The whole railway organisation is a shambles. The private companies have to build in a profit to make a return to the darling shareholders. In addition to this they appear to be extremely wasteful. Whilst this was always put forward as the reason public ownership did not deliver efficiency there is nothing to suggest that the private companies are any more efficient. There is no true market for the maintenance services and we see them taking an age to do very simple tasks, always at night and weekends to ensure double rates and the service is no better than it ever was. At least we did see british rail workers out there during the daylight hours. The main reason behind the nationalisation was to break the unions. I am convinced that the taxpayer and farepayers are much worse off than before - how can this be you ask? Because each franchise has a nice big boardroom bill to pay, false intermarket expenses such as advertising and a fat return to shareholders on top and that is without the waste and overcharging they are bound to try on as anything they can get past us increases their return. This as well as water, gas and electricity is an absolute disgrace and should be re-nationalised as soon as possible.
Kenn - 9 years ago
Whilst on the subject of public transport, Reading Buses should come back under local control. I am fed up with paying for a £24 7 day Network Ticket to get me from Mortimer to Emmer Green, only to not be able to use it on a Sunday as the Bus doesn't go to Mortimer on Sundays. Would be so bad if they modified the cost for Mortimer residents but they actually charge more.
Being treated like a 2nd class citizen even though we pay more!
Dave - 9 years ago
But if they re nationalised it wouldn't they just keep the prices up so that they made more money for the treasury?
how about making railways not for profit organisations?
The whole railway organisation is a shambles. The private companies have to build in a profit to make a return to the darling shareholders. In addition to this they appear to be extremely wasteful. Whilst this was always put forward as the reason public ownership did not deliver efficiency there is nothing to suggest that the private companies are any more efficient. There is no true market for the maintenance services and we see them taking an age to do very simple tasks, always at night and weekends to ensure double rates and the service is no better than it ever was. At least we did see british rail workers out there during the daylight hours. The main reason behind the nationalisation was to break the unions. I am convinced that the taxpayer and farepayers are much worse off than before - how can this be you ask? Because each franchise has a nice big boardroom bill to pay, false intermarket expenses such as advertising and a fat return to shareholders on top and that is without the waste and overcharging they are bound to try on as anything they can get past us increases their return. This as well as water, gas and electricity is an absolute disgrace and should be re-nationalised as soon as possible.
Whilst on the subject of public transport, Reading Buses should come back under local control. I am fed up with paying for a £24 7 day Network Ticket to get me from Mortimer to Emmer Green, only to not be able to use it on a Sunday as the Bus doesn't go to Mortimer on Sundays. Would be so bad if they modified the cost for Mortimer residents but they actually charge more.
Being treated like a 2nd class citizen even though we pay more!
But if they re nationalised it wouldn't they just keep the prices up so that they made more money for the treasury?
how about making railways not for profit organisations?