Hs2 Needed, Poor Railways!

[El Cid]

It seems that we cannot run the railways that we already have!

Train operator Avanti West Coast will be cancelling nearly 20 services every Saturday between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly until the end of the year.

It had earlier announced plans to scrap two in five of the trains it runs on the popular route from December 9.

However the BBC understands the reduced timetable will start immediately.

First reported by the Sunday Times newspaper, Avanti blamed a shortage of train crew and industrial disputes.

Avanti West Coast is joint owned by First Group and Trenitalia. It typically runs around 50 services - roughly three an hour at the busiest times - between London and Manchester every weekday.

1) Sould we privatise them

2) Give them more subsidies

3) Sack the Government?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67257969

Edited October 30, 2023 by El Cid

[Guest]

40 minutes ago, El Cid said:

It seems that we cannot run the railways that we already have!

Train operator Avanti West Coast will be cancelling nearly 20 services every Saturday between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly until the end of the year.

It had earlier announced plans to scrap two in five of the trains it runs on the popular route from December 9.

However the BBC understands the reduced timetable will start immediately.

First reported by the Sunday Times newspaper, Avanti blamed a shortage of train crew and industrial disputes.

Avanti West Coast is joint owned by First Group and Trenitalia. It typically runs around 50 services - roughly three an hour at the busiest times - between London and Manchester every weekday.

1) Sould we privatise them

2) Give them more subsidies

3) Sack the Government?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67257969

This will please the right wing Tory supporters who love us to be 200 years behind everybody else,  whilst proudly proclaiming we lead the world.

3  Sacking the government would be the best idea but have the other lot got any different ideas ?   They seem to agree with everything the Sewage Party does.

 

[El Cid]

57 minutes ago, Organgrinder said:

 

3) Sacking the government would be the best idea but have the other lot got any different ideas ?   They seem to agree with everything the Sewage Party does.

 

The Government already runs the railways, appointing companies to manage each section. Some give the Government money for the contract, some are subsided and some walk away leaving debt.

That is not a functioning competitive system. Those companies might as well be non-profit making.

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, El Cid said:

The Government already runs the railways, appointing companies to manage each section. Some give the Government money for the contract, some are subsided and some walk away leaving debt.

That is not a functioning competitive system. Those companies might as well be non-profit making.

In my opinion,  they should be completely nationalised.

Nationalisation will work with bosses who are appointed because they know the job rather than being pals with a government minister.

Probably need someone who has run successful railways abroad then.

 

On the other hand,  It is tempting to say that if the government were out of it altogether,  there may be more chance of success.

 

[El Cid]

But what does being fully nationalised mean?

One big massive organisation, or the train companies turned into non profit making organisations and working for a better transport system.

 

[RollingJ]

1 minute ago, El Cid said:

But what does being fully nationalised mean?

One big massive organisation, or the train companies turned into non profit making organisations and working for a better transport system.

 

It means a reversion to the days and disruptions of 'British Railways' - with the accompanying ineptitude and abysmal service/constant strikes which crippled the service in the past. It  also means that the management of the system is undertaken by individuals who have no real understanding of how to do the job and no desire to know, as they will get paid anyway, however badly the network performs.

[Annie Bynnol]

38 minutes ago, Organgrinder said:

In my opinion,  they should be completely nationalised.

Nationalisation will work with bosses who are appointed because they know the job rather than being pals with a government minister.

Probably need someone who has run successful railways abroad then.

 

On the other hand,  It is tempting to say that if the government were out of it altogether,  there may be more chance of success.

 

Around 70% of rail companies are 'foreign'

Docklands owned by German State Railways

Cross Country German State Railways

Docklands joint French state 

C2C Italian State Railways

Gatwick Express French state owns Keolis

Grand Central German state railways

Greater Anglia Dutch State railway

London Midland part French state railways

London Overground German state railways

Northern German state railways 

Scotrail  Dutch state railways

GTR part French state railways

South Eastern part French state railways

Thameslink part French state railways

Tyne & Wear Metro German State Railways

Arriva German State Railways

Merseyrail part Dutch state railways

Heathrow Express/Heathrow Connect part Singapore, China and Qatar.

 

Three out of eight trains are now Government owned and operated.

[Annie Bynnol]

45 minutes ago, El Cid said:

But what does being fully nationalised mean?

One big massive organisation, or the train companies turned into non profit making organisations and working for a better transport system.

 

British Railways was never '(o)ne big massive organisation' at the operational level and have not been profitable for one hundred years when since a myriad of companies asked the Government to be bailed out and re organized -1923.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, RollingJ said:

It means a reversion to the days and disruptions of 'British Railways' - with the accompanying ineptitude and abysmal service/constant strikes which crippled the service in the past. It  also means that the management of the system is undertaken by individuals who have no real understanding of how to do the job and no desire to know, as they will get paid anyway, however badly the network performs.

Whish is what I've already said and why I suggested someone who SUCCESSFULLY ran foreign railways.

1 hour ago, El Cid said:

But what does being fully nationalised mean?

One big massive organisation, or the train companies turned into non profit making organisations and working for a better transport system.

 

Something that someone with a lot more knowledge than any of us should decide.

[RollingJ]

1 minute ago, Organgrinder said:

Whish is what I've already said and why I suggested someone who SUCCESSFULLY ran foreign railways.

As @Annie Bynnolhas pointed out above 70% are owned/part owned by other countries 'nationalised' rail networks, but they still fail miserably.