End of train franchises

[Sweep]

This

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54232015

As a keen user of trains, particularly with a bike,am interested in what folk might think of this.

Would rather we didn't get party political as I consider both Labour and Conservatives to have been shoddy with the railways over the years.

[mercalia]

Would be a good idea to renationlise if it meant uniform arrangements and no need for multiple tickets. I am put off traveling to some places due to the difficulites of arranging for bikes for example with multiple operators. On the other hand would that mean the end of very cheap tickets on some lines/companies?

[PH]

I'll wait for the detail before having a dance about it. It's still intended to be privately owned and my opinion is unlikely to change from the idea that we'd be better off if it was publicly owned. They're talking about it being run for the passengers benefit, really it should be run for society's benefit, neither of which is likely to coincide with shareholders wishes to maximise their return.
The whole argument for privatisation was that competition is a good thing, we'll see what comes about but competitive and uniform are not going to sit well together.

[Jdsk]

"Rail franchising reaches the terminus as a new railway takes shape" 
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rail-franchising-reaches-the-terminus-as-a-new-railway-takes-shape

I wouldn't assume that end of this particular type of franchising implies renationalisation. (EDITED: Crossed with PH's.)

Through ticketing and better bike booking could be implemented with any model... as long as the incentives were correctly aligned...

Jonathan

PS: I'm not expecting great benefits from whatever model is tried next unless the UK develops an integrated transport policy.

[Pendodave]

For the moment, they are socialising the losses.
I'm bemused, given what we've seen over the last few months, that anyone might think that what follows will be well thought through.
Though I suspect there will be money to be made by the usual suspects.

[simonineaston]

Well, the UK rail system couldn't get much worse, could it... or could it?!

[Jdsk]

For the moment, they are socialising the losses.

https://fullfact.org/economy/how-much-does-government-subsidise-railways/

Jonathan

[Pendodave]

For the moment, they are socialising the losses.

https://fullfact.org/economy/how-much-does-government-subsidise-railways/

Jonathan

I'm unclear whether you are agreeing or disagreeing with my hypothesis!
It was made with reference to the current franchising arrangements by which the private companies are governed. The collapse in passenger numbers would mean that the franchise holders would incur substantial losses. These will now be borne by the taxpayer.
I am well aware that we have all been paying them a great deal for the last 20 years or more.

[Jdsk]

Quoting doesn't have to be "for" or "against" what's being quoted. : -)

The massively increased public subsidy in a notionally commercialised system is a fact.

Jonathan

PS:

I am well aware that we have all been paying them a great deal for the last 20 years or more.

I wasn't suggesting that you weren't aware. Did you think that's what I was doing by including the figures in the discussion?

[Jdsk]

Well, the UK rail system couldn't get much worse, could it... or could it?!

It sure could.

Jonathan

[simonineaston]

I used to use rail transport back in the days of 'apex' tickets and it worked pretty well to get us and our bikes across the UK to go cycle touring. As soon as the rail system was privatised, it quickly became obvious that the individual rail companies would scramble for maximium profit and that the casualties would be many & varied, and so it was. Rolling stock designed and bought on the basis of largest number of chargeable seats, lack of co-ordinated timetables, pricing & ticket practices designed to maximise profit and minimise convenience, etc.,etc.,etc... As we all know, the rail companies have no intention or incentive to provide benefits for cyclists - quite the reverse, as under current arrangements they (we) are simply a minority nuisance and are deterred wherever possible. The only possible way things might improve is to adopt an integrated transport policy and even then the adoption of cycle-friendly arragments is likely to be an up-hill struggle. If the blasted governments can't even manage that in the light of impending climate-change stresses *, I suggest that in practice, it will never get done. So sad, so unneccessary, such a waste...
Any changes made by our current gov. are likely to play fast & loose with regulation and continue to disadvantge minorities like cyclists & people with disabilties even further and will have one goal and one only, that is to satisfy the share-holders of the individual companies.
* Where, you would have thought, they would be falling over themselves to promote low carbon travel options faster than you can shake lambs' tails, but that's all another, equally painful and disappointing, arguement...

[Sweep]

Have just been looking at various journeys over Southwestern trains.

For journeys, I stress, during the week, NOT at weekends or sundays, when one might expect SOME engineering works.

Whatever I have tapped in so far returns a caution that part of the journey may be by bus.

Durlng the week!

I consider this a theft of public resources.

Have sent an email.

Will report back if I get any sort of response.,

[merseymouth]

Evening all, Right now the rail system is a Joke for me!
Before Coid I had 6 trains an hour to go into Liverpool city centre, now? If I'm lucky 2, but usually it is even less!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What is even worse is the fact that it appear that they are using a tombola method of selecting even then, a joke .
It is even worse should I try to visit our daughter in Penrith, I can't get them to tell which trains are going to be running?
But Northern Trains and Transpennine till keep getting cash for vanished services!
I joke with the Lime Street staff that it was a better service during the Rainhill Trials! Rocket or Puffing Billy would be welcome along our lines.
IGIHTCB MM

[horizon]

Have just been looking at various journeys over Southwestern trains.

For journeys, I stress, during the week, NOT at weekends or sundays, when one might expect SOME engineering works.

Whatever I have tapped in so far returns a caution that part of the journey may be by bus.

Durlng the week!

I consider this a theft of public resources.

Have sent an email.

Will report back if I get any sort of response.,

You might find that some journeys are actually extra buses laid on to enable social distancing at busy times.

[peetee]

Have just been looking at various journeys over Southwestern trains.

For journeys, I stress, during the week, NOT at weekends or sundays, when one might expect SOME engineering works.

Whatever I have tapped in so far returns a caution that part of the journey may be by bus.

Durlng the week!

I consider this a theft of public resources.

Have sent an email.

Will report back if I get any sort of response.,

I would imagine this is down to the logistics of running a service with less demand and, more importantly, less staff. Cancel a few services here and there and before you know it trains are in totally the wrong place to start their journeys the next day and there no drivers or paths (safe, allowable movements) available to correct the issues. The days of having spare rolling stock located in sidings around the network are long gone.