Railtrack could take an unforeseen exceptional charge tomorrow when it reports its financial results.
This could cover an increase in its 10-year forecast for the cost of network renewals and long-term maintenance. The company faces a balancing act with the need to win the support of investors against the political sensitivity of reporting large profits in the wake of the Paddington rail tragedy, says the Financial Times.
An opinion piece in The Guardian suggests the railways should be re-nationalised because “Railtrack can’t provide a decent service”.
Financial Times 31/05/00 page 32
The Guardian 31/05/00 page 22
