Train in vain

Trains have been causing distress for decades, just ask blues great Robert Johnson. It broke his heart when "the train it left the station" in 1937, with only his girl on it. But trucks are causing more pain than tracks right now in the Czech lands. Everyone is talking about a Kč 2.6bn contract to buy military vehicles from Tatra, although a far bigger deal in the works by Czech Railways gives more to sing the blues about. The railroad's new CEO, Petr Žaluda, wants to pass Kč 20bn per year in train-manufacturing business to Škoda Holding, a "Czech" company with anonymous owners that conveniently bought a locomotive maker just after Žaluda took office. Žaluda no doubt got advice from Martin Roman, who both sold Škoda to its mysterious owners and now sits on the railroad's supervisory board. It's another story with a pre-scripted sad ending for those who aren't riding this gravy train. [Czech Railways Pars nova a.s České dráhy ČEZ The Clash]