NETWORK RAIL AND IN-HOUSE MAINTENANCE

Motion Text

That this House congratulates Network Rail on its decision to take over direct responsibility for maintenance of the rail infrastructure in the Reading area; notes that Network Rail may consider taking back in-house 'one or two other contract areas in other parts of the network'; considers that these moves mark another very significant stage on the route back to a publicly owned integrated national railway system, accountable ultimately to Parliament and thus to the taxpayer and the travelling public; welcomes the decision as further concrete evidence of the failure of rail privatisation and of private contracting in the railway industry which has seen costs multiply; and looks forward to similar sensible decisions by Network Rail in the near future.