USA Bus Lines

Government nationalises key rail service?

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20090701/tuk-gov-t-nationalises-key-rail-service-a7ad41d.html with soaring rail prices, a pricing structure which is so complicated that you need a super computer to figure out the cheapest way to get from A to B and the inability of the different companies to work together was enough surely to say yes to re-nationalisation of public transport. now we have another reason, and i quote "Rail and bus operator National Express had earlier announced that it was not willing to support the service, which has suffered sliding passenger numbers and dwindling revenues because of the recession" now that the company isn't making a quick buck out of it they will dump it and move on to something else. if anything this is the main reason why i feel that the whole rail network should be re-nationalised and stay that way. it isn't called "Private Enterprise Transport" its called PUBLIC TRANSPORT and should remain like the NHS in public hands. do you agree? if not then please tell us how you reached your conclusions thank you @ Scouse and what happens to the passengers when a company goes broke? another company takes over? until you have 1 big company running all the rail business and then dictating prices so you might just as well have it in public hands at least there even in a recession the govt. understands that railways are important to keeping the country running. one other thing, a company should have looked at the viability of project before entering into discussions you cannot blame the govt because a company cant do its sums and is, as in this case unwilling to take a hit when the times get hard.

Public Comments

1. Should never have been privatised in the first place. This is only the first to be re nationalised, the rest will follow eventually and we should all be demanding it. It is great to see that Thatcher lunacy is beginning to crumble, pity the old git wont see whats happening due to her 'frail' mental health.
2. The method of privatisation was flawed from the start. The train operators and the rail operators should have been the same people with facilities given to other companies to run on each others tracks with a very small supervising body to ensure fair play. The system should have been sold outright. This silly short term leasing is a load of rubbish and has caused more trouble than it is worth. This government is keen as always to nationalise everything and thereby increase it's power.
3. I do agree that the rail network is an essential service and that it should have never been allowed to fall into private hands but, as much as I agree with Auld's view, I think it's a bit simplistic to blame the failing railway system entirely on the Conservatives. For sure, they dealt the killer blow in selling it off but there had been ample opportunities for Labour governments in the 1970s to set fire to the Beeching report and invest in rolling stock and new lines. They chose to stick to the ridiculous formula that any new lines had to demonstrate a commercial return of about 8% p.a. - a formula that's never been required to build any new roads.