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Original poster

An inauspicious start to Great British Railways

34 replies

Tryingtokeepgoing · 26/05/2025 18:43

Well that’s started well 😂

As someone who remembers the shambles that was British Rail, and lives in an area with a frequent, cheap (off peak…) and reliable train service I’m not really looking forward to to a return to the past…

https://news.sky.com/story/first-renationalised-train-service-starts-today-but-not-how-youd-have-hoped-13373360?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4yqUqiXKGYrHWwwxr3aGjndE7_Dwne_aSFUXh36oUzkTLgtg_-d667KrKQfQ_aem_3U3IOXCGbr3cnN7bBh5bQA

South Western Railway: First renationalised train service starts today... with replacement bus

Britain's railways are frequently plagued by delays, cuts to services and timetable issues - so what difference will nationalisation make to passengers in England and will journeys be cheaper?

https://news.sky.com/story/first-renationalised-train-service-starts-today-but-not-how-youd-have-hoped-13373360?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4yqUqiXKGYrHWwwxr3aGjndE7_Dwne_aSFUXh36oUzkTLgtg_-d667KrKQfQ_aem_3U3IOXCGbr3cnN7bBh5bQA

OP posts:
titchy · 26/05/2025 19:54

Tryingtokeepgoing · 26/05/2025 19:50

Well yes, but then why plan to start Great British Railways on a bank holiday weeks then. It doesn’t take much common sense, though clearly more than exists in government or the civil service, to chose a different day surely? As engineering works are planned way in advance.

Show quote history

Because that was the date the MTR franchise ran out.

MiloMinderbinder925 · 26/05/2025 19:53

Tryingtokeepgoing · 26/05/2025 19:50

Well yes, but then why plan to start Great British Railways on a bank holiday weeks then. It doesn’t take much common sense, though clearly more than exists in government or the civil service, to chose a different day surely? As engineering works are planned way in advance.

Show quote history

Probably due to timing of contracts.

Original poster
Tryingtokeepgoing · 26/05/2025 19:50

titchy · 26/05/2025 18:57

Tbf it’s bank holiday weekend and the engineering works were scheduled.

Well yes, but then why plan to start Great British Railways on a bank holiday weeks then. It doesn’t take much common sense, though clearly more than exists in government or the civil service, to chose a different day surely? As engineering works are planned way in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tryingtokeepgoing · 26/05/2025 19:48

Summerhillsquare · 26/05/2025 19:31

Disgraceful coverage of an essential step. They should have compared it to the dire performance of the private operators over the years - with profits sucked out of the UK and not reinvested.

Although, the biggest issue in terms of reliability is engineering works. And they are Network Rails responsibility, which is already nationalised…

OP posts:
Summerhillsquare · 26/05/2025 19:31

Disgraceful coverage of an essential step. They should have compared it to the dire performance of the private operators over the years - with profits sucked out of the UK and not reinvested.

soupyspoon · 26/05/2025 18:59

Brilliant

I thought you meant another episode of Michael Portillo's Great Railway journeys.

titchy · 26/05/2025 18:57

Tbf it’s bank holiday weekend and the engineering works were scheduled.

MiloMinderbinder925 · 26/05/2025 18:46

I remember British Rail as well but something has to be done because we lack effective regulation.

Our utilities are the most expensive in Europe and we're being completely ripped off.

Everygrain · 26/05/2025 18:46

Oh dear.

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