I just read this on the BBC Website: Am I the only one to see the spectacular hypocracy in that statement? I mean, why don't we have one company doing it all? In fact why aren't they publically owned? Oh...I remember now. A certain political party privatised it all in such a shoddy way no one knew who was doing what and where. So entrenched was their crappy policy it's been almost impossible to reverse. Don't be fooled when it comes to election time in a couple of years - these Tories will say anything to get into power, even if it means turning their back on years of their own policies :rant:
Although the rail-system has improved in recent years it is still a joke, for example because of the private companies (looking out for number one) I can't get a direct train from b’ham to berkhamsted. Also the companies are too quick to pass the buck onto someone else when there is a delay – as I’m sure we’ve all experienced at some time. That statement really is total hypocrisy though, I don’t want to get into a political debate, but the Torries would not re-nationalise the network, but imo that is what needs to be done. Don’t the government own the track through network rail? Surely if they also owned the companies money could be used to pay for track upgrades etc?!?
Of course they won't re-nationalise it, seen as they privatised it in the first place! In fact nationalisation goes entirely against their whole ethos. Unfortunately the cost of nationalisation is so massively prohibitive that the current government could never justify it - all because the priviatisation was done in such a shoddy haphazard way. The railways have got a lot better over the past couple of years but as you say, money rules the day.
a direct consequence of nationalisation wold be either higher prices or higher taxes, which i'm assuming the majority of people would be against. also the implicit conclusion that the government would be more alturistic in their scheduling or more efficient in their service is probably wrong. every four years you'd get a few months of great service, but as soon as the elections are over it would go back to being a massive problem.
Yeah I agree about the expense – and I’m sure few governments would like to be directly liable for any accidents that could occur! Though I’d assume they’d be insured, or could people sue the government directly? The fact that even schools and the NHS are being privatised albeit slowly shows that at the current time, the countries remaining aspects of the Welfare State aren’t really sustainable, but as Fan few would be accepting of higher taxes but cuts only get you so far.
i disagree that the welfare state doesn't work. the E.U as a whole is generally quite socialist in the sense that welfare costs take up a large amount of its budgets. despite that though, they have about the same gdp as the US, with lower incidences of poverty and inequality, whilst also maintaining lower levels of government debt. It seems to be that various right wing think tanks and business groups put it across that the welfare state doesn't work e.t.c while the demise of the left offers little resistance but the welfare state is sustainable in both theory and, as countries like sweden demonstrate, in practice too. Aside from that, i would argue that welfare shouldnt be treated as optional provided it can be be paid for in the current climate. It should be seen as something to be protected always no matter that economic/political climate.
No, Silverlink don't own the stretch between New Street and Northampton, Central Trains do. They're just both incorporated into the same timetable to save confusion. Although Silverlink are bidding to take over Central Trains Birmingham-Northampton line plus potentially others as Central Trains are dispersing.
Silverlink and central are both owned by national express , and are both run by higher mangers. Silverlink have been turned down to bid for the franchise which runs out in november. my dad works for silverlink
Yeah that sounds about right, I just remember overhearing a driver going back to Euston on the way home from Milton Keynes once. Didn't know it got rejected though.
Yeah they dident even get put on the shortlist to bid , all to do with politics , long story but silverlink wont exist come november. And who ever wins the franchise will run central trains as well.
Don't suppose you know if Tring will still be used as a base for London Commuters? Quite liked the three trains an hour thing...
nouthing will change while silverlink are running the trains , i imagine they will still use it . Even if drivers and conductors hate using it
