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[Sir Tigger KC]

..... has been nationalised. 

If the service declines anything like the service has with South Western Railways since they were nationalised, then I think we can expect many more TB rants on the Pissed Off thread!        

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c68xk701d975o

[TheBoy]

I suspect under nationalisation, the service will degrade and the cost of running will skyrocket*

It doesn't really matter if the customers are pissed off, as long as the unions are happy.


*probably through taxpayer subsidies, rather than ticket prices, as such cost rises are then mostly hidden from the voting public.

[TheBoy]

On the upside, it could mean that East-West Rail might start running now, as I'm sure the union demands to drive trains on the so far unused new track can be tolerated, and burden the taxpayer some more.....

....thats assuming the track hasn't rotted away through no use.

[TheBoy]

Its like nothing has changed since pre nationalisation.

Same crap service
Same crap facilities
Same crap rolling stock
Same crap unionistic mentality

[tunnie]

Glad I stopped using them in ~2009 from what I read, back then it was a decent service for me and at the time they were investing money.

They put A/C in the old 165 DMU units, where as other provides like GWR just put new seat covers in,

[TheBoy]

Glad I stopped using them in ~2009 from what I read, back then it was a decent service for me and at the time they were investing money.

They put A/C in the old 165 DMU units, where as other provides like GWR just put new seat covers in,

They started putting new seat coverings in the 168's a couple of years back, but stopped when they heard they were being nationalised.

Those old 165s, which they are still sweating, even using a lot between London and Birmingham, are absolutely donald ducked, having seen no love since the BR days, other than a coat of paint early on, and the A/C you mentioned.

They seem a bit short on 168s currently, really since the Oxford to Marylebone bit opening several years ago, and the new (to Chiltern, definitely not new trains) Explorers are a rare sight on the network.


You'd be staggered at the timetables now, and journey times, though that is out of Chiltern's hands, obviously.

[TheBoy]

And price. If you want to park at either Bicester station (no easy feat in itself nowadays), and get a day travelcard, including tube, it's now £100.

And remember, that is a subsidised price, with almost the same being paid in by the taxpayer

[tunnie]

I recall their refurb of the 165's back in ~2006/7 ish to be quite extensive and more than others at the same time. Sounds like thats when they had their last big over-haul.

And price. If you want to park at either Bicester station (no easy feat in itself nowadays), and get a day travelcard, including tube, it's now £100.

And remember, that is a subsidised price, with almost the same being paid in by the taxpayer

I was paying ~£350 for a monthly ticket back then with about £50 to park the car again for the month.

[Varche]

You would wonder how other countries in Europe manage to run efficient and cheap ( to customers) services?

[TheBoy]

You would wonder how other countries in Europe manage to run efficient and cheap ( to customers) services?

I think in most left leaning countries such as Spain and Italy, its very heavily subsidised.  That said, I'd class the UK's 50-60% taxpayer subsidy as pretty heavy.

The problem the UK rail industry seems to have, to a layman like me, is it's run by the rail industry for the benefit of the rail industry, not for the passengers.

[Varche]

You might have something there that applies to Britain as a whole. 

[LC0112G]

The problem the UK rail industry seems to have, to a layman like me, is it's run by the rail industry for the benefit of the rail industry, not for the passengers.

But that's true of all private companies. The primary duty of a company is to their shareholders - basically making a return on shareholder investment. The fact that they're also running a public service is secondary at best.

If you want the primary duty to be to the passenger/customer, then you need to run the company as either a non-profit, or as a publicly owned one. We've tried publicly owned, and many agree that didn't work so well.

[TheBoy]

This is not at new thing since privatisation LC, it’s utterly, completely embedded in the industry

[TheBoy]

So first day I’ve used Chiltern since nationalisation, and I’m stranded at a station with the service cancelled.

Same shit trains, same shit staff, same shit service. Same incompetence, same indifference.

[Doctor Gollum]

So first day I’ve used Chiltern since nationalisation, and I’m stranded at a station with the service cancelled.

Same shit trains, same shit staff, same shit service. Same incompetence, same indifference.

Is that your surprised face?