renationalising railways

Definitely the buses. So many rural areas have such poor, unreliable services that local have no choice but to use use other means of transport. The bus companies then say that the services are under used and cut them altogether. I know so many people who have waited for buses to get to hospital appointments, denatal appointments etc. Only for the buses to just not turn up, fancy apps and information websites give no help at all.

Agreed. Labour won’t want to upset the unions.

Within Months of Nationalisation WE would be back to the 1970's with constant strikes of everything and the UNIONS running and ruining the country yet again.

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.

Yes - after years and years of Conservative management, they were poor and grossly underfunded. But privatisation was not the only option.

"She famously espoused the "great car economy" and told BR Managers to their faces that they were useless as they worked for BR. She had a reputation for allowing industry's perceived as dying and inefficient to ruthlessly swept away and was hell bent on destroying union power. "

www.railforums.co.uk/threads/margaret-thatcher-and-the-railways-complicated.82152/

I think people always moan about rail services, but there is plenty of evidence about the deterioration of infrastructure, services and failure. This is worth reading.
www.cresc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/GTR%20Report%20final%205%20June%202013.pdf

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Yep!

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

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?.

Indeed. I hope people will read and understand this.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Not such a straightforward thing as some posters think.

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

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

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