Re: Re-nationalisation of Rail in Britain?

["Exnarc" <gwrly@netspace.net.au>]

Ian Jelf <ian@bluebadge.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
+QH7+qAM89u3EwCT@bluebadge.demon.co.uk">news:+QH7+qAM89u3EwCT@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

A fellow Brummie on aus.rail.

I'm not alone!!!!

Bob.