I feel like a little rant.

[Harlesden]

In the past 50 years
Steam engines requiring a crew of two have been replaced by diesel or electric units requiring only one driver
Hundreds of signal boxes have closed with a vast reduction in the number of signal persons
Dozens of lines and scores of stations have closed making hundreds of station staff redundant.
The number of operating/frontline staff has therefore been reduced by at least one third.
What has been done with this massive saving in staff pay?
Why are many stations now unmanned for much of the day? Something unheard of 50 years ago when even the smallest provincial stations had a stationmaster, two booking clerks, a porter and a signalman as shown in this picture of tiny Brocklesby Station.

The answer lies in extra tiers of management being introduced, all demanding high salaries that frontline staff can only dream of. Has the British railway network improved as a result of these extra layers of management? No. These extra management salaries have not only eaten up the savings produced by the changes described at the beginning of the post, they have created shortfalls in the funds required to actually operate the railway in the way it should be run – with staffed stations and friendly cheerful booking clerks.
How can those in charge be so hypocritical – claiming to be so concerned about Health and Safety, yet constantly looking for ways to leave stations unmanned – stations with platforms considerably higher than the track (risk of falling) and trains passing through at high speed.
I just think the organisation of today’s rail network is so unsatisfactory with top heavy management taking priority over the basic operational needs of the network.

 

[Butts]

Have you got a "downer" on Management :cry:

Three answers:

Inflation

Motor Cars

Unions

 

[Donny Dave]

Three answers:

<snip>

4th answer ....

Highly fragmented railway, meaning every role has to be duplicated at each TOC.

 

[table38]

Safer working practices

 

[Butts]

For long distance travel - cheap UK Domestic Fares on Aircraft.....

How many railfares are cheaper than they were thirty years ago

 

[ainsworth74]

For long distance travel - cheap UK Domestic Fares on Aircraft.....

Though in recent years rail has destroyed domestic air share of the market on all routes apart from London - Scotland and South West - Scotland.

 

[Greenback]

We now enjoy much higher pay than in, say, the 1950's, not just in the railway industry but in every walk of life.

Yes, there is duplication across TOC's, safer (and more costly) ways of working, and don't forget that technological advances have meant it's not necessary to have so many manual staff. All of these things have contributed to a change in our lifestyle, a change in the way we work, and a change in society as a whole.

It is far too simplistic to blame it all on the number of managers increasing.

 

[SS4]

Perhaps the Taxpayer demanded the uneconomical part of the railway was closed?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Perhaps the Taxpayer demanded the uneconomical part of the railway was closed?

Which particular one did you have in mind, as you prefixed his title with a capital letter...

 

[Butts]

Though in recent years rail has destroyed domestic air share of the market on all routes apart from London - Scotland and South West - Scotland.

Birmingham to Edinburgh/ Glasgow is still quite healthy but I take your point.

A lot of the Airlines have effectively destroyed themselves with predatory pricing - unlike The Railway they receive no subsidy from the Government.

Scotland - England would be further eroded if and when HS2 arrives.

 

[WestCoast]

Scotland - England would be further eroded if and when HS2 arrives.

Hence why Flybe are buggering off to Finland.