Train fares to rise

[Rymez2K]

Given the oustanding level of service, the cleanliness of the carriages and the fact that I always get a seat, and the train is not always a completely tuliping overcrowded, tardy tuliphole I think the rises are absolutely justified.

Obviously not a first capital connect commuter then.

[Spacecadet]

Here in Poland a return to Warsaw from Krakow bought on the day in First Class (reserved seat in a compartment) is £20 return!

yup - Europe has what can be considered "normal" train prices, even if you buy on the day. Infact i think that booking in advance doesn't give you any special discount.

[Bagpuss]

Maybe things would improve if the gov’t looked after the rails (as with roads) and private firms operate the trains?

Isn't that the current set up? IMHO Rail privatisation should never have happened, it costs the taxpayer as much as it ever did and the service is hardly any better. The free market can never work in an oligopoly situation

[TimberWolf]

Dunno. Where does all the money go then? In energy terms one could cycle what, perhaps 50 miles for the cost of a bar of chocolate? That’s maybe an order of magnitude cheaper than transporting hundreds of passengers at a time by train, all of whom are using up a not insubstantial fraction as much energy just sitting there anyway. Not that I’m advocating cycling or anything, just trying to make sense of the cost of travel by train, and failing. Telling me that the gov’t are subsidising rails too, isn’t helping me at all

[NoddY]

Dunno. Where does all the money go then? In energy terms one could cycle what, perhaps 50 miles for the cost of a bar of chocolate? That’s maybe an order of magnitude cheaper than transporting hundreds of passengers at a time by train, all of whom are using up a not insubstantial fraction as much energy just sitting there anyway. Not that I’m advocating cycling or anything, just trying to make sense of the cost of travel by train, and failing. Telling me that the gov’t are subsidising rails too, isn’t helping me at all

The money ultimately ends up, where all wealth ends up, back at Moneylender Towers on the Wharf:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSBC_Rail

Crony capitalism: free markets for the poor and socialism for the rich.

[lilelvis2000]

Isn't that the current set up? IMHO Rail privatisation should never have happened, it costs the taxpayer as much as it ever did and the service is hardly any better. The free market can never work in an oligopoly situation

A complete lack of vision on that one. Same goes for buses. Recently our concil sold the bus company they owned 100%. Now the new bus company wants to slash service - unless the council puts out a tender for subsidy. ie: we were previously subsidising it before, looks like we'll have to do it again. And who convinced the council to sell it in the first place? The same bus company!! (which is foreign owned).

As well, this morning when the train broke down...If transport in this wretched north west was integrated, I could have used my rail ticket on the bus..nope had to cough up £1.40 for a 10 minute ride. Well at least the bus was heated and the ride smooth. And it got to my destination in 10 minutes. About the same speed as the train from that point!