The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) has once again
been forced to put its marketing plans on hold while its members weather
a series of crises.
A £3m PR campaign was due to begin in December, but has been
pushed back due to industrial action by the RMT rail workers' union and
the ensuing storm of negative press.
Although heartened by the reception of the Strategic Rail Authority's
ten-year plan earlier this week, train operators fear the strikes which
recently shut down South West Trains services will make the industry's
public rehabilitation more difficult.
ATOC director of commercial services Philip Benham said that with the
cull of train operators mooted by SRA chairman Richard Bowker, many are
less enthusiastic about committing to grand marketing schemes.
Last summer, ATOC was forced to postpone its 'Time to return' campaign
due to a furore over threatened guard strikes, the release of a damning
report on the Paddington rail disaster, and Railtrack boss Gerald
Corbett's £1.4m golden handshake.
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