Not sure about that name though considering they wouldn't run in Northern Ireland.UK Rail being responsible for the services then keepinng the existing system
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Not sure about that name though considering they wouldn't run in Northern Ireland.UK Rail being responsible for the services then keepinng the existing system
I note that the report comes out against further expansion of Open Access Operators.
I note that the report comes out against further expansion of Open Access Operators.
They dont really, while not directly subsidised they recieve a proportional share of revenue from passengers on a route according to capacity provided (and some assumptions about which service a passenger would choose for speed/connections). The revenue they take comes out of the pockets of the franchise operating the same route, which means they may not make a profit on that route, which means they need subsidy.
I note that the report comes out against further expansion of Open Access Operators.
Open access operators are only charged marginal track access costs compared to franchised service operators who are charged full track access charges. This means that open access operators are effectively being subsidised by passengers on franchised services which are paying full track access charges to support the maintenance and operation of the network.
The Government/DfT view doesn't surprise me at all. This has always been perfectly obvious to anyone following all the correspondence about existing, and new, OA services - as seen on the ORR's website.
Unless OA operators start thinking about alternatives to paralleling existing routes (eg to London) they'll always have one hand tied behind their backs.
I have just read the government paper on the DFT website. If anyone wants to read 78 pages of spin and waffle that says nothing of any substance then I recommend it. Someone has taken the McNaulty report and just added bits and changed the wording slightly.
I have just read the government paper on the DFT website.
Nearly fell out of my chair when she suggested that there has never been a better time for working in the railway industry than now.
In other news, nobody has yet properly commented on ROSCOs and what a colossal waste of money they are...!
In other news, nobody has yet properly commented on ROSCOs and what a colossal waste of money they are...!
I have just read the government paper on the DFT website. If anyone wants to read 78 pages of spin and waffle that says nothing of any substance then I recommend it. Someone has taken the McNaulty report and just added bits and changed the wording slightly.
I think the bit that stood out most was
"While we reject the idea of using demand management to price
people off the railways, we need to look seriously at the possibility
of rewarding passengers who do not travel on the most crowded
trains, and asking those passengers who drive the need for capacity enhancements by travelling at the busiest times to pay more over time for their journey by comparison."
I think the bit that stood out most was
"While we reject the idea of using demand management to price
people off the railways, we need to look seriously at the possibility
of rewarding passengers who do not travel on the most crowded
trains, and asking those passengers who drive the need for capacity
enhancements by travelling at the busiest times to pay more over
time for their journey by comparison."
Anytime tickets are now massively expensive on most routes, especially up and down the West Coast and East Coast Mainlines. How can we realistically ask people to pay a surplus on top of the already high prices?
People using Anytime tickets are not really those who drive the peak capacity requirement up though. I think the problem they are really getting at is that of the season ticket holders in the South East, those who actually pay the least of all for their travel, because their 'regulated commuter fares', have been kept too low in comparison to the Anytime tickets...
I agree. "Peak" Virgin Trains and East Coast services are not exactly packed to the rafters!
I agree. "Peak" Virgin Trains and East Coast services are not exactly packed to the rafters!
How many people though would be using Anytime tickets rather than Advance or season tickets?Try Friday evening peak services out of Euston or Kings Cross.
How many people though would be using Anytime tickets rather than Advance or season tickets?
Try Friday evening peak services out of Euston or Kings Cross.
In at least some cases, cheaper advance fares are available even in the peak and this must contribute at least in part to overcrowding. That said with advance fares the people will be restricted to one train so if season tickets/anytime fares were made more expensive and people encouraged to book in advance more than this would allow overcrowding to be reduced. This wouldn't be my preferred option though.The cynic in me is thinking that the DfT won't ignore the correlation between Season tickets and peak hours.