Chris Grayling was asleep at the wheel during rail timetabling chaos– Andy McDonald

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on the report by the Office of Rail and Road into the rail timetabling chaos in May, said:

"This report shows a railway lacking concern for the interests of passengers and with no one in control.

“The privatised railway is deeply dysfunctional and Chris Grayling, who should have prevented the timetable chaos, was asleep at the wheel. 

“The Transport Secretary has singularly failed in his responsibility to provide a decent, reliable rail service. Were the Prime Minister not in such a desperate situation herself, he would be out of a job.

“The report is right to say that more fundamental change is required but this won't happen while trains are run for profit not public service. To deliver reliable services, we need an integrated network that acts in the interest of passengers, which requires the operation of trains to be brought under public ownership."

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