Re: Train Spotters Corner
 

Updated news.

https://www.theguardian.com/business...9-rescue-deals

Re: Train Spotters Corner
 

It is now.

https://www.theguardian.com/business...ft-franchising

Re: Train Spotters Corner
 

Nationalised/privatised has always been a bit simplistic when it comes to the way British railways are run.

All the key paths have always been subject to franchise, with the details controlled by government. Rolling stock is mostly privately financed and leased to operators but that’s frequently the case with large public buildings these days. Railtrack was the one, practically irreversible privatisation that occurred on the railways, because the railway itself was sold off and by any normal measure should have been far too expensive for any government to contemplate buying back. The nation should quietly be thankful to Stephen Byers for orchestrating the effective confiscation of it from the private owner and handing it to the publicly owned Network Rail (quietly, because like so many things Byers did in office, the way it came about was somewhat irregular and may have been affected by Byers’ sometimes casual acquaintance with the expression of facts).

The status of the British railway as “privatised” has in truth been only paper-thin since Railtrack gave way to Nework Rail, and now even the franchises have now gone, and I don’t see anyone protesting too hard. It may only be a temporary suspension on paper but it’s difficult to see them coming back. Any new system based on management contracts or concessions to operate will only further expose the level of involvement government has (arguably, has always had) in our “privatised” system.

I see the RMT kicking off this morning, hankering after a return of British Rail, however this has to be resisted if only because the present structure of railway operations makes it illegal for them to orchestrate a national strike based on a dispute in one part of the network. I have no doubt they would absolutely love to have the level of influence they once had; that should not be allowed to happen.

Re: Train Spotters Corner
 

So rails services are for the first time in many years going in the right direction....back to a nationalized system, where it should have always been.
Not everything, but it is a start.



Let's hope this is the start of great things.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57176858

Re: Train Spotters Corner
 

“Nationalised” and “privatised” are binary states that have never been helpful in describing the state of the railway - certainly not since Railtrack was forcibly bankrupted in 2001 by withholding of government support, and replaced by National Rail, which is state owned but still subject to an independent regulator, similar to the privatised utilities. Most of the services that run on the state-owned tracks only do so because they hold a franchise awarded by the government.

Re: Train Spotters Corner
 

A national rail system is susceptable to national strikes where powerful unions hold the government and people to ransome. Welcome back to the '70's.

Re: Train Spotters Corner
 

That’s possibly why they’re retaining a network of private operators to run the services, though I suspect in future they will be given management contracts rather than franchises. As long as train staff are employed by a variety of local operators, an industrial dispute in one of them can’t lead to a national strike.

Re: Train Spotters Corner
 

Plenty of people to fill jobs if others don't want to work.

The government need to balance a fair salary for the workforce yet fair and decent services to the public too.