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Recent content by Monkey Magic

  1. M

    Franchise agreement and monopoly?

    Agreed, although there are fairly obvious question marks about the rigour of oversight and the degree of openness/competition. Another government could easily interpret the issue differently.
  2. M

    Franchise agreement and monopoly?

    I assume the idea would be that because there are two routes - London - Scotland that there is 'theoretically' a choice of service and hence competition between the two (and all the benefits that this entails). If the two routes are controlled by the same company then there is no competition...
  3. M

    Franchise agreement and monopoly?

    Why shouldn't it appear? Is it not a monopoly? I'd always assumed that the separation of East and West Coast and the idea that they were two separate companies was to provide a veneer that it was not a monopoly.
  4. M

    Franchise agreement and monopoly?

    I am just curious, wasn't the idea of VTEC that it meant that Virgin weren't seen as having a monopoly on services, and Stagecoach also not being seen as having a monopoly either. Does this rebranding as Virgin Trains not violate the principle that was established that they were 'different'...
  5. M

    Commuting from Godalming

    Very occasionally, the trains would be reported as 'full and standing' but this was normally if there had been cancellations. You should be able to get a seat. Normally seats go by Guildford.
  6. M

    The end of the Lancashire & Yorkshire meant the end of northern economic independence

    Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway? Closed 1917. I think there are a couple of others that closed during WW1. The impact of 1929 can not be understated in terms of the long term future of the railways.
  7. M

    BR Modernisation policies and subsequent investment

    The thing that strikes me about modernisation is how despite nationalisation, regional fiefdoms still existed, this seems to have meant that modernisation was less than coherent in terms of its vision. we can add into this all the various different DMU designs and that the Southern had...
  8. M

    The end of the Lancashire & Yorkshire meant the end of northern economic independence

    You could probably make the same argument - the loss of regional railways, in favour of London-centric railway companies, resulted in a shift in emphasis away from those regions, damaging their long term economic interests and making them subordinate to the interests of London. Where as Wales...
  9. M

    The end of the Lancashire & Yorkshire meant the end of northern economic independence

    An interesting article and arguments. http://www.citymetric.com/transport/end-lancashire-yorkshire-railway-meant-end-northern-economic-independence-1408
  10. M

    Interesting Experience Booking Tickets With Renfe

    I found it dead easy to get them when we were there. The ticket machines are available in english which helps.
  11. M

    Tickets in Advance in Poland

    Polish airports tend to be pretty good when it comes to signs and communication. I had to get a bus into Warsaw from the airport and was worried about it the first time I went but it turned out to be super easy (indicator telling you the next stop (and the Saints day)) I don't know about IC...
  12. M

    BR Modernisation policies and subsequent investment

    Add into it Western Region going for Diesel Hydraulics while everyone else was going for DE. Class 14 - 56 - withdrawn in less than 5 years Class 22 - 57 - withdrawn in less than 10 years Hymeks - 101 - withdrawn 10-15 years D600 - 5 - withdrawn in less than 10 years D800 (Swindon) - 42 -...
  13. M

    Tickets in Advance in Poland

    I've bought online for PKP and had no problems with it. For 4 zloty if it is easier than dealing with a babushka in a ticket booth I would do that. (assuming timings work). Enjoy Poland it is a great place.
  14. M

    Tickets in Advance in Poland

    Hi, I've had a look on the website and I tried to buy online tickets - while I could work out the price I couldn't actually buy the ticket. The PKP train is 4zty more and you can buy that online. http://rozklad-pkp.pl/en The Polish would be if buying in person (apologies if I am...

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