Former Rail Franchises

[sandwhich]

Now that Trans Pennine has bit the dust, who is next. Cross Countrys contract is shortly up for renewal, talk of DB wanting to offload Arriva continues off and on and could it not bid or be the only bidders for that company, interesting times ahead.

[strang steel]

I don't want to descend into political argument, but I have always thought that the railway system should be confined to being a public service. What it should not be is for private companies to maximise profits from people who wish to travel with a lower carbon footprint than driving individual vehicles, on a road system increasingly populated by psycopaths.

This profiteering seems to now result in large numbers of cancellations - which presumably is a cheaper option for the company than running a service for customers.

Imagine the flack BR would have received if they had treated the public in this way; and yet our dominant right wing media seem relatively silent.

[Mickey]

From memory the main concerns about British Rail from the travelling public back in the 1970s was the occasional moan about late running trains and dirty carriages and the poor state of the humble British Rail cheese sandwich!.

[sandwhich]

It is possible that if Cross Country should go to a private operator then an offer that could not be refused be made (more profits) in order to save face. A case of reading between the lines of the agreement should this come about.

[strang steel]

From memory the main concerns about British Rail from the travelling public back in the 1970s was the occasional moan about late running trains and dirty carriages and the poor state of the humble British Rail cheese sandwich!.

There certainly were late running trains in BR days, but in many instances their local connections would be held for a short time in order to reduce the inconvenience of passengers.

The current rules which make it cheaper for the companies to cancel a train than run it late, must have been thought up by someone who travels everywhere in a luxury car.

Not long ago, my local train was cancelled, and yet the unit - which I was following (courtesy of RailCam Diagrams) on my mobile phone was then sent empty back to the depot and ran through the station without stopping within a few minutes of its scheduled stopping time. Fortunately, I have a half hourly service, so not too long to wait for the next one.

[Pyewipe Junction]

Wouldn't it be a good idea to merge the Trans Pennine and Cross-Country franchises?

[sandwhich]

Dft has floated the possibility of Northern and Trans Pennine becoming one company. Time will tell.

[Mickey]

I see the government have or are taking the franchise over although I presume the same management are running it along with the same staff as well so much of the same as before I presume?.

[Mickey]

Heard on BBC radio 4 on bank holiday Monday evening between 8:00-8:30 pm a programme that was entitled "What is the point of railways?." Anyway at the start of the programme mention was made about the possibility of the East Lancashire heritage railway being converted back into a fare paying railway line for the benefit of the local population that live along the route of the line running into Greater Manchester to what appeared to be opposition from the 800 or so railway enthusiasts and volunteers that maintain and run this heritage railway line. One East Lancs railway member who had 50 years association with the railway claimed that if the railway line was converted back to a 'normal' working line again for running a passenger timetable service that would basically be the end of the heritage railway and steam working on the line with the implication that possibly other 'heritage railway lines' around the country could go the same way?.