TopGun Posted 19 December, 2012 Share Posted 19 December, 2012 I love trains. I think they are excellent ways to travel. They had their heyday before cars and motorways arrived because then they got neglected and even shut down by the likes of Dr Beeching in the 1960s. But I think people are fed up with road congestion and turning back to the railways for commuter runs and longer distance travel. Some of the new trains are really quite nice, provided they aren't overcrowded. And reasonable value with rising petrol prices. But I get fed up with how overcrowded and inadequate my local train into Manchester is in the morning. New report on most overcrowded routes at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20783986 Waterloo is not a surprise. I would happily pay more tax (if I knew it was being spent on railway infrastructure) for more and better trains. I understand about the private franchises, but ultimately the government pays for rail network infrastructure upgrades. Any views elsewhere on how good or crap rail is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kraken Posted 19 December, 2012 Share Posted 19 December, 2012 Its great, but far too expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 19 December, 2012 Share Posted 19 December, 2012 I love trains. I think they are excellent ways to travel. They had their heyday before cars and motorways arrived because then they got neglected and even shut down by the likes of Dr Beeching in the 1960s. But I think people are fed up with road congestion and turning back to the railways for commuter runs and longer distance travel. Some of the new trains are really quite nice, provided they aren't overcrowded. And reasonable value with rising petrol prices. But I get fed up with how overcrowded and inadequate my local train into Manchester is in the morning. New report on most overcrowded routes at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20783986 Waterloo is not a surprise. I would happily pay more tax (if I knew it was being spent on railway infrastructure) for more and better trains. I understand about the private franchises, but ultimately the government pays for rail network infrastructure upgrades. Any views elsewhere on how good or crap rail is? A fortune is being spent on platform extensions, resignalling work etc, so longer and more frequesnt trains can be run. Problem is the contraints brought about by working on what is still a railway based on victorian infrastructure. We can't do things like double-decker trains that are run on the continent. Also the railways are now partly a victim of their own success - few industries, if any, have seen the level of growth the UK has in the last 15 years or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheaf Saint Posted 19 December, 2012 Share Posted 19 December, 2012 Its great, but far too expensive. This. The barmy pricing systems in this country are just ridiculous and the only winners are the PLCs that operate them. Train travel in mainland Europe where they are mostly still run by the state are cheaper, more efficient, and just generally a more pleasant experience. Even Slovenia has a much better and cheaper railway network than we do. Admittedly they don't have anything like the population we do but even so, given the economies of scale it should surely cost less for everyone if more people use the service, not more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopGun Posted 19 December, 2012 Author Share Posted 19 December, 2012 A fortune is being spent on platform extensions, resignalling work etc, so longer and more frequesnt trains can be run. Problem is the contraints brought about by working on what is still a railway based on victorian infrastructure. We can't do things like double-decker trains that are run on the continent. Also the railways are now partly a victim of their own success - few industries, if any, have seen the level of growth the UK has in the last 15 years or so. I think all those points are very valid. Living in Manchester, I enjoy the pendolino ride to Euston at just over 2 hours when it is not too crowded. I know that some platforms on the route have been lengthened so that longer pendolinos with additional carriages have been introduced which is great. But overall IMO we need more route capacity so fast trains can pass commuter trains and freight trains also. That would be good expenditure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 20 December, 2012 Share Posted 20 December, 2012 I think the beeching report was one of the biggest balls Ups this country has made in the last 100 years. Instead of closing branch lines we should have been extending them and modernising. I am against government getting involved with the running of most things , but the transport system and infrastructure is one thing they should be running, even in a "hands off" way. To get people out of cars and onto trains is a no brainer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
View From The Top Posted 20 December, 2012 Share Posted 20 December, 2012 I've invested in a friends and family railcard and it has proven to be excellent value. Do most away games by train now and have had family trips for the 5 of us to London for £25 from Stafford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 20 December, 2012 Share Posted 20 December, 2012 A fortune is being spent on platform extensions, resignalling work etc, so longer and more frequesnt trains can be run. Problem is the contraints brought about by working on what is still a railway based on victorian infrastructure. We can't do things like double-decker trains that are run on the continent. Also the railways are now partly a victim of their own success - few industries, if any, have seen the level of growth the UK has in the last 15 years or so. Southern region flirted with double deck units as far back as 1949 but, in retrospect, it wasn't well thought out. http://kentrail.org.uk/Bulleid_4DD.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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