DenmarkRail
Member
- Joined
- 13 Jun 2016
- Messages
- 665
I was watching BBC Question Time last night, and they started to talk about whether it was time for Britain to renationalise the railways... Someone raised a really good point that currently our railways are effectively nationalised, but with 'foreign' brands... Some others started to talk about that the FRANCHISE system doesn't work, but the private network does work... Which lead me to my new idea...
Currently, rail prices are expensive because of (gov regulation) and a lack of competition on lots of routes. The franchising system means that as standard, only one company operates on one route, which in my opinion is wrong. It is important that a market doesn't become a monopoly. Obviously there are exceptions, but the one route, one operator rule exists in general.
That is why, today, I am proposing a complete phased privatisation of the railways of Great Britain, through a FULL open access system, which would work on a 'slot' basis, with subsidies for certain stations, and services.
Let me use the East Coast for an example:
Lets say that Network Rail decide that there can be 12 trains a day between Edinburgh, and Kings Cross, one company could request 5 of those 'slots', another could request another 5, and another company could request 2. This would mean that 3 operators would be operating on a route, which would drive prices down, and increase consumer choice. This is something that the current 'partial' privatisation fails to do.
Another great benefit would be that an operator would be able to procure their own stock, rather than relying on DFT specifications, such as the 800 trains. There would no longer be requirements to paint stock in a certain way, or to create a uniformed style across ALL services.
Furthermore, another amazing benefit would be the ability to get new services across the board, rather than the current restrictive services. I hear many people here upset with the fact that Liverpool doesn't get enough services to London, well under this new system, many operators could take advantage, and open this service without franchise requirements getting in the way.
You may be asking... How would the government make money from this? Due to the new services, there would be new ways of the government making money, such as the ability to create a new train tax (replacing premiums) as well as the money for the travel rights. The increase of variety of services will create extra money for the economy, and the extra jobs through the extra services.
This system will also have huge changes for the way that stations are managed... Currently, they are included in the franchise to be operated by the operator... Now, they will be switched over to Network Rail, to ensure impartiality.
Currently, rail prices are expensive because of (gov regulation) and a lack of competition on lots of routes. The franchising system means that as standard, only one company operates on one route, which in my opinion is wrong. It is important that a market doesn't become a monopoly. Obviously there are exceptions, but the one route, one operator rule exists in general.
That is why, today, I am proposing a complete phased privatisation of the railways of Great Britain, through a FULL open access system, which would work on a 'slot' basis, with subsidies for certain stations, and services.
Let me use the East Coast for an example:
Lets say that Network Rail decide that there can be 12 trains a day between Edinburgh, and Kings Cross, one company could request 5 of those 'slots', another could request another 5, and another company could request 2. This would mean that 3 operators would be operating on a route, which would drive prices down, and increase consumer choice. This is something that the current 'partial' privatisation fails to do.
Another great benefit would be that an operator would be able to procure their own stock, rather than relying on DFT specifications, such as the 800 trains. There would no longer be requirements to paint stock in a certain way, or to create a uniformed style across ALL services.
Furthermore, another amazing benefit would be the ability to get new services across the board, rather than the current restrictive services. I hear many people here upset with the fact that Liverpool doesn't get enough services to London, well under this new system, many operators could take advantage, and open this service without franchise requirements getting in the way.
You may be asking... How would the government make money from this? Due to the new services, there would be new ways of the government making money, such as the ability to create a new train tax (replacing premiums) as well as the money for the travel rights. The increase of variety of services will create extra money for the economy, and the extra jobs through the extra services.
This system will also have huge changes for the way that stations are managed... Currently, they are included in the franchise to be operated by the operator... Now, they will be switched over to Network Rail, to ensure impartiality.