Woop Woop

[maggiebee]

Great news, read all about it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-60842268?fbclid=IwAR1__75uYUW0P_1ii09ZoWN9RvLi28MY-VbjszsU6E9HmStChr8aIFdthAw

[Zacs-Master]

Whoop Oooops.
'However, critics say Scotland's railways have just seen the biggest fare rise in a decade - and that some services now run less frequently than before the pandemic.'

'Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said [ ]"the SNP is no good at running things".

'.........he said rail passengers should be worried that ScotRail would "turn out to be CalMac on wheels".

'....politicians may find themselves drawn into rows on pay or rostering which were previously the responsibility of a private company'

It is April 1st, you know.

[maggiebee]

Yes I do know ZM. Does that mean we should ignore all news today just in case....??

[Zacs-Master]

No, just be wary, Eh?

[goodgoalie]

Now how about doing the same with gas and electricity? The French government has instructed state-owned EDF to limit their tariff rise to 4% this year. The UK? A rise of over 50% from today for those on standard variable tariff. This will bankrupt businesses and financially cripple households.

[Gromit]

Careful what you wish for.
Nationalised railways in Britain were a terrible failure.
Poor investment, poor service, expensive for the passenger and the taxpayer. So I am not rejoicing.

[Zacs-Master]

Ha ha, Maggie, I've just seen your post from yesterday which reads 'Tomorrow is April Fool's Day Believe nothing and trust no one Just like any other day...'

[ToraToraTora]

FFFreeedoooommm!

[maggiebee]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssss TTT

[Togo]

It will now be managed just like the ferries are being "managed".

[New Judge]

//The French government has instructed state-owned EDF to limit their tariff rise to 4% this year. The UK? A rise of over 50% from today for those on standard variable tariff.//

Bearing in mind that the cost of providing electricity is similar in France as it is in the UK, where do you imagine the 46% difference in France will come from? Clue: (9 letters):

T _ X _ A _ E _ S

[Gromit]

The out going franchisee Abellio were encouraged to bid too much for the service. The Government got loads of money, but the operator could not make it pay and now it is nationalised (until someone else is daft enough to bid for it). The same story has been repeated all over the country, the Government sells licenses expensively and the service suffers.

[mushroom25]

// The same story has been repeated all over the country //

only (geographically) 4 franchises have failed - East Coast (3 times), SouthEastern (twice) and SouthCentral and Scotrail (once each).

East Coast should be a goldmine, the trains are always full... and yet! GNER overbid, National Express were caught out by a downturn and sharp increase in fuel costs, and Virgin defaulted because the system upgrades on which service improvements relied (and on which the bid's increased revenue forecast was based) didn't happen (and still haven't been completed).