Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => Politics & Current Affairs => Topic started by: Steve H on July 17, 2024, 03:20:29 PM

Title: Bills to take railwas back inito public ownership
Post by: Steve H on July 17, 2024, 03:20:29 PM
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/unions-hail-uk-s-rail-renationalisation-bills-as-a-return-to-public-service/ar-BB1q9c7C
Great news, though I'd prefer it if they dropped the 'Great' from the name, and just called it 'British Railways', as it was from 1948 to 1965.
Title: Re: Bills to take railwas back inito public ownership
Post by: jeremyp on July 17, 2024, 04:52:01 PM
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/unions-hail-uk-s-rail-renationalisation-bills-as-a-return-to-public-service/ar-BB1q9c7C
Great news, though I'd prefer it if they dropped the 'Great' from the name, and just called it 'British Railways', as it was from 1948 to 1965.

Yes, because British Rail was an outstanding success.

Oh, wait, no it wasn't.

I agree that the current system is a mess, but what measures would you take to ensure we didn't end up going back in time to the steaming pile that was the last nationalised railway?
Title: Re: Bills to take railwas back inito public ownership
Post by: Harrowby Hall on July 18, 2024, 05:22:18 PM
Yes, because British Rail was an outstanding success.

Oh, wait, no it wasn't. 

But it had the chance to be.

Over a period of about ten years the British Railways Board had two successive chairmen - both named Robert Reid. They each succeded in establishing some limited success in modernising and improving the railway system and its management.

However, the Swedish railway network had adopted a new franchising structure which appeared to be succesful. This led to an EU directive about railway operation and structure.  John Major adopted it with enthusiasm. Swedish train operators eventually started  to go bankrupt ... as did their British emulators.
decided that this was a model worth copying