Deadbeats and useless - that's John Spellar's verdict on the Department for Transport.
He ought to know, as he used to be a Transport Minister himself.
Of course, the Black Country MP could have an ulterior motive for blaming delays on lousy civil servants, as it takes the blame off the politicians who employ them -namely, his Labour colleagues.
But putting such thoughts aside, one has to agree that the DfT seems to move at a different pace to the rest of us.
The delays in making a decision about the refurbishment of New Street station are the most obvious example, although one should point out in fairness that ministers blamed the city council for the delays - and the right decision was made in the end.
However, there is also the ongoing saga of the M6 widening, as the department approved the scheme, scrapped it in favour of a planned new motorway, and then announced that it was back on again.
The widening proposal is currently in limbo, again, after the DfT announced a major review into the M6 corridor, which will look at new options such as extending the Active Traffic Management scheme and building new rail lines.
Speaking of rail, there is the saga of the high speed rail line, apparently ruled out in a report by Government advisor Rod Eddington and by ministers warning of a £30 billion cost.
It now appears to be back on the agenda, after the Government announced it could be an option to increased motorway capacity. But an actual decision? Don't be silly.
Transport costs a lot of money and plays an essential role in British society and the British economy, so it's important to get it right.
But it's nonetheless hard to believe that progress need to be quite as slow as it is.
