R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

The Government want to cut the cost of running the railways. They are considering cutting ticket offices and guards on trains. Obviously unions are not pleased and ballot members with possible industrial action.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17295718
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It's greedy bonuses which are not helping. We are the worst railway service in the country with passenger delays, over crowding and even rail replacement bus services when the network has problems. Better investment needs to be given. Better rolling stock should be provided with more carriage space to carry passengers.

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7202 Location: North Yorkshire

Having to pay shareholders doesn't help either. The railways are still state owned but the trouble is that its not by our state. Let us hope McNulty's cuts don't cost lives.
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ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Although I'm generally in favour of privatisation where it works I think that doing so with things like the railways and the water utilities were privatisations too far

There are some essential services like railways which have to have their 'raison d'etre' to provide a proper travel infrastructure rather than to make a profit although if they do so much the better

There were some very good privatisations under Maggie Thatcher such as BT - we all remember from the old days how long people used to wait to get a phone installed - and I think perhaps she knew where to draw the line as most of the bad privatisations like the railways took place in the 90's after she left office

We need a properly funded rail network if we are seriously to compete with the likes of France,Germany,Italy and Japan and it would be a good start if the Government started giving contracts to home based companies like Bombardier rather than putting money in the pockets of one of their main foreign competitors Rolling Eyes

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R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

History tells us that no railway system anywhere on the planet has ever made a profit when taking into account the original construction costs and through life running and maintenance costs. So it begs the question- why would a private company wish to run a railway? In this country it’s simple: the entire network is being massively subsidised by the Government (tax-payer- i.e. us- you and me) and really our rail network hasn’t been privatised at all, private companies have been given a licence to run trains on a Government funded network of lines: there’s a big difference to it being a privatised railway. The current proposals are to reduce that subsidy – which if the private companies were prepared to take a reduction in profit, would have no effect on the services they offer- so it would be win-win but the private companies of course, won’t do that, they’re in the business of making money, they have shareholders and so will try to reduce their costs (mainly staff) to take up the slack. It’s a stupid system.

An example of stupid it is: before privatisation, it used to take 1hr:50 to get from my town to London by train, often it would be a few minutes late. No biggy. Southwest Trains now take 2hrs:28 to get from my town to London but they’re never late, in fact sometimes the train has to go really slowly or even stop for 5-minutes at a time to ensure that it doesn’t arrive ridiculously early!
Under the old system we used to get there late in under two hours, under the new system we get there on time in 2 hours and 28 minutes. So we pay more to take longer, oh and there’s fewer trains too- we used to have one every half hour, now its one per hour.
We should have some pride in our rail-system, we should be leading the world in travel technology but we’re not even running to catch up, no, we’re running the other way.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Oops. Just read the updated version of that news report
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17295718
The fare structure is going to be (even) more varied than the chaotic state it's in at the moment, and apparently it is by no means certain that the system will be compatible with, based on or operated in the same way as the popular Oyster card in London. Rolling Eyes

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

Of course the other problem is the cost of tickets on trains. My mum's recent visit highlights this: - cost on the train- cheapest fare, would have been £70 each way, so £140 and over 6 hours of time each way on the train. She flew with Flybe from Newcastle, total cost there and back £90 , just over one hour each way. I had to collect her and take her to the airport of course but the cost of doing that was dwafed by the cost and time saving on the plane - so she'll never come on the train, not now: and her experience has convinced me that for long journies ( domestic flights only) - the plane, where available, is faster, cheaper and more convienient. What makes it worse is that I paid extra to choose her seat on the plane and it was near empty, so she sat wherever she wanted anyway. Humph! It had never occured to me that I could have a day-trip to Newcastle from the south coast but it is possible and for only about £80 if you don't mind where you sit. Travelling by train needs to be cheaper, better, faster and more reliable than it is now for it to catch on.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Smart cards are also reported the Government could consider. Oyster Cards work very well in London, so an National Rail card might work too. Rolling stock is also outdated on some networks which needs improving too. Maybe HS2 should be put on hold, and spend on what rails we have at present.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

I know it's slightly off topic. I don't know if anyone saw this interesting piece a few weeks ago. Driverless trains. Obviously there were plans for this to be introduced to the London underground, but unions are up in arms as job losses would happen.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4c0da906-5b18-11e1-ab75-00144feabdc0.html