Railroad Forums 

  • East coast problems

  • Discussion about railroad topics everywhere outside of Canada and the United States.
Discussion about railroad topics everywhere outside of Canada and the United States.

Moderators: Komachi, David Benton

 #1460447  by george matthews
 
The franchise holders of the East Coast mainline, Stagecoach and Virgin, are to lose their franchise shortly, as they have been unable to pay their agreed franchise payments to the government. The last time this occurred, when National Express failed to make the payments, the line was run by a government body - that is renationalised - and made a profit for the government. There are those of us who think this is a hint that all these lines would be better if renationalised, as is Labour's policy if they win the next general election. Something similar happened in New Zealand.
 #1460642  by johnthefireman
 
This is the third time, isn't it? As you say, when it was run by a government body it made a profit and ran extremely well. Ironically the government body was not allowed to tender for the new franchise, even though foreign government bodies were allowed. Madness.
 #1460651  by george matthews
 
johnthefireman wrote:This is the third time, isn't it? As you say, when it was run by a government body it made a profit and ran extremely well. Ironically the government body was not allowed to tender for the new franchise, even though foreign government bodies were allowed. Madness.
I think the belief in 'privatisation' is similar to cult beliefs.