TW7
Member
- Joined
- 16 Nov 2009
- Messages
- 60
With the constant media coverage pointing out Scotland being unable to use Pound Sterling if the yes vote wins, how would this affect the tocs/focs and Network Rail???
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...the-border-if-scotland-votes-yes-9716639.html
Border controls would add a few minutes to a journey North...
With the constant media coverage pointing out Scotland being unable to use Pound Sterling if the yes vote wins, how would this affect the tocs/focs and Network Rail???
Do such border controls as stated currently exist between any other countries in the EC ?
Do such border controls as stated currently exist between any other countries in the EC ?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...the-border-if-scotland-votes-yes-9716639.html
Border controls would add a few minutes to a journey North...
Obviously the future Scottish Government will have to meet all the (massive) subsidy requirements the future Scotrail and Sleeper franchises (didn't the treasury help pay for the new Sleeper rolling stock).
In addition to this I think the Scottish Government should meet all the subsidy requirements for all services north of Carlisle of Berwick-Upon-Tweed respectively. It is simply not fair if the rUK taxpayers continue subsidising services north of the border when most of the rail services in the north of England as so terrible compared to the average rail service in Scotland.
Written by someone who lives in Edinburgh and travels to the north of England frequently.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...the-border-if-scotland-votes-yes-9716639.html
Border controls would add a few minutes to a journey North...
Short term, not a lot will change.
The Yes documentation suggests the existing franchises will continue and Scotland will use ORR/RSSB and the NR planning process for now.
But for NR's CP6 (after 2019), and at franchise renewal, things could change a lot.
It's worth noting that the Scotrail and Sleeper franchises are being let for 10-15 years under UK rules and will not be ditched.
ICEC will also be let under the current regime, followed by TPE next year.
Maybe we will see some changes when ICWC is re-let in 2016/17, or XC in 2019.
By then Scotland will have a better idea what they want from rail, and is sensible to achieve.
Who knows, we might have a Caledonian Railway again, operating into Carlisle.
However I don't think rail is high up their list of major national issues.
Border controls and currency decisions are not in the railway's control, but the same rules will have to apply to other modes of transport.
both West Coast and East Coast make decent profits for the DFT - could it be that an independent Scotland would introduce some competition to English franchises ?.
Doubt it as they would have to apply for track access rights which Network Rail and the Dft could easily say no to if there is profit to be made.
I think its inevitable there will be changes if Scotland does vote yes. For the 2 (virtually 3) lines that cross the border what I can see will happen is.
East Coast/CrossCountry: London to Edinburgh would stay the same but I wouldn't be surprised if CrossCountry was cut back to Newcastle. I woulden't be surprised if the Northern locals were extended from Chathill to Berwick-upon-Tweed.
West Coast Mainline: London to Glasgow I can't see changing from its current service pattern but I wouldn't be surprised if either the Birmingham or Manchester - Scotland trains was cut to Carlisle or Lancaster or Possibly Manchester or if the Birmingham Scottish trains were re-routed through Manchester but I can't see a 3 cross border tph service being maintained.
Glasgow and South Western Line: A Scottish Government would want to maintain this line serving Carlisle as it provides people who live in Dumfries with a direct link to a nearby city. I can't see the through trains to Newcastle continuing if Scotland votes yes.
Would a yes vote and the ultimate transfer of powers from one side of a line on a map to another diminish the need for travel between the two nations so much or would a force field, a modern day Hadrian's Wall if you like, suddenly appear to frustrate communications after the event?
Given the financial situation they are likely to face in the first 20 years as they face all the extra costs of running a state while simultaneously the situation where they get more out of the UK treasury than they put in ends abruptly, a quite possible way that they may change the railway is a programme of austerity closures, as recently happened in Greece.
It is important that a sovereign state can protect her borders. If that means border controls on the railway then so be it.
Of course, if Scotland has an open-border policy then services may exit England non-stop.
As to "communications" - I haven't read anything about what happens to the +44 dialing code in Scotland post independence. I also suspect that many of us have experienced an unexpected international call charge when our mobiles have picked up a Eire mobile transmitter rather than UK when visiting Northern Ireland.
Several posts have been deleted as Off Topic. Please keep this thread railway related.
For comments about Schengen, FTA's, currency and the finances of an independent Scotland, please use the thread in General Discussion.
Doubt there will any change to the railways after a YES vote.