Posted 14th October 2011 | 3 Comments

Philip Hammond leaves Transport in 'mini-reshuffle'

THE TRANSPORT SECRETARY Philip Hammond is moving to the Ministry of Defence, following the resignation of defence secretary Liam Fox. His replacement is Putney MP Justine Greening.

Mr Hammond has been in the top political job at the Department for Transport since the election in May 2010, and has overseen the launch of the controversial McNulty report into railway 'value for money' as well as supporting higher rises in train fares and the construction of High Speed Two, which is set to be the first domestic High Speed line in Britain.

He has also presided over and backed the award of the £1.4 billion Thameslink rolling stock contract to German-owned Siemens -- a move which has been bitterly criticised in some quarters, particularly in the East Midlands where the losers Bombardier would have built the fleet of 300 trains.

He leaves as Network Rail is poised to move into a new era, with devolution of day-to-day management to route level due to take place on 14 November.

This change is being accompanied by hopes that Network Rail's new route managing directors will be able to contain costs more effectively, particularly as the routes will be financially compared with each other over time through a system of benchmarking.

Mr Hammond will be handing the draft of a forthcoming railway White Paper to his successor.

His most controversial remark was probably his description of railway travel as often being a 'rich man's toy', when he was being questioned by the House of Commons Transport Select Committee a few weeks ago.

Reader Comments:

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  • G.MORGAN, Honiton, England

    Can't say I'm sad to see him go!

  • Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex

    So back to Transport Secretary that changes more often than the signals at Waterloo. Wonder if his replacement knows what the standard guage is?

    Given the circumstances it would have been better if Norman Baker had been given his role for at least he seems to have a background `knowledge of his brief!

  • Joel Kosminsky, London, Britain

    Yet again transport is the revolving door of politics - 'and the next lucky winner is...' No wonder we have an incoherent transport policy; no-one's there long enoguh (in any government) to understand the issues let alone do something sensible, integrated, sustainable and long-term.