renationalising railways

I think that our railways seem to be still dwelling in the 18th century in as much as they are a domain unto themselves ie transport police, and all these complicated fares and rules about tickets and a lack of connection between what the travelling, paying, public expect with regard to decent conditions and what they actually get.
I feel the same about the good old Post Office now.

We only use the train to get to city centres because parking in any city centre is so difficult, other destinations it’s just so much quicker by car, cross country by train is difficult

Just to point out it's not just about passengers. Getting freight back on the roads as part of a positive plan going forward climate and other wise

Katie59

We only use the train to get to city centres because parking in any city centre is so difficult, other destinations it’s just so much quicker by car, cross country by train is difficult

If I'm travelling alone, I travel quite often by train (with my Senior Railcard), but only if I can get a decent price. I'm not ready to give up on my little car yet.

The "lottery" involved in buying tickets is frustrating. I'd also like to see better co-ordination between local bus services and train arrivals.

I'm lucky because the station in my town is on the Stansted Airport line, so trains are quite frequent - although (as I discovered recently) trains don't run early enough if you have an early morning flight.

Germanshepherdsmum

I have heard no mention of the phenomenal cost of renationalisation. And yet I watched Emily Thornberry being interviewed yesterday, saying that there would be no uncosted policies.

If Labour wait for the operating contracts to fall in there won't be significant costs. But I wish Labour would focus also on the water monopolies which should never have been created.

I wish Labour would start with water, perhaps they will? Either way a vote for them would be a step in the right direction, and yes waiting for the existing contracts to expire is the way to do it

Here’s food for thought about the cost and effect of nationalising the water industry.
www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/The-cost-of-nationalising-the-water-industry-in-England.pdf

Here’s the latest position with Thames Water too.
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-26/thames-water-crisis-puts-100-billion-uk-investment-plan-at-risk

Not such a straightforward thing as some posters think.

No, I tried saying that earlier on the thread - ultimately it’s possible, but it will be hugely expensive and it definitely couldn’t happen within five years.

I have also talked about the cost, which was dismissed. There were comments such as ‘Thames Water will soon be bankrupt so it won’t cost anything’. I hope people’s eyes will be opened to the reality of the cost of nationalisation and the potential ongoing cost, and that they are willing to pay higher bills and taxes

I can’t see any other outcome for Thames Water than exactly that. It remains to be seen how the public and other companies respond to what happens with that.

If it becomes bankrupt there will be secured creditors, assets and shareholders. It doesn’t mean that the company comes at no cost.

No, it says that in the article I posted. It’s not just the cost of buyout, it’s also the cost of the reparation of the infrastructure and investment needed to bring it up to any kind of standard. Just for one company out of a number.

Indeed. I hope people will read and understand this.

Germanshepherdsmum

Here’s food for thought about the cost and effect of nationalising the water industry.
www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/The-cost-of-nationalising-the-water-industry-in-England.pdf

This research is somewhat out of date and is pondering whether nationalization would result in lower prices, today that is not a realistic option.

It is clear that since 2018 there has been massive under investment the amount that needs investing has skyrocketed any thought of reduced prices should be forgotten, if we want better environmental protection we should be prepared to pay for them.

The research estimates £90bn much more now, to take over the industry a similar sum to HS2 but what price clean rivers?.

Whatever the price, it will be coming out of our pockets.

Germanshepherdsmum

Whatever the price, it will be coming out of our pockets.

Yep!

Well yes - but building a viable climate friendly economy with a good transport system as part of economic regeneration and growth was never going to be "Free", was it?
Its a question of choices of whats worth investing in for this end in mind.

Germanshepherdsmum

Whatever the price, it will be coming out of our pockets.

All that comes out of our pockets is money that the government, either directly through spending, or indirectly by licensing commercial banks to issue money, put in our pockets in the first place. Much of it will be taxed back from the people or organisations that received that money not from the entire taxpaying population.

MaizieD

Germanshepherdsmum

Whatever the price, it will be coming out of our pockets.

All that comes out of our pockets is money that the government, either directly through spending, or indirectly by licensing commercial banks to issue money, put in our pockets in the first place. Much of it will be taxed back from the people or organisations that received that money not from the entire taxpaying population.

It doesn’t have to be “taxed” back those of us that can afford it can pay, we get too many cut price or free services, means testing by any other name, most other countries do it the UK could too.

Don’t forget that nationalised industries will be competing with the NHS, education et al for funding.

I don't remember the old nationalised railways as being much good. In fact they were so poor that something had to be done. We're just going round in circles.

To cut to the chase, we need a GE pdq. Tories out, Labour in. The country has had enough of this dreadful government.

Aveline

I don't remember the old nationalised railways as being much good. In fact they were so poor that something had to be done. We're just going round in circles.

We used them a lot when I was a child as we didn't have a car.
D used them to travel to and from school.

All those years ago they were very good and reliable but then I do remember a decline in the 1960s/70s.
You'd sink into a seat and a cloud of dust would appear around you, trains became more unreliable, sat in sidings for long periods of time making passengers late and a general decline.