1 December 2011
Put The Fat Controller on a diet
Response to 'Red Tape Challenge' identifies rail industry cost savings & benefits for passengers
Transform Scotland [1], the sustainable transport alliance, has today (Thursday 1 December) submitted its response to the Cabinet Office's 'Red Tape Challenge' on railways, [2] identifying changes which would both benefit passengers and reduce industry costs. [3]
Transform Scotland spokesperson Paul Tetlaw commented:
"The railway industry has been burdened with a plethora of rules and regulations aimed at providing greater safety but which are out of proportion to the risks envisaged. There is no level playing field for rail as such requirements are often not faced by the road transport sector.
"We have identified a number of issues. Luggage lockers have been taken out of use because they are a perceived bomb threat despite the fact that whole road vehicles can be parked beside and sometimes inside rail stations. Litter bins are still not available in stations despite their presence literally only yards away in adjoining buildings, while the army of bollards currently being installed outside train stations do not also appear to stretch to many other popular public locations such as shopping centres and tourist attractions.
"The UK Government has rightly indicated that it wants to reduce rail industry costs. We believe that removal of some of these inconsistent safety rules and regulations would reduce the unreasonable cost burdens on the railway industry whilst improving the experience for rail passengers."
Transform Scotland's full response is available at <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/GetFile.aspx?ItemId=500>.
The Cabinet Office is receiving responses on its website until 8 December -- and Transform Scotland is encouraging the public to submit its own responses.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
[1] Transform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport groups - see <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/members.aspx> for details.
[2] Details of the 'Red Tape Challenge' consultation is available at <http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/themehome/rail-transport/>.
[3] Transform Scotland's response is available at <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/GetFile.aspx?ItemId=500>.
[4] See <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fat_Controller> for the 'Fat Controller' reference -- in particular as used by Private Eye in its 'Thomas the Privatised Tank Engine' satire: <http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thomas-Privatised-Tank-Engine-Hislop/dp/1857800222/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322725487&sr=8-1>.
[5] The response from Campaign for Better Transport is available at <http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/red_tape>. CBT's responses is complementary to our own. While we have identified what could reasonably be removed in order to reduce excessive cost on the railway, CBT's response centres around existing passenger rights that should not be removed.
END OF NEWS RELEASE