Crossrail

[SleepyOne]

Why is Nick Taylor determined to turn this into a London vs the country slanging match?

All I have done is highligh very clearly three point on which it appears there is not a level playing field and which very severely hamper public transport provision outside of the capital.

Each part of the country should be treated equally and be afforded the same opportunities to improve their public transport as they see fit. For example....

• Crossrail being financed to account for inflation whereas, inexplicably, tram systems around the country have seemingly NOT been afforded that same priviledge.
  
• Be it light rail schemes within London being able to take advantage of rolling stock leasing arrangements due to (apparently) the more devolved administrative set up down there.
  
• Be it a regulated bus system in London (again, not yet an option for busses outside of the capital) that has consequently been able to take advantage of obscene amounts of public subsidy.

And of course dont underestimate the lobbying power of the media and big business - witness how a regional story such as a tube strike makes national news for instance. All credit of course to Manchester's concerted efforts which have forced Metrolink up the political agenda somewhat.



All the above taken together with the sustained and substantial investment in public transport infrastructure over generations within London and the South East, is it any wonder that London's public transport useage (and hence its economic vitality and therefore its argument for further investment) is that much greater than anywhere else?

Labour have comprehensively FAILED the core cities where it comes to vital sub regional public infrastructure provision. This is a major issue and deserves to be highlighted time and again.

And then I went on to highlight how government policy is not remotely consistent or joined up - witness the contrary approach of the ODPM and the DfT.

As if this iniquitous set up wasn't bad enough but you have the ODPM and its local partners striving to regenerate the North and create joined-up, holistic strategies yet a Department for Transport that utterly fails to take into account the integral role of public transport provision and the real regenerative benefits that such investments can have in deprived areas.

Joined up government? Don't make me laugh.

These are relevant points and simply cannot be ignored. We are being sold short by Labour and this is not something I say lightly as a staunch supporter.