Dorsetmike
Member
http://www.railway-technical.com/finance.shtml#Railways-Making-A-Profit?
In particular these statements in the last 2 paragraphs
The track and infrastructure are owned by Network Rail (AKA Notwork Fail) they lease "paths" to train operating companies, who in turn lease their locos and coaches etc from leasing companies. So instead of one national organisation, there are now a number of companies each with the typical present days top heavy highly paid executives.
"Operational expertise": for example like putting track maintenance out to contract and thus losing most if not all the expertise built up by BR staff over the years, I've seen it suggested that the Hatfield crash could not have happened under BR - built on over 100 years of pre BR knowledge and experience.
In particular these statements in the last 2 paragraphs
The last 15 years have shown that the privatisation of the railways in the UK has not proved to be the success that politicians hoped it would be. It has proved expensive, increasing real costs by 50% pro rata over those of the nationalised railway.
What is needed is the re-integration of the railway so that the wheel-rail interface is restored. There are signs of this happening in the UK but it's been a long time coming. The nonsense of management by contract, which only increases work for lawyers and regulatory consultants should be stopped.
The track and infrastructure are owned by Network Rail (AKA Notwork Fail) they lease "paths" to train operating companies, who in turn lease their locos and coaches etc from leasing companies. So instead of one national organisation, there are now a number of companies each with the typical present days top heavy highly paid executives.
There is also still a huge backlog of training needed to bring the operational expertise back into the business.
"Operational expertise": for example like putting track maintenance out to contract and thus losing most if not all the expertise built up by BR staff over the years, I've seen it suggested that the Hatfield crash could not have happened under BR - built on over 100 years of pre BR knowledge and experience.