CityDave Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 It's going to be publicly owned. Just not by the Scottish Public. The Scottish government has a lot to answer for to allow this to happen. Although Abellio might have a good reputation in Holland (I don't know what passengers there think of it) who's to say it will work with a new set of challenges ahead for the successful bidder?. But then this is what happens when contracts are up and made available to be bid for by private companies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banterman86 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 How can anyone who voted no complain about this. You voted for it. Eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banterman86 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Personally, I would like to have seen it publically owned. What's annoying is that the east coast franchise, after a period of successful public ownership is to be handed back to privately owned franchise as well. Me too - and it seems to a popular option amongst the public as well. These franchises tend to have breaks inserted into them so it would be interesting if a public bid could be put together with the next 5 years or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottsdad Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Does anybody disagree with the idea of nationalising the railways? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityDave Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Found this - http://weownit.org.uk/evidence/railways In Scotland, responsibility for letting rail franchises is devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The franchise to operate Scotland’s railways, held by First Scotrail since 2004, is up for renewal, and the winner of the 10-year franchise is expected to be announced in October 2014. There are calls to suspend the tendering process in light of promised new powers for Holyrood following the referendum on Scottish independence, which would include the option of a publicly owned railway. Scotrail is the second most subsidised franchise in the UK, and rail union RMT have estimated that dividends paid to shareholders have forced fares up by around 7%. The Co-op Party and train drivers’ union Aslef have set out a vision for a publicly owned Scottish rail network, with co-operative principles at heart, and a commitment to community benefit and customer service. also from the blog public ownership is workingSince 2009, the East Coast Mainline has been run by Directly Operated Railways, a publicly owned rail company set up after National Express walked out on their franchise contract. East Coast has been highly successful, and is working better for passengers and for taxpayers (read more). It boasts a 91% customer satisfaction rate according to the National Rail Passenger Survey. East Coast also requires less public subsidy than nearly all of the privately-run lines and is projected to return nearly £1 billion to the government, money that can be invested back into the railways. It is also the most efficient franchise in the UK, according to the Office of Rail Regulation. The success of East Coast is a clear indication of what the railways would look like if they were run for people, not for profit. Putting the public back in control of our railways need not cost a penny - each line could be brought into public ownership as the private sector franchise expires. Translink is a public corporation that provides integrated rail and bus services across Northern Ireland. Its latest annual report claims that ‘It is accepted now that public funding for passenger transport is lower in Northern Ireland than elsewhere. Despite this, a comparison of bus and rail services in Northern Ireland with Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland shows we have higher service levels and lower fares.’ France has a largely publicly owned rail system, and provides fares that are half as expensive as those in the UK with the same level of government subsidy. According to a recent YouGov poll, 66% of the public support bringing the railways into public ownership. Which? says that only three in ten people trust the rail industry to act in their best interests. But now the East Coast has now been taken out of Public hands?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin M Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Apparently Abellio are offering £5 advance fares between any two cities, increased bike facilities at stations including bike hire, guarantee of no compulsory redundancies and of living wage for staff. Donut policy not yet mentioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityDave Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Fares don't cover much of the costs at the moment either. I suspect First will get east coast franchise now, most thought it likely they'd get one of the bids they were going for. The costs are taken up by government subsidies, but according to some a huge chunk of it ends up being paid in dividends to shareholders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityDave Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 On the subject of the East Coast line. http://actionforrail.org/the-attack-on-our-railways/keep-east-coast-public/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightmare Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Apparently Abellio are offering £5 advance fares between any two cities Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForzaDundee Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/new-deal-transform-rail-services There will be a break clause for the franchise after 5 years. For passengers - • free wifi on all trains• new approach to cycling with more than 3,500 parking spaces and bike-hire at a number of stations.• 23% more carriages across the network,• reduced fares for jobseekers,• high-speed intercity diesel trains, with over a third more seats,• advance fares of £5 between any two Scottish cities,• Great Scenic Railway scheme bringing more tourists to the north, the south west and the Borders,• major shopping developments at the stations at Aberdeen and Inverness. For staff –• a commitment to earnings of at least the living wage for all staff and subcontractors,• at least 100 apprenticeships,• guarantee of no compulsory redundancies throughout the life of the contract,• rail staff pensions and travel rights protected,• introduction of guaranteed trade union representation on every franchise Board meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForzaDundee Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 • high-speed intercity diesel trains, with over a third more seats, • advance fares of £5 between any two Scottish cities, • a commitment to earnings of at least the living wage for all staff and subcontractors, Decent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banterman86 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 How can anyone who voted no complain about this. You voted for it. Any chance of clearing this up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confidemus Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 doesnt matter who runs the railways its the paying punter that gets screwed over. So the whole thread is pointless then? Good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karpaty Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Any chance of clearing this up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin M Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Any chance of clearing this up? "The Vow" contained a clause that public transport will be outsourced to the governments of other countries. Always pays to read the small print. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confidemus Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Banterman's like a dog with a fucking bone. I know exactly what his angle is here. If I were ForzaDundee, I wouldn't bother replying. Just sayin'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banterman86 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Banterman's like a dog with a fucking bone. I know exactly what his angle is here. If I were ForzaDundee, I wouldn't bother replying. Just sayin'. What is my angle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confidemus Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 What is my angle? I am surprised that you came back at me with a question. Very unlike you. You know fine well what your angle is. Instead of just telling ForzaDundee he's wrong, you're out to score a point or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForzaDundee Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Any chance of clearing this up? u wot, luv? You voted for more of the same. You said that we are Better Together under the capitalist neo-liberal agenda of the UK rather than pursuing radical alternatives that are only on the table with independence. In essence, you shat it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banterman86 Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 I am surprised that you came back at me with a question. Very unlike you. You know fine well what your angle is. Instead of just telling ForzaDundee he's wrong, you're out to score a point or two. This has nothing to do with the referendum. This would have happened irrespective of how Scotland voted on the 18th. That a poster is saying "This is what you get for voting no" is fairly revealing of the culture of greivance we will now no doubt see every time the Scottish Government take a decision that isn't popular Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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