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Rail unions were left seething yesterday after coalition beancounters clawed back more than £53 million from Network Rail to subsidise free wifi.
The Office of Rail Regulators chief executive Richard Price said it had levied the £53.1m fine in light of Network Rail falling “significantly short” of punctuality targets — with all cash earmarked for boosting wifi signals on private operators’ trains.
The body reported 86.9 per cent of long-distance services arriving on time last year, against a target of 92 per cent.
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
