Re: the railways
 

A very relevant article in today's guardian, details how rail companies are milking the taxpayer. -

The truth about Richard Branson's Virgin Rail profits | Aditya Chakrabortty | Comment is free | The Guardian

..which links to a study done by Manchester University -

Trades Union Congress - Rail privatisation has failed to deliver on its promises, says report

"The Great Train Robbery - written for the TUC by the Centre for Research on Social-Cultural Change (CRESC) at the University of Manchester - shows that private train companies are heavily dependent upon the public purse to enable them to run services."

Re: the railways
 

this proof the only way forward is nationalise the railways,ive been reading about the first railway companies. every one declared themselves bankrupt after they built a railway.. just shows our past is our future.:confused:

Re: the railways
 

Things like business have moved on a tad since the bad old days, state owned never works it costs the tax payer too much money, but somebody like you with little green eyes will never see that

Re: the railways
 

no the proof is there its in the news its in the papers that privatisation cost the taxpayer £30 billion more than when it was nationalised you cant argue the figures .network rail are £30 billion in the red as well. you are nuts jaysay you cant argue the only ones who have made money are people like branson who have made billions which has put Britain in more debt. he laughed all the way to the bank.

Re: the railways
 

You want to stop reading the Guardian you'll go blind;)

Re: the railways
 

well how come the most capitalised country in the world still runs a railway as a nationalized public service yes the u.s.of.a

Re: the railways
 

Have you much experience of rail travel in the USA other than the main East Coast lines?

The HSE would close it down in a heartbeat, stops without platforms, rails running down the centre of the main streets, road/rail crossings without barriers - that information is first hand on just a few trips I made - Yes some very spectacular journeys but they are in the minority.

Did you ever attempt to find out what the cost of the American railways are to the government?

Re: the railways
 

The American government make a hefty profit. the U.S.A. is a different culture to this country due to the high population and corporate lobbyists close to the American government.

Re: the railways
 

Thats fine, but was not his question,:rolleyes:His question was cost of railways to em.

Re: the railways
 

as every country in the world needs a transport system to move its population.in America every penny gets put back into the system in this country billions are given to the shareholder. the privatised railways has increased costs to the British taxpayer billions of pounds .so in the long run it does pay to have a nationalized railway.it is more profitable in America that it is in Britain. they put the money back in by building metros and light railways thus decreasing traffic on the roads as major cities are running out of space on their highways.

Re: the railways
 

Cashy, I think your advice about arguing with idiots is so very appropriate with him:D

Re: the railways
 

Barrie in his case you'd be insulting idiots;);)

Re: the railways
 

Did consider "moronic cretin", but decided that would be well beyond him:rolleyes:

Re: the railways
 

well here you go .. go and have a look at the steam engines tomorrow and sunday at the east lancs railway ...

End of Steam Festival | The East Lancashire Railway

Re: the railways
 

So let's humour your delusion, the Railways are re-nationalised, now what percentage of the "profits" do you think would truly be reinvested in the rail system & not squandered elsewhere to plug other haemorrhaging public services in your utopian socialist state?