UK News 01-12-2000 Government Seize Control Of Railtrack who: Railtrack what: Forced to meet daily with transport minister where: LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "The government is demanding that Railtrack officials and the train operators face daily grillings until the chaos on Britain`s railways is resolved," reports The Financial Times today. Deputy prime minister John Prescott met with Steve Marshall, Railtrack`s chief executive, yesterday and agreed that transport minister Lord Macdonald will intervene directly in the day-to-day workings of Britain`s rail system until further notice. "Although ministers insist they cannot give orders to Railtrack because it is a private company," reports The Independent, they are "dismayed" by the disruption caused by the "apparent over-reaction" in the wake of October`s Hatfield rail crash. In immediate response, Railtrack has agreed to raise almost half of the speed limits imposed during the safety crackdown six weeks ago. 200 speed limits across the network will be affected. "That means 20mph speed limits will increase to 40," says The Times, "and 40mph limits to 60". The Health and Safety Executive has agreed to the new speed limits, says the BBC, "but only with an undertaking from Railtrack that it continues investigations into gauge corner cracking." [... more]

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