Mr. Bean as the Fat Controller

The key question with any private sector involvement in public projects is whether the extra return shareholders rightly demand is compensated by increases in efficiency. Often the answer to that is no, which is why PFI makes so little sense - especially when you remember that there is rather little risk transfer to the private sector in many PFI projects. The latest rail debacle over the west coast main line is certainly evidence that the current mess of operating companies, National Rail, and private infrastructure contractors makes no sense -- our rail policy is fatally flawed. Let's renationalise the lot before our railway turns into a historical relic.