A SHAMBOLIC descent into chaos that left thousands of passengers facing Christmas railway misery was laid bare yesterday in a blow-by-blow report revealing contractors’ failure as the cause.
Unions demanded the return of engineering work to public hands following the findings of a Network Rail (NR) probe.
Signal replacement into London Paddington could not be passed as safe due to errors and discrepancies by subcontractors carrying out the work.
The HS2 debacle exposes what happens when public infrastructure is handed to private contractors – especially when set against China’s state-led high-speed rail success, says CARLOS MARTINEZ
On the eve of the 157th Trades Union Congress, MICK WHELAN, general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, celebrates victory in his campaign to get dignity for drivers at work


