Two types of barbed comment were aimed at Richard Bowker when he was named chief executive of National Express in May 2006. One was that his experience heading the old Strategic Rail Authority would somehow put the company on a fast track to victory in the forthcoming award of rail franchises. The other was that he was a boss with a two-track mind – his pre-SRA experience included running Virgin Rail and working at London Underground – who would only be interested in the group’s rail business.

The first accusation always looked far-fetched, given that Mr Bowker made few friends in government while at the SRA, but any remaining conspiracy theorists can now rest easy: there is no hint so far that the ex-regulator is winning favour for National Express.