Reply to: Has the world gone completely and utterly mad?

[tractor]

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No she didn't, John Major did and he followed the EU stipulation of separating train operation and track operataion which, arguably, lies at the heart of many of the current problems with the railways today.

The nannying announcement about carrying water may have come from either an employee of a privately owned train operating company or an employee of the publicly owned Network Rail. Either way, it's bollocks. It'a regularly over 30°C in summer here in Heidiland and air conditioning isn't all that common yet no-one feels the need to declare a national emergency.

Yes, it was Major, getting old I am....

Anyone interested should look up the First Railway Package, which demanded that track and operations were sufficiently separated to provide cross border access and competition. No where does it say that either have to be private or public, just that they have to be sufficiently separate.

[tractor]

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The Dutch did that as well, and they blamed the EU too, until some senior policians and civil servants in NL were pushed on the issue and admitted it was bollocks; the EU never did force them to do this. It was part of a set of political ideas that were prevalent in the 80s and 90s.

The years sometimes play tricks on us ol timers, but it remains that the operating companies are in the private sector and there are not that many mainline stations that are still operated by NR, most are leased out just like the lines are to operating companies.

[Mich the Tester]

No she didn't, John Major did and he followed the EU stipulation of separating train operation and track operataion which, arguably, lies at the heart of many of the current problems with the railways today.

The Dutch did that as well, and they blamed the EU too, until some senior policians and civil servants in NL were pushed on the issue and admitted it was bollocks; the EU never did force them to do this. It was part of a set of political ideas that were prevalent in the 80s and 90s.

[GreyWolf]

Just in case you missed it, Thatcher privatised the railways a while ago

No she didn't, John Major did and he followed the EU stipulation of separating train operation and track operataion which, arguably, lies at the heart of many of the current problems with the railways today.

The nannying announcement about carrying water may have come from either an employee of a privately owned train operating company or an employee of the publicly owned Network Rail. Either way, it's bollocks. It'a regularly over 30°C in summer here in Heidiland and air conditioning isn't all that common yet no-one feels the need to declare a national emergency.

[tractor]

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Well, exactly. They put out all these announcements and the refreshment trolley didn't even come round until I was about to get off.

I was gagging for a can of Stella...

The last time I looked there were only automated announcements and the only live staff are the occasional ticket inspector.

[zoco]

the nanny state is good at nagging but useless at running anything

Well, exactly. They put out all these announcements and the refreshment trolley didn't even come round until I was about to get off.

I was gagging for a can of Stella...

[tractor]

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the nanny state is good at nagging but useless at running anything

Just in case you missed it, Thatcher privatised the railways a while ago

[DodgyAgent]

Well I've heard it all now.

Special announcements at the railway station warning travelers to be in possession of a bottle of water for their journeys and to notify a member of staff in the event of feeling unwell as a result of the extreme conditions.

the nanny state is good at nagging but useless at running anything

[zoco]

WHS, and it seems to get worse each year (not the heat, but the obsessive fussing about it)

It all seemed to start about the time more money was promised for the NHS ...

Well I've heard it all now.

Special announcements at the railway station warning travelers to be in possession of a bottle of water for their journeys and to notify a member of staff in the event of feeling unwell as a result of the extreme conditions.

[tractor]

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you might care to explain why he is a fool.

Because he thinks LOL means lots of love

[DodgyAgent]

Yep, and you punished the OP bad with all that unfounded repudiation.

Which part of 'fool Cameron' is unfounded?

you might care to explain why he is a fool.

[Dactylion]

I just don't like seeing people get away with making false or unfounded assumptions. If I do it myself I usually get jumped on.

No you don't!

[OwlHoot]

It's just embarrassing. Gawd knows what all my overseas colleagues think. ...

WHS, and it seems to get worse each year (not the heat, but the obsessive fussing about it)

It all seemed to start about the time more money was promised for the NHS ...

[tractor]

...

I just don't like seeing people get away with making false or unfounded assumptions. If I do it myself I usually get jumped on.

Yep, and you punished the OP bad with all that unfounded repudiation.

Which part of 'fool Cameron' is unfounded?

[DodgyAgent]

I don't think you are an agent at all, I just think you are one of those internet obsessives. You interject this tulip into every single thread from 'the weather' to 'look at this picture of my dog'

I just don't like seeing people get away with making false or unfounded assumptions. If I do it myself I usually get jumped on.