UK Tories admit BR privatisation a crap idea

rogerhb

Tories are starting to clear their clutter of inheritance

NTBKtrader · Intermediate Crude Joined: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 595

Could they just nationalize it?

SoothSayer

I lived abroad when the UK rail was privatised.

When I left we had one single rail service.

Shortly after I got back, I wanted to get a train ticket ... it was impossible ... so many new rail companies, with widely different prices and separate timetables.

And have you seen the RailTrack family tree? Some companies own the track, some own the carriages, some run the trains ... nuts.

I didn't use the rail services for YEARS after that ... it was easier to drive, rather than spend 2 hours working out your route & price!

It's now a bit easier with the integrated web timetable service thank goodness.

They should have simply privatised one single British Rail ... we only needed to replace the surly, slobby, unionised staff with a keen hard working privatised staff.
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Karl · Tar Sands Joined: Apr 04, 2005 Posts: 58 Location: UK

You could not re-nationalise the railways as the expenditure from the public purse would have alarm bells ringing at the IMF. The UK international credit rating would be downgraded.

Dont quite agree with the comments on the railways prior to privatisation. A lot of work was put into the system to attract the eventual private investors. Ironically before privatisation we had got at times a superb product. Intercity really came into its own, with dining as good as anything I have experienced in travel. a lot was achieved alas for the wrong reasons.

rogerhb

Grifter

ubercynicmeister

untothislast

Much as I loathe them, the Tories managed a tremendous sleight of hand; the fundamental appeal to patriotic flag-waving proletariat wannabes - whilst simultaneously selling off the fabric of the country to largely foreign interests. And, incorporated within a programme of extensive privatisation, encouraging people to feel good about owning their 'own' homes, while transforming them into nothing more than rent-paying tenants of their own country. Brilliant!

rogerhb

evilgenius

I'm glad to see talk about this as it is mandatory that public transit ramp up around the world. I have ridden the rails in Britain and have always preferred that mode of travel unless I was traveling in a packed car where we all shared the price of petrol.

I think few people know that rail in Britain used to go to many more places than it does now. The countryside is full of disused trackways which could be brought back in a crisis with government investment. It is possible to envision a future where public transport does go everywhere, not just in and out of London and to your town or city if it lies on such a path. Imagine a localized light-rail web thoroughly connected to the 'esisten' system. It would be salvation itself if you could catch a small train car from Guildford to one of the little B-road towns close in that aren't on the London line. It is a pain in the ass having to get a cab or call a friend to get a ride when you know it could be better (and less petrol intensive). And just imagine being able to travel latterally, like say from Godalming to Dorking, by light-rail.

Of course, Colorado doesn't have squat. Here they have turned down a monorail plan for relieving the Interstate highway congestion along the main mountain corridor. They want to widen and widen the highway. I miss Britain, even as is with its current rail problems, every time I get into my car.

rogerhb

SoothSayer

Dr Beeching anyone?

Dr Beeching was a total shite ... his name is dirt in all generations of our family, and has been so for decades.

The Beeching Report

Dr Beeching

The evil SOB, Dr Beeching

(To be fair, some however say that Beeching was a nice chap. Paul McCartney even asked Dr Beeching to sort out Apple’s finances!)
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Technology will save us!

ubercynicmeister

rogerhb

ubercynicmeister