

Article 1

The aim of this Directive is to facilitate the adoption of the Community railways to the needs of the single market and to increase their efficiency;

by ensuring the management independence of railway undertakings;

by separating the management of railway operation and infrastructure from the provision of railway transport services, separation of accounts being compulsory and organizational or institutional separation being optional;

by improving the financial structure of undertakings;

by ensuring access to the networks of Member States for international groupings of railway undertakings and for railway undertakings engaged in the international combined transport of goods.