Thread by @AgnesClackett

1/ How’s that levelling up going up North @BorisJohnson ?

Not well at all.

Johnson’s Govt stalling on Northern Powerhouse Rail (what’s that be Ed?)
& funding cuts have angered Northern leaders.
.
The Leeds-Manchester electrification, promised by 2018, still remains in limbo...

2/ Further blows to the Northern Powerhouse include @BorisJohnson Tory Government preparing train service cuts to avoid building Manchester Piccadilly’s extra &800 million platform, also promised by 2018...

3/ And with Northern Transport’s budget halved (less £105 million) @BorisJohnson Tory Govt has scuppered a planned Manchester region wide electronic ticketing system (like London’s oyster) despite pledging in 2011, that such would be a available by 2014
manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-m…

4/ Still amongst the fiasco two old Cumbrian road bridges have been renewed by the Govt-owned Network rail at a cost of £1 million which should benefit the commuters of Manchester no end 🤦‍♀️.

So much for @BorisJohnson Tory election levelling-up promises to the North

On top of broken levelling-up promises to the North, @BorisJohnson Tory Govt revealed that 62,000 rail staff, key workers during the pandemic, face 2year pay freeze due to taxpayers facing a bill for £10 billion to keep the trains running until spring 2021
telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/…

6/ @BorisJohnson Tories like to claim post-Brexit Brexit Britain is confident, independent & free - if so why do Dutch & German Govts still run our trains, collect subsidies (management fees) from British taxpayers & use profits to keep their own train fares more affordable?

7/ Rail services under a decade of Tory rule.

1 Jan 2020 - Franchises owned by foreign companies & govt’s run more than double the number of Britain’s train services than a decade ago - up to 61% from 29% in 2011, when current records began.

itv.com/news/2020-01-0…

8/ Rail services under a decade of Tory rule.

1 Jan 2020 - Italy, Japan, Spain France, Germany, Netherlands, Canada, Hong Kong now run 61% of Britain’s train services - German state operator Deutsche Bahn earned so much cash it’s proposed a 10% fares reduction in Germany

9/ Rail Services under a decade of Tory rule.

1 Jan 2020 - Foreign private & state owned companies from 8 countries - Italy, Japan, Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands, Canada & Hong Kong now run a majority of Britain’s train services.

So much for ‘taking back control’.

9/ It’s clear to see @BorisJohnson Tory Government is intensely relaxed about letting billions of pounds of hard working taxpayers cash leach into the bank accounts of foreign rail companies thereby denying much needed investment in Britain’s creaking rail network.

10/ The Brexit Lie:

Research shows Brexit set to cost UK ⬆️£200BN lost economic growth by year end - on top of economic damage caused by COVID pandemic.

Lost growth = Smaller Economy = Less Tax Income = Less investment in vital infrastructure incl. Rail
thelondoneconomic.com/politics/brexi…

11/ The pandemic has laid bare the fiasco that is Tory rail privatisation - foreign owned rail companies now have the British Government over a barrel.

Despite being spared the full impact of COVID, Abellio, the Dutch subsidiary, is complaining that current fees are too small...

12/ Keeping Dutch rail fares affordable is paramount is appears - in 2019 Dutch fares rose 1.8% whist British train fares rose 2.8%

So paramount, Abellio is paying former Cabinet Office Minister, Tory MP Damian Green as its consultant

Taking Back Control - But not of trains

13/Ministers want rail concessions to retain the best of the private sector - showering cash on firms like Dutch State Rail, guaranteeing they no longer risk financial issues from falling ticket sales
Concessions for foreign firms at the expense of a 2yr pay freeze for rail staff

14/ Taking Back Control.

The Welsh Govt has taken the Wales & Borders rail franchise into public ownership as a response to continuing challenges caused by the Covid pandemic.

The UK Govt retains its ex-franchisees....
railway-news.com/welsh-governme…

15/ Taking Back Control of Rail

@BorisJohnson Govt retains its ex-franchisees, taking all ticket revenue, paying their costs plus fees of 1.5% of costs

Rail subsidy has risen by about £10BN in 2020-21

£10BN would pay for the funding cuts & stalling on Northern Powerhouse Rail

16/ Arriva Rail London (owned by German Govt ) made 11% gross profit from its London Overground concession in 2019-20, delivering an £8M dividend

Crossrail is to be run by by MTR Corp Ltd, a majority state-owned Hong Kong co, as a TfL concession in a similar way to Arriva Rail

17/ Dept for Transport insists rail contracts are awarded through “rigorous, fair & open competition” to bidders offering “the best deal for passengers & the taxpayer”🤦‍♀️

More @BorisJohnson Govt guff - the illusion of control - post-Brexit Britain isn’t safe in Tory hands.

Covid has finished off “rotten to the core” rail privatisation

The reality of the modern British rail network has often been crowded trains, cancelled services & high ticket prices

The public want renationalisation - are Johnson’s Govt listening?
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

@threadreaderapp unroll please