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Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail?

You are here: Home > Forum > Miscellaneous > The real thing (anything else rail-oriented) > Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail?

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is this the end of network rail? 02/12/2016 at 22:19 #89666
08wrighta
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Well it seems the government wants to take power away from network rail and give it to the train operators to do the repairs and the uphold of the railway infrastructure and trains in an attempt to "end delays" and "lower fares".

Personally I think it will be a disaster move in my opinion, operators will get greedy for money, do as little as possible to keep trains running, passengers will suffer, passengers will refuse to use them, and the end of the Uk railway,

What do you guys think?

good move or suicide

Alex

link to article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/02/exclusive-network-rail-stripped-control-britains-train-tracks/

Last edited: 02/12/2016 at 22:20 by 08wrighta
Reason: headline change

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Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail? 02/12/2016 at 22:57 #89667
Noisynoel
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989 posts
So on lines that are used my multiple operators.. who is in charge.. whoever it is they'll be biased!
Noisynoel
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Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail? 02/12/2016 at 23:11 #89668
Peter Bennet
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5355 posts
Need to await the official documents to understand the full proposals.

Currently, the EU Railway Directives bind us to certain rules of separation between infrastructure and train operator.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
Last edited: 02/12/2016 at 23:20 by Peter Bennet
Reason: added a bit

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Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail? 02/12/2016 at 23:39 #89669
Steamer
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Peter Bennet in post 89668 said:
Currently, the EU Railway Directives bind us to certain rules of separation between infrastructure and train operator.
How extensive are those rules? As I understand it, the directive only calls for a financial separation, the current system being predominantly British Civil Service ideology.

As for how to fix Network Rail... let the engineers decide what's safe and what's not. Don't gold-plate specifications. Listen to people who've actually done the job. Employ people to do useful work.

Nope, that's far too sensible...

"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
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Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail? 03/12/2016 at 10:38 #89672
Peter Bennet
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Steamer in post 89669 said:
Peter Bennet in post 89668 said:
Currently, the EU Railway Directives bind us to certain rules of separation between infrastructure and train operator.
How extensive are those rules? As I understand it, the directive only calls for a financial separation, the current system being predominantly British Civil Service ideology.
I did swat up on them once and I don't propose to revisit again. What I recall is that the rules don't go as far as requiring the separation the UK has, but they should operate at arms length. Several countries were infracted for not going far enough.


Steamer in post 89669 said:

As for how to fix Network Rail... let the engineers decide what's safe and what's not. Don't gold-plate specifications. Listen to people who've actually done the job. Employ people to do useful work.

Nope, that's far too sensible...
It does amaze me how costs seem to spiral out of control with even minor projects and not just on the railways. Even something as simple painting a circle on the road at a junction to create a mini-roundabout seen to cost Millions and take forever to do. I did wonder if under the "Big Society" initiative I should just buy a tin of paint at Homebase and do it for them.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail? 03/12/2016 at 17:54 #89683
kbarber
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Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. So the old railwaymen are proved right, it seems, and it's only taken them 22 years to realise it! Which means we're into another round of huge reorganisations, with everything being taken even further into the private sector where it gets milked as a moneymaking opportunity. As Robert Adley (Conservative MP for Christchurch, who died on the evening the Railways Act 1993 passed into law, having fought it more strongly than just about any other MP) said, it's a poll tax on wheels.
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Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail? 05/12/2016 at 22:45 #89712
nnr
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It's ironic that many of our so called private operators are actually subsidiaries of nationally owned European railways..DB, Abellio....................

It's quite correct that only the accounting of rail operations should separate the track and infrastructure from the running of trains side.

It is also a lesson in history that both Brunel and Stephenson, who originally employed contractors for maintenance, sacked them all after only a short time and took the job "in house" due to failings by the aforesaid contractors.

A railway can only be efficiently run if it is vertically integrated.

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Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail? 06/12/2016 at 10:30 #89714
Zoe
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38212467

So Network Rail is here to stay, it's just that franchises will in the future be jointly run by the franchisee and Network Rail.

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Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail? 06/12/2016 at 10:58 #89715
kbarber
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Zoe in post 89714 said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38212467

So Network Rail is here to stay, it's just that franchises will in the future be jointly run by the franchisee and Network Rail.
AKA 'deep alliancing'?

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Well this could be interesting, the end of network rail? 06/12/2016 at 13:25 #89717
Peter Bennet
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5355 posts
Links to DfT statements:

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/rail-reform-future-of-the-rail-network

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-puts-passengers-at-the-heart-of-the-railway

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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