The Commons' Public Accounts Committee has published its report into the Department of Transport: Letting of Rail Franchises 2005-2007.
Predictably the media focused upon the PAC's call to make discounted fares more easily available to those without internet access.
However, as those without internet access won't be reading the Eye probably not worth focusing on this overly much.
Of greater interest is the criticism the PAC reserved for the Government's endless spin over the alleged 1,300 vehicles the department keeps promising the network.
The PAC report stated:
The Department promises of bringing 1,300 new rail carriages into service by 2014 look over-optimistic.
There are only 423 on order so far, and another 150 carriages are the subject of negotiations. It takes 30 to 36 months to mobilise the supply chain, suggesting deliveries running into 2011–2012 for the current work in progress.
If Daft were an owner group, and this piss-poor rate of delivery were translated into a Public Performance Measure, it would forfeit its franchises.
Now there's an idea!
