The wrong track

Yet Simon Burns should consider these facts before further denigrating this key route which runs through the heart of Yorkshire.

Punctuality and reliability has improved, contrary to the assertions of Mr Burns, since the line was nationalised in 2009 after GNER, and then National Express, walked away from their franchise commitments because they could not yield sufficient profits from the line.

And if the Minister believes that it is in the public interest to privatise the route on the eve of the next election, Mr Burns needs to explain, clearly, how rail users will benefit from this move – and what safeguards will be put in place to avoid a past mistakes being repeated.

He has much to prove – his unconvincing answers in the Commons yesterday suggested that policy is being driven by dogma rather than the pragmatism that long-suffering travellers have a right to expect.