Re: Passenger Rail Privatisation

[Roy Marshall <marsh@zip.com.au>]

Darren Yates wrote:

> Problem is that the private sector isn't going to have the capital funds to
> maintain and keep rail up to scratch.
> Sure the government hasn't done all that well in that department but at
> least we can vote in a new government.
> Once private sector control begins, you forget having any say in anything...

Thats correct and the other thing is that  Government's will generally
run things to, at best, try to break even - but if this is not possible
still provide the service. Nothing against private companies but they
are only in it to try to make a profit - or go out of business. When
this happens do we still get the service? There is not much in the way
of public transport that will make a profit when you load all relevant
costs into it - but then is public transport supposed to provide a
service to the public or be purely run to make money?

Cheers Roy