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Gong for Network Rail Chief
Topic Started: Jan 3 2008, 02:12 PM (669 Views)
wickedwitch
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Startline Ed,Jan 5 2008
07:53 PM


They need longer trains and an improvement in punctuality.

As a former commuter Id say that what they need is more trains at APPROPRIATE times and a sensible fare structure for those that rely on trains to get them to work
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Red Andy
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Why should they bother, though? The rail companies know that commuters will use the trains regardless (most of them have no choice), so they can maximise their profits by cramming the customers onto ever-shrinking trains and hiking ticket prices by ridiculous amounts every year.

Therein lies your problem - there is no competition on the rails, so the companies essentially have a licence to do as they please. And we have to put up with it. <grrr>
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AndyW76
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Red Andy,Jan 6 2008
09:54 PM
Why should they bother, though? The rail companies know that commuters will use the trains regardless (most of them have no choice), so they can maximise their profits by cramming the customers onto ever-shrinking trains and hiking ticket prices by ridiculous amounts every year.

Therein lies your problem - there is no competition on the rails, so the companies essentially have a licence to do as they please. And we have to put up with it. <grrr>

It is just like motorway service stations, a captive audience (of sorts). They have no choice so they tighten their belts and pay up anyway. The sad fact is that who ever wins the rail franchises, it is usually the same management team as before just hired under different backers. I don't see how competition can be implemented on the railways because, when I take a train, I don't base my choice on the company, I base it on what train's time is convenient for me. The problem is that the competition in rail travel is not based on consumer choice but on network rail's tender process, which doesn't necessarily have the comuters best interests at heart (i.e. the lowest bidder generally wins the contract).
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