Re: Re-nationalisation of Rail in Britain?

[Ian Jelf <ian@bluebadge.demon.co.uk>]

In article <37bb4034.0@newshost.pcug.org.au>, David Bennetts
<davibenn@pcug.org.au> writes
>
>>>
>>> Isn't Richard Branson of Virgin fame an owner
>>    of a rail line over there?
>>   Darryl, Townsville.
>
>
>He actually has two train operating companies - Railtrack owns the track and
>infrastructure, and maintains it (sort of).  There's Virgin Cross Country
>and Virgin West Coast.  The new performance figures for the year ended March
>1999 are just out on the BBC website  - Richard's results were significantly
>worse than the previous year,  with increased delays and cancellations.
This gets even better.

The line which came out best in the annual reviews, with fewest
cancellations and delays, was the "ialnd Line" on the Isle of Wight
(just of the south coast of GB).

The Rail Watchdog "rewarded" them with a GBP 14,000 *fine*, while other
operators with worse records *weren't* fined.

Sometimes I can't help feeling that the world has gone stark staring
bonkers.

That said, there *are* good elements to the privatised railways in the
UK;  you only tend to hear about the delays and problems.   When I
commuted into Central London for much of last year, I found fequent,
fast and reliable trains from early morning to late at night.
Similarly, the Chiltern Service (one of two between Birmingham and
London) always provides exactly what I want when I want it.   I can't
help wondering if all this couldn't have been achieved without
privatisation, though.

When I last posted to aus.rail, urgin Australia *not* to follow the UK's
way of doing things too closely, I was taken to task for not recognising
the differences between operating conditions in the two counties.
However, when it all goes wrong (and I sincerely hope it won't), don't
say you didn't see it in the Northern Hemisphere first.......

Ian Jelf        http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk
Birmingham, UK
        Registered "Blue Badge" Tourist Guide
        for the Heart of England and London