Privatisation (was:Re: Late running trains go Express (Hillside))

["Johann Fan" <jyf@optusnet.com.au>]

Chris Brownbill <cbrnbill@enternet.com.au> wrote in message
37DE490B.F06EAADE@enternet.com.au">news:37DE490B.F06EAADE@enternet.com.au...
> Christopher_Martin GORDON wrote:
[snip]
>
> Morally and ethically yes, but that holds no stick whatever in the brave
new
> world of privatisation.  They LEGALLY must make as much profit as they
can -
> otherwise the directors can be held liable for failing to maximise profit.
This
> is the real pointy end of privatisation.

Its all in how you sell it to the public, not legality or morals.

> My prediction is that the next thing we will see is when the timetables
are next
> re-drawn, an extra minute or two will be added to journey times to make it
just
> that little bit easier to run on time - for exactly the same reason.  The
real
> subtlety to watch for will be that the Working Timetables will differ from
the
> Public timetables, but the Public timetables will be what the contract is
based
> on.  The only time point which will differ between the two timetables will
be
> the final stop (eg Tecoma to Belgrave will be scheduled 5 mins instead of
1 or 2
> currently).

The 3:05p train to GW this afternoon was running about 3 minutes late
leaving Spencer St. but made up time (shock horror!!:) and arrived at GW 2
minutes early?
Did they just adjust the clocks at GW to run just that much slower?

They modify the timetables now.. for peak hour... extra minute or so is
added at Melb. Central when things start to pick up (after 3:30pm).

cheers
Johann