Printable View
But if they are funded by Taxpayers is it safe to assume they are also regulated to the point that certain services are forced upon the companies?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollo
Can the Railway Companies stop service to unprofitable areas without having to answer to politicians or special interest groups? If not than there wasn't real privatization but outsourcing to a private company
No I don't think so. The government also pretty much decides what rolling stock the Train Companies use as well. Although in the next set of rail franchises, I believe the train companies will be more 'flexible' in what services they provide and what stock they use.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyvop
Although there are some train companies with 'open-access' status, meaning they decide where its services run to, and the frequency. They pay Network Rail, the owner of the infrastructure a charge. Bear in mind there are only 2 of these companies.
Yes, most of them are anyway. I think the East Coast route actually pays money to the government rather than gets it.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyvop
It's not; it's a joke. Which is the argument for renationalising it all, we have to pay out anyway so might as well be government owned.Quote:
How is that privatization?
Correct, very very heavy regulation for most operators. The government says what services they can run, at what times, down to how many carriages they can run etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyvop
No they can't. For one we're in agreement ;)Quote:
Can the Railway Companies stop service to unprofitable areas without having to answer to politicians or special interest groups? If not than there wasn't real privatization but outsourcing to a private company
Originally the track was also owned by a private (monopoly) company called RailTrack, but it turned out they were cutting back on safety in order to increase profits, which eventually lead to several train crashes due to poor maintenance and many dead. So it was abolished and the tracks brought back into government ownership, but the train companies remain privately owned - interestingly; apart from one, East Coast is operated by the government after the previous company went bust. This franchise is the most prestigious in the country.
Excellent, concise explanations, Mark.
So it is settled.
The railways in the UK have not been privatized.
Tony, the simple fact is that they were privatised. You can't re-write history and say they were not. The operation of rail services was transferred from a state-owned company to private ones.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyvop
Correct.Quote:
Originally Posted by BDunnell
Well call it what you will, they are not in government hands anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyvop