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Have you ever travelled by rail in France? Away from TGV?
TGV is a very good network, but it isn't all that frequent. A train at a maximum of once every 90 minutes from Paris to Bordeaux- given that level, trains shouldn't be delayed.
To compare, there's about 3-4 trains an hour between London and York. There's about 4 an hour from London to Birmingham/Manchester.
More trains = more chance to go wrong.
And TGV is hardly cheap. Fares are a bit cheaper, yes, but the subsidies are gigantic- to compare, both First Great Western and GNER pay £100m a year to the Government. And you should be comparing TGV to these TOCs.
How much rolling stock now is ancient? The oldest thing I can think of is HST, which- I'm sure you agree- is still a top train.
And Germany has fatalities due to mistakes. Head-on collisions, and an ICE that killed a huge number of people after bouncing off the tracks.
They did.
Or, more accurately, to minimise costs. Which is exactly the same thing.
BR routinely cut corners in order to cut costs. That's why many lines were "mothballed" by BR, including the Croxley Green branch in London that was "mothballed" by having a dual carriageway built over the top of it.
Go and read up about Ribblehead. It's something that should interest you- Government railways try to close it down, private TOC completely revitalises the service with better quality rolling stock and a frequency increased by 500%.
Yep. To an extent, anyway. BR weren't quite that good.
Railtrack doesn't exist anymore. Maintenance has been in-house for about four years. Did nobody tell you?
I hope to God you're going to prove that, because that is very close to being slander.
And in any case, I have one word for you: Hatfield
And two more: Potters Bar
A group of us have been working on this since the news broke. We have just launched our website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1517
We would welcome all views , both positive & negative , as our initial aim is to raise awareness of the very real threat the rail network faces.
.
save a bomb (forgive the pun) on consultancy fees alone
For more info visit our site
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1517
The consultation on the proposals that this thread is based on is happening now. http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/divisionhomepage/611062.hcsp
If you want to try and stop this , then you have until April 21 to get your responses in. For more info , visit our site http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1517
Even the "worst" trains are nothing to complain about, I haven't had one problem or delay while being over there and I've spent a considerable amount of time there.
They also have great fare systems for cheapskates like myself.
They still do.
The busy and profitable intercity operators pay a premium to the Treasury- both FirstGroup and GNER pay in excess of £100m pa in premiums.
And under BR the little-used lines were shut down and "bustituted" anyway. Two words: Doctor Beeching.
The German system is very good, but it's very good because its run by Germans, not because it's a state run thing. Especially as some publ;ic transport in germany is contracted out, AFAIK the Munich underground is now contracted out.
Network Rail have proposed the following :
"A national review of station usage (based on the number of users per day and per train) could consider least-used stations against the criteria already being applied to proposals for new stations."
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Documents/Appendix%202.2.pdf
A similiar review was conducted as a prelude to the original Beeching Report.
Visit our site for more info.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1517
I think thats a bit harsh and off subject
Yup, I hear the US has bad public transport... However I am against petrol being affordable for anybody. Granted I think people in certain jobs should get money off... But technically only those in rural areas need a car or people working certain jobs. If you live in the city, catching a tram, bus or train won't kill you.
Until public transport is actually useful, rather than the current all buses go to town approach we have now, we all need cars.
Well said.
I may not have put across just how serious a threat to the rail network that this potentially is.
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Documents/Appendix%202.2.pdf
What the proposed Network Rail review would do would be to consider the stations that they feel are the least used as if they HAVENT BEEN BUILT YET.
These stations would have to go through the same process as a proposed new station in a major city would just to justify their existance. Given the current cost-benefit analysis applied to new station proposals , many existing ones probably dont stand a chance.
For more info , visit our site.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1517
That's the problem. For instance Berney Arms in Norfolk, what is the point of that station? The nearest road is three miles away.
Personally , I think that this website , which campaigns for the protection of Melksham rail services , puts up a pretty good case.
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/index.html
Most stations that don't have any passengers don't deserve to stay open, though. That's the truth. Whilst I'd love to see all the railways kept open, there is a point where something is not viable.
It shouldn't be solely on a balance sheet- but then, nor are proposals for new stations.
At the same time, there is quite a bit of scaremongering sometimes. You should have read the drivel about the North's RUS.
Not by us I would add. On the occassions that the DfT get it right , us & other groups/organisations say so. We did feel the need to point out the contrast with the Greater Western Franchise , though.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/F3641215?thread=2539910&show=200
I suppose there's a moral in there somewhere about FirstGroup, too.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/4855264.stm
For more info , visit our site.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1517
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/update/archives/2006/03/someone_cant_wa.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/F3641215?thread=2625016&show=200
First has announced a usage review of Cornish Branch Lines which will begin this summer
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2117237,00.html
Quote from First :
"The question is whether these services are commercially viable or not.”
For more info , visit our site.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1517
Tomorrow (April 6) there is going to be a demonstration by Friends of the Earth who will be boarding the 8.06 at Totnes carrying large cardboard axes.
They will get off at Ivybridge where members of Ivybridge Rail Users Group will meet them and join in the protest.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/F3641215?thread=2652957&show=200
If you can get to Ivybridge , then we would urge you to join them.
Here.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4873552.stm