UK Rail network to be nationalised

[mat]

Seemingly good news. I'm a fan of renationalising the railways, but also old enough to remember what an embarrassing pile of shite BR was. I suspect some combination of state ownership and corporate franchises is the way forward. While I'm not one of these types who will automatically say something is shit just because it's tories doing it, I do suspect that because it is tories doing it this will benefit a small portion of wealthy corporates with the state absorbing financial risk and customer being bled for profit. If anyone thinks the plan is to benefit the customer, or indeed employees I have some magic beans you may be interested in buying.

I hope the fare system will be more helpful for passengers. The current one is confusing for both them and the staff that sell them.

Mobile ticketing has led to an increase in passenger fraud. Partly down to the TOCs not supplying correct scanning equipment to staff. And some arguing they don't want to pay for it! They've gone for the cheapest option which makes them hit or miss for registering.

Simple ticketing system and proper and radically organised timetabling will go a long way to sorting problems out.

The staff will be made to pay for the improvements.

I'll give it 24 hours before the Daily Heil lists exaggerated wages of drivers and guards along with claims of gold plated pensions. With pension reforms (stealing wages) the argument to cover the so called losses of the private firms running the services.

 

[mat]

That headline is misleading. It says 'Great British Railways' will run the infrastructure, which is already state owned with Network Rail. The train operators will still be private companies.

I'm guessing it's just a re-branding to get the words 'Great' and 'British' into view with Union flags flying over every station, signal box, and level crossing.

Gammon Rail.

 

[mat]

Williams-Shapps Plan - Ten outcomes laid out in the White Paper | RailBusinessDaily

The biggest change the rail industry has seen for 25 years will see the creation of a new public body Great British Railways - a single familiar brand The biggest change the rail industry has seen for 25 years will see the creation of a new public body Great British Railways - a single familiar...

news.railbusinessdaily.com

Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail to reform Britain's railways and launch new era for passengers | RailBusinessDaily

A quarter-century of fragmentation on the railways will end as they come under single, accountable national leadership, as the Government unveils a new A quarter-century of fragmentation on the railways will end as they come under single, accountable national leadership, as the Government...

news.railbusinessdaily.com

 

[BlueHammer85]

I hope the fare system will be more helpful for passengers. The current one is confusing for both them and the staff that sell them.

Mobile ticketing has led to an increase in passenger fraud. Partly down to the TOCs not supplying correct scanning equipment to staff. And some arguing they don't want to pay for it! They've gone for the cheapest option which makes them hit or miss for registering.

Simple ticketing system and proper and radically organised timetabling will go a long way to sorting problems out.

The staff will be made to pay for the improvements.

I'll give it 24 hours before the Daily Heil lists exaggerated wages of drivers and guards along with claims of gold plated pensions. With pension reforms (stealing wages) the argument to cover the so called losses of the private firms running the services.

I think a major part of this reform is that season tickets for London commutes is hugely down and may stay forever down as more and more people work remotely- they need to balance this somehow.

 

[Ifwecouldjust.......]

Tories once again claiming the praise for solving a problem they created

 

[East Level 2]

Think this is going to be very popular.

The headline will be popular. Whether the outcome is popular remains to be seen.

 

[remember arthur mann]

The headline will be popular. Whether the outcome is popular remains to be seen.

Makes you wonder when the Tories are involved, they've made it a complete shambles and needs putting back on track sooner rather than later.

 

[dave_blue12]

More bullshit from the bullshit party.

 

[The Future’s Blue!]

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.

 

[NeilYoungIsBack]

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.

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