Expert Advisory Panel appointed to oversee transition to GBR

[whole diary]

[grahame]

The Advisory Panel for the Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT), chaired by Keith Williams, met for the first time today. The Panel has been appointed to oversee, steer and advise the transition team responsible for creating Great British Railways, the new public body that will bring the railways back together and end a quarter century of fragmentation.

The Panel will support the team at GBRTT as they work to deliver the commitments made in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, and to create the foundations for a simpler, better railway for everyone in Britain.  Its members have a wealth of knowledge, skills and leadership experience from across rail and the wider transport sector, as well as infrastructure, business, digital, technology and retail sectors, and will work collaboratively with the GBRTT leadership team to help them deliver a more sustainable railway that better serves the needs of passenger and freight customers.

https://gbrtt.co.uk/our-advisory-panel/

Keith Williams, Chair
Sir Peter Hendy CBE, Vice Chair
Andrew Haines, Deputy Chair
Dyan Crowther
Ismail Amla
Silla Maizey
Tony Poulter
Heidi Mottram
Jeremy Westlake
Jane Mee
Michael Harrison
David Noyes

And that page opens to a short biography for each of them

[JayMac]

Notable that there's no one representing the current frontline staff. Couldn't possibly have a union rep on the panel. 

Oh, and what about a passengers champion?

Why no input from those who actual run and use the railways?

[Electric train]

The diversity is not very good.

There is almost gender match, although none of the 'Chair' rolls are female.

BAME is only tentatively covered by one member who happens to be male.

I wonder how the LGBT is represented.

Only 3 "rail industry' representatives 2 of whom a NR^» (Network Rail - home page) and no one from the existing ToC or FoC

[ChrisB]

It’s a steering group, not the board/management appointments. Surely those appointments make far more sense to get right

[stuving]

It’s a steering group, not the board/management appointments. Surely those appointments make far more sense to get right

If you select those running the railway for their experience and competence, you might want to bring in advisors from a wider range of backgrounds - they are only offering advice, after all.

We are at an earlier stage now, but much the same applies to planning and setting up the management structure - you want that done by those best qualified for doing it.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

It’s called an “Expert” Panel.  I’m not sure that your sexuality or race is relevant  If a useful “expert” happens to be a white middle-aged male, should he be stood aside for someone with less expertise who can help tick the Diversity Box?

[Trowres]

If you select those running the railway for their experience and competence, you might want to bring in advisors from a wider range of backgrounds - they are only offering advice, after all.

We are at an earlier stage now, but much the same applies to planning and setting up the management structure - you want that done by those best qualified for doing it.

You make a good point, Stuving. This group might know a thing or two about organisational structure. But, looking at the GBTT^▸ (Great British Time Table) Call For Evidence (elsewhere on this forum), I note that it is looking for a huge amount of information that is little to do with management structure. Are the advisory group and CFE meant to be complementary and non-overlapping in purpose?

[broadgage]

The cynical view would be that there is no point in having passenger representatives on the advisory panel, because we know what they want.
More trains.
Full length trains.
Lower fares.
Through trains rather than connecting services.
Better on board facilities, luggage space, cycle space, buffets.

Whereas the current thinking of "the railway" is more along the lines what downgrades can we get away with, with the pandemic being a wonderful excuse to reduce services and facilities.

There is no point in having trade union representatives on the advisory panel, because we know what they want.
More money.
Guards on every train, one in each portion of multiple units.
Buffets, not out of concern for passengers but to be staffed by union members.
Better disabled facilities, which is union code for more unionised platform staff.

Whereas the current thinking is to try and reduce trade union power, not enhance it.
 

[ChrisB]

This is the advisory panel to set up GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) - in other words - to decide what might go in the legislation - not an advisory panel to advise GBR on what the passengers & unions might want....that panel I hope would be constructed *by* GBR after the legislation to set it up is passed & GBR is formed.

You are rather jumping the gun.....

[broadgage]

This is the advisory panel to set up GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) - in other words - to decide what might go in the legislation - not an advisory panel to advise GBR on what the passengers & unions might want....that panel I hope would be constructed *by* GBR after the legislation to set it up is passed & GBR is formed.

You are rather jumping the gun.....

Yes, but. Excluding passenger and trade union representatives from the initial advisory  panel should make it a bit easier to exclude such troublesome groups from the final organisation.

[JayMac]

This is the advisory panel to set up GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) - in other words - to decide what might go in the legislation - not an advisory panel to advise GBR on what the passengers & unions might want....that panel I hope would be constructed *by* GBR after the legislation to set it up is passed & GBR is formed.

You are rather jumping the gun.....

Yes, no need for pesky workers and users to have any say in legislation that will affect them for years. I won't say decades - the deckchairs will be shuffled again by future governments.

[ChrisB]

I didn't note any of that representation when the SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) was set up.

[grahame]

I didn't note any of that representation when the SRA^» (Strategic Rail Authority - about) was set up.

I didn't note any long term success or love of the SRA ..

[RichardB]

Good to see Heidi Mottram involved.  She was very highly regarded as MD of Northern Rail before she left the railway to take over at Northumbrian Water.