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Title: Railways face radical overhaul to give 'better deal for all'
Source:
Guardian
URL Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/m ... railways-face-radical-overhaul
Published: May 20, 2011
Author: Guardian
Post Date: 2011-05-20 10:16:01 by go65
Keywords: None
Views: 59145
Comments: 75
Commuters face the biggest shakeup of the railways since the ignominious Railtrack era after a government-commissioned report called for £1bn in costs to be stripped out of the industry – and for it to give all involved a "better deal". An overhaul of the fares system was the most eye-catching recommendation in a study by Sir Roy McNulty, former chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. The report into rail industry costs also outlined changes to slash the £5.2bn state subsidy, including phasing out ticket offices in small stations, removing conductors and giving train operators control of maintenance on some routes. McNulty said fares in the UK were 30% higher than in France, Holland, Sweden and Switzerland, with operating costs running 40% higher than those countries. "There is a clear imperative to give both farepayers and taxpayers a better deal," McNulty said. "This industry has a serious cost deficiency issue to address. Everyone concerned must be aware that passengers are paying above the odds."
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 15.
#1. To: CZ82, Jwpegler, godwinson (#0)
Britian's rail privatization of rail hasn't gone so well.
Passenger rail is an inflexible, cost prohibitive, and obsolete concept. Very few, if any, passenger rail systems in the world cover their operating costs, let alone make a profit. From an Amtrack study (pdf): When all revenues and expenses for the entire passenger train system are taken into consideration, European Passenger Train Operations operate at a financial loss and consequently require significant Public Subsidies... For example, DB reports profits of about $1.94 per train mile while the railroad is receiving $36.78 in public funding. When public funding is taken into consideration, DB Train Operations actually cost the German government $34.88 per train mile. Similarly, passenger rail operations in the other five European countries cost their governments between $13.77 to $27.78 per train mile...
I agree.... it's another bone thrown to the corps by our government only this time to get their employees to work on time and on the cheap. It's time to quit subsidizing big business. Make 'em take to the tax payer funded highways instead. There's plenty of room and urban parking's a snap.
Oh, so the only two possible solutions are take the government train or drive your own car? You are exemplifying the left quite nicely -- you aren't innovative, you aren't creative, you never have an original thought, you don't have a brain cell in your head. Nice going.
You are exemplifying the left quite nicely -- you aren't innovative, you aren't creative, you never have an original thought, you don't have a brain cell in your head. Nice going. Instead of your nasty innuendo why don't you take the opportunity I gave you to tell us. You guys are soo predictable.
I've posted many times about mass transit on this site for a couple of years. The best short haul (within an urban/suburban area) mass transit system in the world is the Philippine Jeepney (van-sized bus). They are privately owned. They are very convenient because they show up everywhere all of the time (unlike light rail). They move a massive amount of people very efficiently. People who really understand mass transit site the Philippines system. I've been there many times, it works great. Chicago has something like this that goes from the Airports to downtown hotels. In the Philippines they go from everywhere to everywhere and all the time. Of course, something like this cannot operate in the U.S. because local governments want to monopolize mass transit with their buses and light rail services (which are always completely underutilized because they are not convenient). Philippine Jeepneys:
More likely they'd face opposition from private cab companies who would threaten to sue small time operators out of business.
The local Chamber of Commerce which stopped our local Food Truck(all were health inspected) Fridays, supposedly because some guys were breaking open a few beers would have a thought or two also.
Yep, that's how it happens in the real world.
There are no replies to Comment # 15. End Trace Mode for Comment # 15.
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#3. To: go65, capitalist eric, CZ82, godwinson (#1)
Britian's rail privatization of rail hasn't gone so well.
#4. To: jwpegler (#3)
When all revenues and expenses for the entire passenger train system are taken into consideration, European Passenger Train Operations operate at a financial loss and consequently require significant Public Subsidies...
#5. To: mininggold (#4)
#6. To: jwpegler (#5)
Oh, so the only two possible solutions are take the government train or drive your own car?
#8. To: mininggold (#6)
(Edited)
#10. To: jwpegler (#8)
Of course, something like this cannot operate in the U.S. because local governments want to monopolize mass transit with their buses and light rail services (which are always completely underutilized because they are not convenient).
#13. To: lucysmom (#10)
(Edited)
More likely they'd face opposition from private cab companies who would threaten to sue small time operators out of business.
#15. To: mininggold (#13)
Replies to Comment # 15.
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