UK Rail network to be nationalised

[west didsblue]

Welcome news on the face of it, but like most things this government does I suspect it will be largely sound bites rather than real changes. Network Rail is already a national body and most ticketing has the same branding already. It looks like a way of devolving responsibility for service delivery from the TOCs to a national body so the private companies can focus on making money without having to deal with accountability to passengers which will be the responsibility of GBR. Maybe I'm wrong and the government has the public interest at heart rather than sustaining profits for Tory donor companies.

 

[bluethrunthru]

Looking at the news and interviews this morning and I'd tend to agree with most on here its about getting "Great" and "British" in the name and harking back to the past because thats what the base wants - despite being told for donkeys years that in respect of rail travel the old days were bad.

 

[mat]

I tend to agree, but there will probably be some useful changes, such as the introduction of carnet tickets.

Going off the "Return to the Office" thread, a number of employers will be moving towards requiring the staff to be in the office 2-3 days per week, so a carnet style book of tickets will suit those people much better than the current rail seasoncard system

Some can't return to the office by train as some of this week's timetable changes mean they have to leave earlier as their former scheduled service doesn't stop at their station.

 

[mat]

Looking at the news and interviews this morning and I'd tend to agree with most on here its about getting "Great" and "British" in the name and harking back to the past because thats what the base wants - despite being told for donkeys years that in respect of rail travel the old days were bad.

Knackered old trains falling to bits requiring parts from foreign lands to work...

 

[East Level 2]

Sounds good in principle but when you look into it there doesn’t seem to much change.

Just another rebrand where some will lap it up until they realise that they’ve been had.

They'll never admit they've been had though. Look at fucking Brexit.

 

[MaineDAWG2008]

2023 .... means 2 more years of misery for commuters. And u can bet your last dollar the private companies will take the piss between now and then.

 

[PannickAtTheDisco]

how long before the Late British Railways puns?

 

[mat]

Network Rail going to slashing upto 7,000 jobs under their "intelligent infrastructure" project.

Nicely sneaked out on same day...

 

[KS55]

I am old enough to have spent many years using BR for commuting and regular long distance travel.
The trains were old and dirty and broke down regularly. The service was intermittent and unreliable.
Fares may have been cheaper in real terms, not sure.
Mainline stations were dirty and dangerous, in desperate need of refurbishment.
The treasury, faced with a choice between spending on the railways or some other vote winning measure, always neglected the railways.
How many times have plans for the network around M/cr been promised, cancelled, then promised and cancelled again?
It is 30 years since we were promised major improvements to the trans pennine route, still nothing.
TOCs are not exactly great at running the railways but I fear civil servants and politicians would be worse.
Tbf, Network Rail have done a reasonable job on the stations.
Overall BR was very poor.
Careful what you wish for from this money saving power grab.

 

[mat]

I am old enough to have spent many years using BR for commuting and regular long distance travel.
The trains were old and dirty and broke down regularly. The service was intermittent and unreliable.
Fares may have been cheaper in real terms, not sure.
Mainline stations were dirty and dangerous, in desperate need of refurbishment.
The treasury, faced with a choice between spending on the railways or some other vote winning measure, always neglected the railways.
How many times have plans for the network around M/cr been promised, cancelled, then promised and cancelled again?
It is 30 years since we were promised major improvements to the trans pennine route, still nothing.
TOCs are not exactly great at running the railways but I fear civil servants and politicians would be worse.
Tbf, Network Rail have done a reasonable job on the stations.
Overall BR was very poor.
Careful what you wish for from this money saving power grab.

Vote Tory and we will get it....


Seems they are investing a lot of railway infrastructure in new Tory Leeds but the North West Is far too red so fuck us.