Costs

[philabos]

I am an American trying to make a comparison between NR and Amtrak. Although there are many apples and oranges involved, here is what I think I know:
The UK government pays a subsidy per passenger train mile (or in some cases receives a payment) to individual TOC's. NR also receives a grant - also from the governmet for infrastructure. NR assigns a cost to each TOC. The total subsidy is then calculated bwteen these figures (I found this on the Dft website under "Rail Subsidy per passenger train mile"). I note FCC apparenty covers its NR costs and does not receive an operating subsidy - which if I've understood correctly the numbers is fairly incredible for a commuter operation.
Some of the things I do not understand:
1. How is the freight revenue handled? I assume the freight operators pay a use fee and are not subsidized. Do these funds simply reduce the NR grant requirement?
2. Are all the machinations of rolling stock leases folded into the TOC costs or is that yet a different line item?
3. Station management - again folded into TOC/NR costs or something different?
I realize Scotland is a completely different situation - even though NR manages infrastructure there as well.
Thanks for any pointers.
Warren

 

[sevenhills]

The railway industry is subsidised to the tune of £4 billion – roughly four times greater than the comparable cost under British Rail. Some companies make millions whilst other go bust, what is going on?
Sorry, I dont know the answers to your questions.

http://fullfact.org/factchecks/taxpayer_subsidy_train_network_nationalisation-3391

 

[merlodlliw]

The TOC Arriva Trains Wales, comes under Welsh Govt, & Network Rail has recently devolved a Wales structure.

Virgin Trains in North Wales & FGW South Wales however do not come under WG control as such being Inter City tocs.

As for your question, Ill leave it to the experts.

Bob

 

[Railsigns]

I realize Scotland is a completely different situation - even though NR manages infrastructure there as well.

The situation in Scotland is no different except the passenger franchise is awarded by Transport Scotland (an agency of the Scottish Government).

The way we run our railways in Great Britain is an absolute shambles, by the way.

 

[philabos]

The way we run our railways in Great Britain is an absolute shambles, by the way.

I am just trying to compare our shambles to yours.

At 4 billion UKP it appears your subsidy is about 2.5 UKP per passenger.
The subsidy to Amtrak is about 8 to 10 times that much. Volume certainly has a big impact, since the UK is now near 1.5 billion and the Amtrak at
about 30 million passengers. We don't include commuters - the NR figure does count commuters. On the other hand, adding the commuter revenue and cost would probably make the US number even worse by comparison.