Christian Wolmar

As negotiations over the Private Public Partnership for the Tube, lasting over four years, approach conclusion, the obvious question is whether the whole debacle of the national railway will be repeated. The PPP contracts are in their final stage of consultation with the two successful bidders - Tube Lines and Metronet - eager to sign them on June 22. However, there are still a lot of possible pitfalls on the way, ...

Operation, maintenance and renewal of the infrastructure have effectively been renationalised with the promise of long-term Government support by the creation of Network Rail. But, asks CHRISTIAN WOLMAR, why can’t ministers stop playing games and just admit it? The headlines were predictable. ‘U-turn by Byers over Railtrack bail-out’ and so forth. On the face of it, that is correct. Mr Byers made some silly statements, playing to the Labour backbench gallery, ...