What's the point of fining Network Rail a record £14m for its "monumental foul-up" on the west coast main line over New Year?
The official justification from the Office of the Rail Regulator is that the fine marks the seriousness of disruption caused by Network Rail's overrun on engineering work.
But few can see the point of the penalty.
Fines don't do any good, says Martin Waller in the Times. He points out that Network Rail was penalised £2.4m for similar failings during Christmas 2006.
And as Network Rail is a government company, fines only amount to shunting money from one bit of the state to another, according to blogger Croydonian:
"However one looks at, rail users are actually going to end up carrying the cost of this operation, and this is supposed to be good news?"
Passenger groups and rail unions have made similar points.
Anthony Smith from Passenger Focus says:
"Simply fining Network Rail potentially hits passengers twice. Passengers suffered the original disruption and then a large amount of investment cash will be lost to the rail industry which could mean poorer quality services in the future."
Rail unions say that Network Rail's bosses, not the company, should be fined instead. There seems little prospect of this. Far from being punished, Network Rail's chairman, Sir Ian McAllister, is picking up his knighthood from the Queen today.
Meanwhile, Network Rail has warned passengers to expect more delays on the west coast main line this summer.
