As the country struggles to find ways to cut public spending, Network Rail has begun making suggestions of its own.
Chief executive Iain Coucher has suggested that electrification plans for the North West could be put on hold.
He said: “If the Government wants to phase spending, we can slow down some big projects. Electrification is one such scheme. There is already an inquiry into the purchase of electric trains, so it makes sense to look at that again.”
The trouble is that whilst Network Rail seems perfectly happy to lavish itself with new headquarters, it is quite willing to put back operations which would enhance our rail network.
I know that the two projects are not comparable in size or cost, but that isn’t the point.
An age of austerity should mean that all money should be spent on improving our railways, not the ambience at Network Rail’s offices.
